FYI, if you use a rattlecan, i was told you have to strip it down to near metal to get it repainted. I don't know the truth behind this....

 

its not a good idea because when you expose the metal and you put paint on it the chemicals in the paint and the bare metal rust fast, primer is a sealer against rust thats the main purpose, other chemicals are put in primer that encourage paint adhesion

 

Ok ill chime in on this one. Greetings Dragva!
I have to correct a few things i have already read though first. The "Self Etching Primer" yeah thats not what you want to use. Although you can pretty much spray it on anything Self etching primer is designed to be used as a surface builder on top of "bare" metal. Then goes your primer then goes your base coats. Although 320 will work yes i favor using 400 grit only because the grain will be easier to make cover on.
If i were to "can" my car.... you do not have to strip it down to bare metal. Its quite obvious this is not going to be a show stopping paint job so why take all the time. Honestly... i would prep the entire car with 400 blow it off, then tack it off... and dont waste your money on can primer or your time applying it. Go to Mattos off Witchduck... get you a quart of sealer in black. PM MOREIMPATIENT and pay him a little something something to lay down your sealer and your set. This has got to be the best option simply because its inexpensive obviously what your trying to do. And will prolly be laid the most even with coverage.
Good luck to you.

 

thank you sir...that helped a lot...i'm going to go with your post as a plan...

 

I paint cars for a living. If your just spraybombin the car, get a gray and red scotch brite pad from the paint store and scratch it with the red one with some purple power with water to clean it, then let it dry and hit it with the gray till it looks dull like a chalkboard, no shiny spots. Then wipe it with a tack cloth and begin sprayin. Or you could bring it by the shop I work at and I could spray whatever you want on it for a small fee?

 

I paint cars for a living. If your just spraybombin the car, get a gray and red scotch brite pad from the paint store and scratch it with the red one with some purple power with water to clean it, then let it dry and hit it with the gray till it looks dull like a chalkboard, no shiny spots. Then wipe it with a tack cloth and begin sprayin. Or you could bring it by the shop I work at, and I could spray whatever you want on it, for a small fee?

 

how small of a fee would you spray it for? i am a poor person....

 

purple power Go to sherwin williams or somewhere and get some scuff gel it saves you alot of work and makes a uniform scratch then just use a gray scotch brite then hit any problem areas with some 400 and tape it up and spray away.But I would just save up money and get it profesinally done. I would do it but I dont paint cars in more ten years in a body shop is enough for me ..btw 200sx guy were do you work ..in yorktown?

 

I think i was mis-understood.

If you use spray paint, and wanted to get the car painted at a later time...can you paint over the spraypaint?

Not thread jacking, just wanted to know for future reference.

 

in my experience, NO, the car will need to be stripped. the cleaning materials that i use, and most professional shops use will bubble spray paint therefore having to either strip the car, or scrub away with the cleaner to get all the spray paint off.best idea would be to not use spray paint. get some real urethane/lacquer primer and you will be much happier in the future,just remember lacquer primer isnt waterproof so urethane is the way to go. and like dxplicitone said, if you dont want to run around with primer, then you should use a sealer. or you can always do it the best way and prep the car for primer, prime it and then prep the primer for sealer and seal it. and then when your ready to paint the car you just have to prep the sealer again, spray another coat and then lay your color.