SOT - Painting Bare Metal, Best Procedure Options

[saigon71]

I'm in the process of stripping a set of vending machines down to bare metal to repaint. It will be a rattle can paint job. I'm behind schedule on this install and it's a high-end account, so I want to nail this. I've already screwed up once painting these.

I consider myself a pretty decent DIY'er, but painting of any type has always been a trouble spot for me.

I used 80 grit sandpaper to remove the old paint. Is it necessary to sand the bare metal with a finer grit before priming? If so, what grit should I go down to?

Any other tips on the overall process would be appreciated.

[saigon71]

Thanks for the replies and advice. I am grateful for the wealth of knowledge on this forum.

I went down to 220 grit on the bare metal with the DA sander and blew them off with compressed air. Next was two wipe downs with denatured alcohol, using a fresh microfiber cloth each time.

I applied two coats of primer and HAND SANDED with 220 grit. I hand sanded because my air compressor tends to "spit" when operating in humid weather. I may invest in a good air drying system. I believe this is what has contaminated more than one paint job for me.

After two wipe downs with a damp microfiber cloth I shot two coats of gloss black. The first coat was very light. The second was a full coat. I kept the light on it during the 2nd coat so I could move as soon as it flashed.

Overall, they turned out well. There is one small spot on one side where the paint is rough - but I can hide that. I suspect I didn't shake the can long enough. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

Thanks again! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)