How to avoid overspray? Options

[doug_b_928]

I'm sorry if this is a silly question/topic. I'm still in the researching stage for my restoration. I was at the local autobody supply store yesterday and was asking them about spraying epoxy primer with a gun vs. using etching primer in a rattle can. I don't have a gun and have never used one. I know Jeff Hail's thread says to spray epoxy primer after each area is repaired. They said that either way (i.e., even with a rattle can) there is an issue with overspray. I don't have a dedicated shop and there is literally no place at my house where I would want overspray. They told me a story about overspray going hundreds of feet. So, I was thinking that what I could do is have a tarp on the concrete under the car (plan is to make a bench a la Hail) and drape a poly tarp over the car. I can't tape poly to the ceiling to make a pseudo paint booth because the garage door would hit it when it's open. I suppose I could make a makeshift poly tent that fits under the garage door. But, I would think that lack of ventilation would be a big problem. Would this work? Be too unsafe? Better to rent a workspace and do all the metal work/priming elsewhere? Your thoughts and experiences would be helpful.

[worn]

I'm sorry if this is a silly question/topic. I'm still in the researching stage for my restoration. I was at the local autobody supply store yesterday and was asking them about spraying epoxy primer with a gun vs. using etching primer in a rattle can. I don't have a gun and have never used one. I know Jeff Hail's thread says to spray epoxy primer after each area is repaired. They said that either way (i.e., even with a rattle can) there is an issue with overspray. I don't have a dedicated shop and there is literally no place at my house where I would want overspray. They told me a story about overspray going hundreds of feet. So, I was thinking that what I could do is have a tarp on the concrete under the car (plan is to make a bench a la Hail) and drape a poly tarp over the car. I can't tape poly to the ceiling to make a pseudo paint booth because the garage door would hit it when it's open. I suppose I could make a makeshift poly tent that fits under the garage door. But, I would think that lack of ventilation would be a big problem. Would this work? Be too unsafe? Better to rent a workspace and do all the metal work/priming elsewhere? Your thoughts and experiences would be helpful.

There are epoxy primers in rattle cans. You twist something to release the hardener. Then you shake and spray. It will produce a completely different type of covering than a single stage paint and it will stick. Eastwood and autobody supply both sell them. If it is small you can make a plastic booth to cover everything you are doing. Different paints create different amounts of overspray with the finish coats drifting farthest.

[ThePaintedMan]

There are epoxy primers in rattle cans. You twist something to release the hardener. Then you shake and spray. It will produce a completely different type of covering than a single stage paint and it will stick. Eastwood and autobody supply both sell them. If it is small you can make a plastic booth to cover everything you are doing. Different paints create different amounts of overspray with the finish coats drifting farthest.

I didn't know they had epoxy primers with hardener in the can! That's cool. The other way you could go about doing this might be to try the Preval sprayer one can buy at Home Depot. Works very well with paint, but primer might be too thick.. I'm not sure. Its a cheap experiment though. The only problem with them is that you are really limited to how much you can tilt the bottle/sprayer - it only works up to 45 degrees off level.

I agree with Zach too, you're overthinking this. If you do have any overspray, you can use a clay bar to get rid of it as well. I can't stress enough though the use of a respirator!