Was just wondering how you guys/gals go about painting small parts, I've tried hanging them from a rack but it's more in liking to a wind chime. I'm trying to get full coverage with epoxy at this time and see a real problem when I start to shoot colour, are you spraying one side wait until it dries and flipping them over? Maybe I'm to simple minded to find a simple solution.

 

It depends on the kind of part you're spraying. Many times you can grab it with a pull hook (or similar) toward the bottom while it's hanging to steady it. Then turn the pressure down and play with the spraying technique.

 

That's just plain simple feel a little embarrassed now, thanks

 

I paint parts for my customers projects on a semi regular basis. I do have them hanging and hook them just like Wayne suggests. If its a larger part and one side isn't going to be seen, or obscured, I lay it on a piece of plywood with a 3-4 wood screws, pointed ends sticking out. I'll spray the "bad" side, let it set up, apply another coat of paint and flip the part and then spray the "good" side and finish it off. When the part is completely dried there will only be 3-4 pin point nicks on the "bad" side which I can do a quick dab of paint to cover.

 

You can hang em and hook em as already said. Most of the time I dont bother hooking them. If you have an HVLP and it is set up correctly, it shouldn't be a problem. Sometimes I'll hang the part in a rack with coathanger wire, grab it with one hand, spray it with the other then hang it back up. Other times (say something like a cowl vent, glove box door, etc) I'll spray one side during one paint session, then during the next paint session I'll mask the painted side using reverse taping then paint the other. If its something like a steering column I'll make a jig to hold it so that I can spin it while painting. So I guess it depends on the part, your shop setup etc. You can use the seams on these old trucks to your advantage also. Hope this helps. Regards.

 

Just sprayed alot of parts also. I hang some and set some on cardboard, and set some on my body-shop racks. Grille/air deflectors/ inner fenders/ hood/ and about 30 small parts .
John.....if you are using base coat ---it will set up fast. I used acrylic enamel and it takes longer to tack up.
Have 6 hoods to finish....and only 2 done.
Take your time and clean your gun out if you cannot spray it all at once.

 

I do have an HVLP gun and still not sure if I got it set up right. I'm still only concentrating on priming at the moment and because of my shop will likely contract out the final colour coats although the thoughts were to finish the inside myself and let a body shop do the exterior. I will follow all the suggestions in this thread, thanks guys

 

Check autobodystore.com......really good info there and you can get your supplies also....including fresh air systems. Len is a great source of info and always willing to help. Also good info on setting up and cleaning paint guns. Regards.

 

Thanks bud I'll do that and if I haven't said welcome to the site here it is,lol

 

I'll second Bob's Iron Maiden, but most are hung with small wire with the other end looped through some pegboard hanging in the air. Another trick we use at work for some of the odd "standing" parts is upside-down styrofoam cups. Just poke the part into the cup, it usually stays upright.

 

This may sound dumb, but using a bottle cleaning brush stuck thru a bolt hole has worked for me in the past. Only thing not completely covered is the bolt hole itself. If you use a bore cleaning brush for a rifle you can wash it out with thinner. LOL