Painting Questions

[mmcswain]

Sorry if this has been brought up before but I couldn't locate anything about it on a search. I am in the endless process of preping the body of my 89 GW for paint and was wondering if you can spray a lacquer clearcoat over acrylic enamel paint? The second question I have is there a difference between thinning with acetone and mineral spirits? Which is better for acrylic enamel? Last but not least, after thinning the paint is there anything else that needs to be added to the paint or is it ready to be sprayed? Thanks for the help.

[babywag]

...was wondering if you can spray a lacquer clearcoat over acrylic enamel paint? The second question I have is there a difference between thinning with acetone and mineral spirits? Which is better for acrylic enamel? Last but not least, after thinning the paint is there anything else that needs to be added to the paint or is it ready to be sprayed? Thanks for the help.
NO, very bad idea...unless you want to redo everything all over again.

Far as thinning the paint, follow the manufacturers recommendations.
Everybody is a little different, and again you don't want to waste $$$/time.
Sometimes special additives are required for various reasons.

There are many good resources online with painting tips/info.

EDIT:
Just noticed you're talking about thinning acrylic enamel paint.
DON'T use acetone or mineral spirits, use the appropriate "reducer".
Usually 2-3 options, depending on humidity/temp for when you're spraying.
Again, get the right stuff per the manufacturer of the paint, or you're just throwing away $$$/time.

[xsonmyeyes]

Laquer & Enamel do not mix.. It will look like a grandma who went to the tanning bed all her life!! :eek: If memory serves you can paint enamel over primer thinned w/laquer but if you put a clear laquer over enamel I'm pretty the enamel will krinkle up like tinfoil.

[cyberbackpacker]

I could be wrong, but to me it sounds like he has read the "roller painting" thread, and wants to spray the cheap acrylic enamel, but wants a clearcoat too... which has not been found for the cheap roller technique yet.

If this is the case, check out topsecretcoatings. They offer a hybrid acrylic enamel, and clear coat. Still relatively inexpensive.

[OBX-AUTOMOTIVE]

Sorry if this has been brought up before but I couldn't locate anything about it on a search. I am in the endless process of preping the body of my 89 GW for paint and was wondering if you can spray a lacquer clearcoat over acrylic enamel paint? The second question I have is there a difference between thinning with acetone and mineral spirits? Which is better for acrylic enamel? Last but not least, after thinning the paint is there anything else that needs to be added to the paint or is it ready to be sprayed? Thanks for the help. I CUT IN TRIM WITH ACRYLIC ENAMEL AND THINNER..AKA LACQUER ,FOR YEARS ON MOPARS AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT WOULD DRY FAST WITH THE THINNER! THEN YOU COULD TOP COAT IT WITH A/E AND NOT LIFT!! YOU HAVE TO USE REDUCER WITH A/E AND JUST TOP COAT CLEAR WITH A/E AND HARDNER ...EASY...IN FACT, YOU CAN CUT IN THE HARDNER WITH THE LAST FEW COATS OF COLOR,THEN JUST CLEAR COAT IT WITH HARDNER :)