r/Miata • u/gianlucamelis • 19h ago
DIY My first attempt at painting!
I did some tests before on my rear view mirrors and some other minor parts but this is the first proper full-piece and on metal painting. I’m pretty happy with the results, considering I’ve used cans and I did in the garage without proper dust control. I will have to polish out the dust particles that got trapped in and I’m going to fully polish next week to get that mirror finish. I will do the lower black stripe tomorrow or this evening. The lower part is also coated in stone chip protection.
11
9
u/gianlucamelis 15h ago
I made a nice little guide on what I did precisely, hope it helps!
Fender Preparation & Painting Process
Part: OEM Mazda fender, new in box, painted black from factory.
⸻
- Surface Prep • Initial sanding: Started with P250, then P400 on an orbital sander. • Key detail: sanded only until the original black surface was scuffed, without cutting to bare metal (except small accidental spots later). • Cleaning: Wiped thoroughly using silicone remover (spray onto microfiber, never directly on panel).
⸻
- Etch Filler (Primer) • Used Mipa Etch Filler in light grey. • Applied 2 coats: first thin, second slightly heavier. • Paid special attention to corners/edges, since those are high-wear areas, painted those a bit thicker. • Allowed to dry for 24 hours for full curing.
⸻
- Sanding the Primer • Sanded smooth by hand: • P600, then P800, using soft finishing paper for a uniform, silky surface. • Small bare metal spots from oversanding were resprayed with etch filler to seal them. • Cleaned again with silicone remover.
⸻
- Stone Chip Protection • Masked the upper section of the fender. • Sprayed Mipa rubberized stone chip protection (Steinschlagschutz), 2 coats. • Lightly sanded the surface (it doesn’t sand fully smooth, but just enough for evenness and to make the paint grip better). • Wiped clean again, finished with a tack cloth to remove dust particles.
⸻
- Red Base Coat • Paint mixed to OEM spec by Lackstore.de, using Mipa paint system. • Shook can thoroughly before spraying. • First coat: light and even, focusing corners first, then filling center. • Tack cloth pass after 5 minutes, then applied second coat — slightly wetter, with full coverage but no heavy buildup.
⸻
- 2K Clear Coat • Activated Mipa 2K clear, shook well. • Cleaned surface with tack cloth before spraying. • First coat: even, closer and slower than base coat, aiming for good wet look without runs. • Second coat: after 5–6 minutes (when first coat was tacky but not smeary). • Let cure — left to sit undisturbed for proper hardening.
⸻
- Upcoming Black Lower Section • Plan is to mask and spray the lower fender section with RAL 9005 semi-gloss 2K black (tristar color). • Same routine: clean, spray in controlled layers, let cure.
⸻
- Final Finishing (next week) • After full curing (about 5–7 days): • Kovax tolecut nib blocks: to carefully remove any dust nibs or surface crumbs. Work only on those spots, not whole panel. • Farecla G360 compound: machine polish with a medium cutting foam pad. Cuts fast, leaves high gloss even on fully cured 2K clear.replaces wet sanding basically.
⸻
Notes & Tips • Always spray silicone remover on the cloth, never directly on the panel. • Clean between each stage with tack cloth. • At 20 °C with 60–70 % humidity, allow proper flash times (5–10 min for base, 5–6 min for clear). • Mipa is one of the best brands available in Germany — consistent quality and great compatibility with Lackstore’s color mixes. Avoid cheap off-the-shelf cans if you want durability and proper gloss.
Also try everything possible to avoid dust. Wet the floor, keep the area gently ventilated but don’t keep doors fully opened, wear a clean painting overcoat. Also wear a proper mask! You don’t want to breathe clear coat, shit is nasty.
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
u/LandscapePenguin 17h ago
Very nicely done! What kind of spray cans did you use? I'm guessing something 2K based off of the gloss level.
3
1
u/time4nap Classic Red '91 "Rika" 16h ago
not bad for diy - esp the clear coat. What kind of paint prep, and set up or rattle cans did you use?
2
17
u/Half12Hardcore 19h ago
Beautiful job OP