I will preface this by saying Hi! I am totally hooked on this forum. I am a 33 year old Tig welder and a HUGE car fanatic. I own a 1991 CRX track car/street car that is currently Flat Black. It was painted with a rattle can by the previous owner.

I have been reading these forums for the last few days, and wonder if it's really true that I can paint my own car. I know cars mechanically, but I FEAR bodywork, but I fear the price(and quality) of a real bodyshop in my area even more. I have had 3 cars painted, and 3 disasters. 1 expensive job on my Civic show car, looked great for a week or 2, then it started chipping and peeling.
Job number 2 was a collision job at what was supposed to be a great shop, they didn't even primer, just painted right over the new black bodyparts they had installed :mad: so it all peeled off.
The 3rd job was on my terminally rusty DD, and it was 1000$ and I got what I paid for, orange peel nastiness that has already started rusting and peeling off like crazy.


So I've come here for help. My car only has minor rust, but I want to fix it right so it stops. I am a pro welder on Stainless, not thin gauge car body steel, but I imagine I won't have much trouble with the welding itself. I have tried body welding before, and it warped bad(sunroof plug) I tacked it on opposing areas, let it cool, the whole deal and it looked like a mess when I was done. I need help.

I don't need show quality, in fact I don't care much about the paint itself, but I want the car smooth, straight, clean, and rust free.

So here's the questions:

Do I need to spend a fortune on tools?

Everywhere my car is rusty are complex/compound angles and curves or seams, how do you tackle these areas?

I'm in Canada, where do I get this Picklex 20 stuff?

Do I NEED a spray gun? Or am I better off doing all the body prep work and then taking it for final paint?

How do you weld holes(approx. 1/2" x 1/2") when you can't see the backside and can't even get to it to coat it after welding. The trimholes on my CRX are behind the door beam(read: not accessible)


Have I asked too much? I've been searching like a man possessed, but I don't know the terms or proper questions to get the answer I'm looking for.

Thanks for any info,

Darren