Flat Black Paint Scheme???
I have never understood this logic AT ALL. How on earth is a flat paint job any more than a gloss one? If anything, it should be less because you don't have to go through the wetsanding and polishing stage. I understand the issue with not being able to fix runs in the clear, but a good sprayer should be able to avoid that. Otherwise, the process is exactly the same up to the clear, same prep and everything.
I can agree with you on some level because I know for a skilled painter that would have no problem doing this; he would still charge more because there are fewer people that can do this right. Opposed to a normal paint job where any imperfection to a degree can be covered up.
the flat black hood and trunk might not look bad alot of muscle cars used to do the hood and maybe the spoiler and btw wutsup w the wheels on the yellow sc man?all black would have looked way better
If you normally sand your primmer up to 600 with a "normal" gloss clear; you will more than likely have to spend almost double the amount of time sanding to insure every single inch is in 600. Then you still may need to sand the base if you find any imperfections.
Gloss clear can hide the 600 grit sand scratches where a flat clear will not.
Yessir folks...
If you plan on doing any sort of flat black on your car
rule #1
PARK YOUR CAR IN THE GARAGE!
RULE #2
BUY A CAR COVER... BUT NO RLY FOLKS... PARK YOUR CAR IN THE GARAGE
RULE #3
DO NOT EVER TRY WAXING IT... JUST TRUST ME
RULE #4
IF YOU EVER GET WATER SPOTS ON IT... DID I MENTION PARKING IT IN THE GARAGE?
If you plan on doing any sort of flat black on your car
rule #1
PARK YOUR CAR IN THE GARAGE!
RULE #2
BUY A CAR COVER... BUT NO RLY FOLKS... PARK YOUR CAR IN THE GARAGE
RULE #3
DO NOT EVER TRY WAXING IT... JUST TRUST ME
RULE #4
IF YOU EVER GET WATER SPOTS ON IT... DID I MENTION PARKING IT IN THE GARAGE?
Senior Member
Joined: 08-21-09
Posts: 717
Likes: 0
From: So. Cal.
I guess what it comes down to is the quality you expect. I got some repair work done at a commercial shop. If you look closely at it, I can see the sand marks faintly under the base and clear. It's no different with satin. If you want an okay job or a better job, detail becomes more important. Clear won't hide anything. Clear is, well, umm clear. It may reflect and refract light differently, but it certainly won't "hide" anything that you messed up in the primer or the base. Prep work is the #1 thing on any paint job. If you only want decent, you do decent prep. If you want nice, you do nice prep work. I painted my friends CRX in a satin white from Hot Rod Flatz. I treated it just as I have any other color job I have done. It was no different and it looks bad ass.
New Member
Joined: 12-06-09
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: tulsa ok
I think the flat black would look awesome! 
If you do it yourself I would suggest is getting bumper paint from autozone/orielly's/pepboys. I recently painted my bf's whole car with that paint, no runs, or lines and I'm pretty lazy about spray painting. All we did was sand it down pretty decently.
Also when it gets wet its not a big deal, when we clean his car we just spray it with water and run a sponge over it, looks like we just painted it.
If you do it yourself I would suggest is getting bumper paint from autozone/orielly's/pepboys. I recently painted my bf's whole car with that paint, no runs, or lines and I'm pretty lazy about spray painting. All we did was sand it down pretty decently.
Also when it gets wet its not a big deal, when we clean his car we just spray it with water and run a sponge over it, looks like we just painted it.
Banned
Joined: 02-19-09
Posts: 3,818
Likes: 0
From: Carol Stream
getting a good flat black paint job does require a lot more labor. correct you mix materials and put it in a gun and shoot it but if it comes out dirty your screwed. unlike with clear, satin or flat you cant simply sand out a little dirt knib or run and buff it back to not notice it.
any paint job is 50% in the prep 20% in actually shooting the color and 30% in the finishing part of it. regarldess of what you shoot weather it be something you clear or not it all needs to be cared for correctly. i try to get my prepers finishing the primer and sanding the clear down on panels in 800 and a grey scuff pad. then using basecoat colorless it definately helps take care of minor scratches you might get
one question for the op....have you ever taken care of a flat black car? something you might want to consider.
any paint job is 50% in the prep 20% in actually shooting the color and 30% in the finishing part of it. regarldess of what you shoot weather it be something you clear or not it all needs to be cared for correctly. i try to get my prepers finishing the primer and sanding the clear down on panels in 800 and a grey scuff pad. then using basecoat colorless it definately helps take care of minor scratches you might get
one question for the op....have you ever taken care of a flat black car? something you might want to consider.
UNLESS....................
after painting you take a compound and buff the car creating a satin finish.
then will you be able to wax the car without blotching
Senior Member
Joined: 04-10-07
Posts: 5,746
Likes: 0
From: Central Illinois
Flat black is overplayed IMO. It looks great on rat rods, but why would you cover up a perfectly good paint job on a 3 year old car with something that will fade faster than just about any other paint scheme? If you really want the flat black look on just your hood/roof/trunk, get it wrapped in a good flat black vinyl.
Just trying to be diffrent no really in to running with the crowd!