Just start with good prep work. Asuming no dents.
1. Clean the hatch with a good surface cleaner. You can use a specific cleaner. I have used a half and half simple green mx in a spray bottle, with no ill effects after reading an article about it online.
2. Run an orbital sander smoothly over the hatch (320 grit) to knock down any old scratches or chips in the paint.
3. Hand sand or use a scuff pad to get into nooks and crannys.
4. Blow off dust with compressed air, and re clean the surface.
Choose a product line (its better to stick with the same product line, but mixing can be cheaper). I personally use PPG products for the top coat and Transtar primer because its high build and hardens like a rock (I have also had very good luck with the Transtar Euro Clear).
Primer
5. Set your spray gun up (if you have extra tips a 1.7mm tip is advisable for primer but not needed) Set pressure depending on type of spray gun being used.
6. Spray a light tack coat that barely covers the panel and be sure to hit all the hard spots first. Wait 10-15 minutes in between coats for flash time. Give it enough coats for good coverage. I usually do 4-6 with primer. Let Dry over night.
7. Wet sand the primer. I tend to use 400-600 grit wet sand paper wrapped around a block for even pressure. (Re sanding the primer is a crucial step for a good paint job, even if the primer is smooth. It helps adhesion and releases trapped isocyanates and solvents which could peel paint eventually).
8. Re spot prime any spots that were broken through by wet sanding.
Basecoat
9. Mix paint with the additives depending on product line. (Be sure to shake color well before hand for better match)
10. Set up spray gun ( 1.3mm tip generally used) Pressure depending on gun.
11. Repeat process of primer. Get good coverage. Flash time. Hard spots first. ( I was told to spray color like a "wild man" go crazy with it and make sure you covered everything for a consistant color with no tiger stripes).
At this point you pretty much have two options. Go immediately into clear coat. Or let dry and than clear later. There are pros and cons to each. (Imediately= quicker, only clean the gun once after the job yata yata..... Later= More time to inspect work...with more probability of dust in the clearcoat. AKA go with quicker).
12. Mix clear coat while you are waiting for basecoat flash time. Pour directly into the gun, dont bother cleaning gun in between base and clear coat, all comes out the same.
13. Hard spots first.
14. Lay it on thin at first but still wet.
15. Keep the clear as wet as you can without running it. Make sure to overlap your last stroke 50/50. (Good Idea with everything. Causes tiger stripes in base, causes dry spots in clear).
16. Give it about 6 coats until it is glossy. ( Alot of factors effect clear coat. Temperature, cold will lay flatter, but more chance for runs. Air pressure in the gun is vital, do alot of research)
Let dry for a few days.
If you got orange peel.......... Take out the 1500 grit wet sand paper and work your way up to 2000 or even 3000 without breaking through. Sand out that orange peel, be patient, it will come out. And than run a buffer over it with some good compound.
Than you can count your nose hairs in it
Hope this helped. I was bored.
