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MG TD TF 1500 - BRG spray paint in cans?

I'm thinking about doing a test by painting my gas tank, which I have off the car and have gotten back from stripping and interior recoating. Here's the issues: 1) the car is currently painted BRG but was originally red 2) I have not decided if I ultimately want to return to the red color or stick with BRG in the future and 3) I'd like to just repaint the tank without a lot of fuss etc. I was wondering if anyone had used any of the BRG formulations available in spray cans (Rustoleum makes one called "racing green") and what they thought of the results.
Any commercially available cans people like or want to steer me away from?
Thanks. I should add I did search on BRG in the archives and found a wealth of tech detail on formulations but this would be suitable if I was thinking of having a professional total repaint done. For right now, it's really just a test to practice my painting skills and get a good looking tank; I'm not aiming for a perfect match to existing paint.
Geoffrey M Baker

Here's a pic of the tank straps, front and back, showing the current paint and the original paint jobs.

Geoffrey M Baker

Hi Geoffrey,

I am about to get my TF painted. I have read so much about pantones and colour formulation that I have decided to take the easy route. I went to a local motor accessory shop and looked at all the aerosols (rattle cans) of paint until I found one which was the red I was looking for. It is a 2014 Honda colour. I bought a can of primer, a can of top coat and a can of clear lacquer. I have now done under the scuttle, the dash and underside of the glove boxes with super results. The sprayer will easilly be able to source water based paint, mixed up to the Honda code, from his supplier. If I scratch any of the new paint I will be ale to touch it up with the aerosol. You will have no problems painting your tank with rattle cans. The key is to have both the metal and paint warm before you spray. It is also useful if you can spray vertically but lower the tank to horizontal before the paint starts to flash off. I know the advice is apply many thin coats but I found with the dash board a nice wet coat gave the smoothest finish. I don't know about the availability of touch up cans in the states but in the UK colours for cars up to about 10 years old are readilly available for about £5 and for older models aerosols can be filled, using a colour chart, for about £10
J Targosz

Most NAPA stores will have rattle cans made up for you in the colour you want. If you have the paint code of the green you are after they should be able to make up the cans in that colour. The cans are larger than most rattle cans, and the paint is better for coverage. I would guess two cans for a tank re-paint. Their are so many different colours of green and BRG seems to be a generic term, so you may have to do a colour match.

... CR
C.R. Tyrell

NAPA says they no longer do this (at least in Tucson) and I ended up talking to a Sherwin Williams store that does automotive paints and can do it in an aerosol. However, they told me that anything they put into an aerosol can cannot contain hardener so it will never fully cure, and thus will not last. She said "you can dig your nail into it".
At any rate, this isn't really a problem for me as this is a small paint job (just the gas tank) and it will eventually get a real paint job; but I thought I'd post this info as a FYI...
Geoffrey M Baker

Geoffrey -

I am absolutely no authority on painting. I've never sprayed a car. So trust the advice of experienced painters on this BBS.

I feel that you may not be happy with the results of rattle can paint on your gas tank. It may be difficult to get an even coverage. And the cost of the custom filled cans will probably be more than a cheap HVLP gun and single stage perfectly matched automotive paint with hardener.

Since you said that you are going to use the project to practice your painting skills, why not practice your paint gun skills. Easy to strip if you screw up.

This HVLP gun from Harbor Freight uses 12 CFM @ 45 PSI and has a regulator on the gun.
http://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-hvlp-gravity-feed-air-spray-gun-with-regulator-69705.html

This one supposedly uses only 6 CFM @ 40 PSI, but does not have a regulator on the gun.
http://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-high-volume-low-pressure-gravity-feed-spray-gun-47016.html

Attach this regulator to the gun if it does not have one.
http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/air-tool-accessories/150-psi-air-compressor-regulator-kit-with-gauge-68223.html

There is always a 20% off coupon available.

A 23 gal. 115v compressor should be able to keep up.

You can shoot epoxy primer or self-etching primer through the gun. Or use rattle-can self-etching followed by wet sandable primer if compatable with the top coat.

I spray with the compresser at 90 PSI, connected to 25 feet of hose, then to a drier/regulator set at 50 PSI, then to another 25 feet of hose, and finally to the regulator on the gun at about 30 PSI.

Plenty of on-line guides to adjusting the gun and shooting paint.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Tower Paints will mix up colors for you and put in cans. i used them for green on the TR6 under the hood. Color matches fine. not sure the shine does but then i did not clear coat and it was cold when i did it.
TLW Wright

Geoffrey.

Check with your local auto paint dealer. Some make up rattle cans.

If you can't find one, send me the code and I can get you some cans made up. They run $15 per can at my paint shop.
Bruce Cunha

Lonnie, great advice as always. However, I already bought a near match from an auto dealer, so I guess I'll go ahead and use rattle cans. But in retrospect, I should have done as you suggested, and bought a spray gun and started practicing with that.
I'm interested to hear if anybody can confirm what the Sherwin Williams rep said: that rattle cans cannot contain hardener and are therefore not really suitable for auto paint; you just won't get as long lasting a job as you will with a spray gun. I don't know much about this stuff, but it sounds reasonable, and explains why I've never really gotten a durable coat using spray cans...
Geoffrey M Baker

Sounds like baloney to me :-)

2 pack will get harder as it is a chemical process that sets off the paint.

In a rattle hardens as the propellant/thinners evaporate.

Is it as hard - no - is it hard - yes.

Just the same process as painting with cellulose.

Now if what they were going to do was put a 2 pack paint in a can for you (without hardner) then yes is will be soft. Will eventually go off I guess but wouldn't recommend it :-)

Dave
D Moore

They now have spray paint in cans with hardener. You push a button in the bottom of the can and it releases the hardener into the paint.
Rich (TD 3983) Taylor

That is what my paint shop says. I can get single stage or two part in spray cans.
Bruce Cunha

You need a minimum consistent temperature of 70F degrees for paint to cure properly That is ambient and surface temps of what you are painting. Infrared heat lamps can facilitate this in cold weather and can be bought for just over $200.00. The good thing is you can then rent these lights out to other enthusiasts or paint shops for their projects.

Also if the paint remains soft and doesn't completely cure it will wash off when in contact with any solvents ie fuel. It takes 30 days minimum for a two stage to fully cure at the above temps given.

Regarding a heavy coat vs several light coats. A single heavy coat will never cure properly as the surface of the paint will skim over trapping the solvents under it. This will end up causing poor adhesion and blistering of the paint will be an eventual outcome. Several medium wet coats laid 30 mins - 1 hour apart from one another will provide the best results. If using a two stage you can lightly nib the color coat with a 800 grit wet dry paper then follow up with the clear coats within 24 hours again with several medium wet coats at the same time spacing between coats. Wait 24hrs before any further sanding to repair mistakes Then leave it alone for at least a few days before wet sanding with 1000 then 1500 wet paper and light rub and polish to preference. But this all requires the CONSISTENT MINIMUM TEMPS. Good luck

Bill
TD4834
W. A. Chasser Jr

This thread was discussed between 15/12/2014 and 21/12/2014

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