DiY Respray

[Mark A]

I'm looking to respray my car starting with some of the panels, how much paint do you think you'd need for a full respray of a MR2?

Mark

[Call the midlife!]

It's a bit of a piece of string question really, depends what paint you're planning on using for one thing, different paint types will give different coverage. 
You're better off having a rough measure of the square metre area of the panels and seeing what the coverage of the different types are and their compatibility with the paint already on the car.

[Mark A]

Haha yep spot the novice.

[Joesson]

Having tried this once in the 60's I do know you need a good spray gun, I tried and failed with an electric one that wouldn't spray water although it was right for the job according to Halfords!
I had bought a gallon of primer and a gallon of paint to change my Reed Green VW Beetle to Ivory, passed it all onto a professional as a weekend job. A good result for me. Preparation is the key, I made my fingers bleed but the professional said he had to prep the car before he started, didn't ask for extra so he was being straight.
In all not to be undertaken lightly, but if you have the right equipment and a dust free place with room enough to get around then it may be worth a go for the experience if nothing else.
The below link may help, but you will see that there are several contributory factors in determining the quantities required.
I did have an Escort sprayed in the '80's but passed that straight onto a professional.

https://www.vehiclescene.com/how-much-paint-you-need-to-paint-your-car/

[AJRFulton]

I'd have a go at DIY spray painting on my race car, as really it doesn't matter. Not sure I'd have a go of spraying a road car.

Tbh, prepping the car is the time consuming bit and you can do a lot of that yourself.

By the time you bought a good spray gun, paint, water separator, (I'll assume you already have a suitable compressor - not a £150 piston driven 2.5hp number), etc..... You'd have been spending £200-250. If you're prepared to do the prep.... I'd imagine you'd find a spray painter who'd not be that much more expensive.

It doesn't answer your question but I'm unconvinced DIY spray painting on a one off basis is anything other than a false economy.

[Mark A]

I completely agree AJR I wanted to have ago and "Learn" a new skill, I already have a big compressor and a Devilbiss gun, just not used it yet, plus an air fed mask so I could attempt to use 2k acrylic paint. The problem is creating sufficient space in the garage and making a pop up spray booth.

[Topdownman]

Have you watched the King and Titan racing channel on youtube?

He sprayed his race car himself and does a good how to on his videos, definitely worth a watch!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM1AP5w0nNw

[puma2]

  as what is been said above panting is 1 thing.

the prep is so more important so prep then prep again before any paint.   

all the best for having  a go could well be worth asking any local bodyshops for quotes 1st to see if any can do the job on the cheap.    

[Zxrob]

I,ve sprayed a few things over the years, mostly motorcycle fairings and car bumpers, wings etc, never sprayed a full car but the principle is the same. I would suggest if you are going 2k basecoat and clear coat that you would probably need 5L of each

Here is my DIY paint shop

https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=69244.msg823134#msg823134

Rob