to paint or not..., can a noobie do a good job? Options

[axelrduvirage]

i have a garage and a fairly decent budget. we are up to do the prep work but i still have reservations about doing the paintjob. (i have a friend with knowledge and some experience). what are the major problems i can run into? it would be a great learning experience, but i don't fell like working on a car for a couple of weeks only to f-up the paintjob and have to hand it over to a body$hop. please share your experiences, tips and caveats.

[vsideboy]

I've sprayed my passenger door with a spray can and a couple spray cans of laquer and its not a bad job. If you use a compressed air sprayer then you should get an even better job.

Just practice on something first, take your time, mask off everything that you don't want paint dust on (I mean everything, my dads garage got covered in a layer of paint dust, its not sticky but it needs cleaning up)

Maybe goto a scrapyard and buy on old door or bonnet for a few £'s/$'s and practice on that. prep it the same as your car and practice a few times.

[Riddles]

I'd agree about the masking. Use good quality masking tape too, particularly to mask off the edges of windows and trim if you are not removing them completely.

Patience is also key, as they say on the can - many thin layers are better than one thick layer covered in drips.

All in all I found it a relaxing enjoyable exercise, but then I enjoy quality over speed.