Your truck being oxford white I assume I wound just use a cheap base coat.... That's just me tho. I mean it's white after all nothing special. I would use a better clear coat tho with 3-4 coats. I used 2 gallons of oxford white to redo a truck some time ago. But I painted every square inch of the truck. I think I paid just over 100 a gallon for the paint. I can't remember what clear I used. It wasn't the best you could buy. But it was the popular brand locally. I don't do much body work anymore but I really do enjoy it!

 

I wish I enjoyed more. I enjoy the welding repairs, because I've gotten good at it with a junk welder. Finally broke down and acquired a Hobart/Miller a few years back and enjoy it that much more. I was finishing with a flux core in the past lol. Now I just use the flux core for spots.

As far as getting things flat, or contours and such, I can do most of that with a variety of palm sanders with good results. Still finish by hand, throw a coat of colored primer down, then sand once more to hunt for imperfections. By the time I done, that primer really shines lol. I do enjoy the out come.

Anyway, I pondered using , yes oxford white all in one or with clear mixed in, but think I'm steering away from that now and clearing separately...at least 3 coats, 4 most likley. I like the color, it is forgiving, I want the clear to enhance the white enough to hold it's shine...so to speak. With white.....

EDIT: Actually at this point, it is more enjoyable. Since I'm out of the trial and error stage...I hope!

 

I would got base/cost clear coat. Enamel paint don't shine as good in my eyes. After you do your body work and prime... Take some black 99 cent spray paint and lightly mist it over the primed area... Makes great for guide coat so you don't cut through all your primer when wet sanding. Or dry sanding... I perfer wet sanding tho get you a paint stick and wrap you some 800-1000 grit on it and it's all you need lol.

 

Paint stick lol. Actually that a great idea which has worked in the past. Right wet sanding preferred here as well...well both, depends. Guide coat! Yea that's the words I was looking for earlier lol. To map out the imperfections, it was temporarily lost from memory....it's back now, thanks!

So you would still use enamel base and compatible clear ? Or perhaps a lacquer w/clear. I'm not exactly straight on my choices, I was waiting until I get a little closer towards finishing the body work before that re-education. There's different ways with laying it down and/or paint formulations on the market now. So, I need to update myself more-less, when I get close.

 

No I wouldn't use enamal I would use 2 stage base coat clear coat. The more clear you lay on it the better! Means you will have plenty of room for wet sanding and buffing the finished product! Make it slick and it will shine. You can check out my thread where I painted my brother n laws f150 a few years ago. I dunno how to link it but it's in the threads I've started section of my profile. It was a project for sure. And it was a budget build.


EDIT: I think I see your question after reading it better I would use urethane base coat/clear coat. Enamel paint is in the past.... Now it can be sprayed to look like glass if your good at it. But it's still outdated paint. If I was doing a restoration for an original look on a old car I may go that route but only if it was orginal to that vehicle.

 

Yea, I understand the basics, just making sure I was reading your reply correctly. I looked in your profile, - there's nothing there. However I do recognize some of those pics. I remember when you did the engine.

To link me, all you need to do is find the link and copy and past the URL in this thread.

Sounds interesting.

 

Gotcha, yea I see. Are you calling me outdated kid ? JK

That's what I'm going for, - glass without orange peel.

 

Glass without orange peel then base coat clear coat wet sand and buff.... You will see the meat between the teeth in your smile if you do it right lol
Here's the link : https://www.f150forum.com/f2/painting-my-brother-n-laws-f150-133814/

 

Mannn, I haven't seen that thread, it's perfect! Exactly what I needed to see for incentive lol. I'm only about half way thru your thread, have shrimp on the barbi that needs eatin.
Great, my truck (well, like it), my color and staged the same way I'll be painting mine. This is cool, thanks a lot!

 

We are here to help one another respectfully... Some of us may know more than you think.... Lol