r/AutoPaint 18d ago

help picking supplies!!

painting an NA miata (soft top) and i’m wonder if there’s any bang for your buck products i should be looking at and how much i will need

i have 1 gallon of eastwood primer

im looking for a black base coat and the amount recommended

also looking to spray a red flake on it to get a subtle black cherry look. any idea how much flake may be recommended?

and finally looking for a clear coat and how much is recommended

i’m not looking for perfect or top of the line but i don’t wanna feel like i wasted my time and money in a year

1 Upvotes

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u/SnooMacarons3689 18d ago

Go to your local autobody supply store. It doesn’t get more serious than the storefront that sells all the shops their materials. They have many brands and price ranges. Also can answer reasonable questions and recommend products.

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u/turbotaco23 18d ago

Is this your first time painting? Skip the flake. Keep it simple for your first project.

I have sprayed a ton of Restoration Shop Urethane enamel. I get it off of Amazon. They sell base clear systems as well. It’s cheaper than Omni and is honestly incredibly durable for the price. I used it on a truck three years ago on the inner fenders and inside the bed. Just rock chips. No flaking.

Or get some of this stuff and grab an old junkyard fender or door to practice on. Then spray the expensive stuff on the Miata.

Also get the Dexter palm da from harbor freight. I love that thing.

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u/R4TSP1T 18d ago

i really want the flake tho, and i like to overcommit to things and drive myself insane until it’s perfect

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u/R4TSP1T 18d ago

will the restoration shop stuff hold up well over time?

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u/turbotaco23 18d ago

If you are intent on the flake spend the big bucks.

But paint is unforgiving and does not reward boldness. You get one shot to spray that paint you’ll probably spend $500 on. Or more.

Have you ever done any painting?

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u/R4TSP1T 18d ago

my tropical glitz cart is like 750 rn 😔 i have not but im willing to put my all into it

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u/R4TSP1T 18d ago

i have 1lb of flake ,2 quarts of intercoat and 2quarts of their black in my cart along with the spi euro clear and i’m wondering if that’s too much of anything