# Possible to Paint a car With a Brush=Good Results? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-paint-a-car-with-a-brush-good-results/499054 "2009-06-08T00:15:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-paint-a-car-with-a-brush-good-results/499054/1 "2009-06-08T00:15:30Z")
I know, spray painting is fast and gives good results. But suppose you had a lot of time, and were prepared to do a LOT of intermediate coats and sanding-could you paint a car with a brush? Anyone ever do it? ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-paint-a-car-with-a-brush-good-results/499054/2 "2009-06-08T01:49:27Z")
[Moderator Hat ON] I think this is more of a GQ. [Moderator Hat OFF] ---
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-paint-a-car-with-a-brush-good-results/499054/3 "2009-06-08T01:57:51Z")
[Here’s](http://www.rickwrench.com/index79master.htm?http://www.rickwrench.com/50dollarpaint.html) instructions on how one guy did it for $50. Looks good. ---
**Author:** ![Mongo\_Ponton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Mongo\_Ponton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mongo_Ponton)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-paint-a-car-with-a-brush-good-results/499054/4 "2009-06-08T03:54:55Z")
You can use Imron (a top grade automotive paint) with special catalysts for the slower times needed. Actually you roll it on and brush it back out. The mega mega yachts in tens of millions range are brushed not sprayed. And they’re perfect. My dad had a boat Imroned and I just did one with Awlgrip with a brush and roller. It’s not perfect but as good as spray. There is no buffing as its only 1 mil as opposed to 4 - 5 mils sprayed. ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-paint-a-car-with-a-brush-good-results/499054/5 "2009-06-08T14:46:44Z")
Circa 1971, just out of the service, returned to Chicago with not much money in my pocket and needing a 2nd car I purchased a beat up VW. Paid maybe $150.00. Looked like hell, must have had 5 or 6 colors on it. So, one Saturday morning I brought home two quarts of blue Rustoleum and a paintbrush. I can tell you a few things for sure…the price was right, the car was returned to one-color status, it didn’t look bad from 300’ or so, it didn’t peel off, people looked at my funny during the painting process and don’t expect it to add any value to the vehicle. BTW, I used the VW 5 days a week for two years, no repairs and sold it for $75.00. The $75.00 depreciation was primarily due to the fact that there weren’t any floorboards. Sun roof didn’t leak. ---
**Author:** ![papaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@papaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papaw)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-paint-a-car-with-a-brush-good-results/499054/6 "2009-06-08T14:50:01Z")
My father once painted a Studebaker pick up with house paint , using rollers and brushes. Looked like hell, but satisfied him. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-paint-a-car-with-a-brush-good-results/499054/7 "2009-06-08T17:08:43Z")
I once worked with a guy who painted his Chevy Van with a brush using Sears Weatherbeater house paint. I looked like it had been painted with a brush. He was rather…umm ODD in lots of ways. Years later I met some people and they started talking about thier wierd neighbor. Happened to mention that he had painted his van with house paint. Yup, same guy. ---
**Author:** ![lalenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@lalenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalenin)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-paint-a-car-with-a-brush-good-results/499054/8 "2009-06-08T17:21:54Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I know, spray painting is fast and gives good results. But suppose you had a lot of time, and were prepared to do a LOT of intermediate coats and sanding-could you paint a car with a brush? Anyone ever do it? Not a brush, sponges. This is how just about all those classic cars you see in Havana are painted. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-paint-a-car-with-a-brush-good-results/499054/9 "2009-06-08T17:22:00Z")
When I was in college (70’s) there was a guy who painted his WV bug by hand. It had a different design every 6 months or so. I was a work of art every time, until the time he seemed to have had a bad breakup… The car was all black with depressing quotes, poems and internal dialog written all over it. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-paint-a-car-with-a-brush-good-results/499054/10 "2009-06-08T17:35:52Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > When I was in college (70’s) there was a guy who painted his WV bug by hand. It had a different design every 6 months or so. I was a work of art every time, until the time he seemed to have had a bad breakup… The car was all black with depressing quotes, poems and internal dialog written all over it. An emo VWo. Now THAT is depressing…