Flat finish process

[Basso54]

So I've read several threads and reranch.com and I'm going to embark on a refinish of my own on a Ash MIJ Jazz body. I wanted to go natural, but there are just too many dings that will show up. I want to do a flat black or dark grey finish. What's the procedure on this? I found lots on gloss finishes, but need some guidance on what I'm going for with this finish. Think black or dark grey primer on some muscle cars, for example. Thanks All!!!

[Basso54]

So far my logic and internet hunting has taken me to get matte black or matte grey paint, finish with satin clear. And make damn sure I prep the ever-loving-dog-snot out of the body.

[praisegig]

If you have spray equipment, you can use Hot Rod Black acrylic urethane. It is a single stage color system auto paint. You just need to prep the body. There are a bunch of kits out there on the internet. A little high priced, used one on a friend of mine's 49 ford pickup. check with your local auto paint supplier and see if the have the formulation, and mix a pint and buy the hardener. Just an idea. Behlen sells spray bombs in flat or dead flat clears that you can use over a black color coat.
Behlen Aerosol Lacquers for Furniture Finishing & Touch-Up JMHE

[Pilgrim]

If you don't want dings to show, just use a good wood filler to make the dings disappear. Natural is still out, but you would have more choice of colors.

Remember that fingerprints may show up on a dark flat finish, too.

[ThrashMaster]

Wood filler shows through finishes. Its subtle, but its there, especially on matte solid color. Dont do a hack job and bondo the body...do it right and sand it to 320, raise the grain, sand it with 400. Spray seal coats, sand, spray color, spray a few coats of clear with flattening agent added. Skip wet sand and buff obviously.

[fhm555]

Originally Posted by ThrashMaster

...Wood filler shows through finishes. Its subtle, but its there, especially on matte solid color...

So what's the workaround to this? Try to match the filler color to the wood it's going on? Some kind of color base coat? Inquiring minds want to know.

Oh, and what kind of filler should I be using?

I've got a knothole I'm having to fill and have been thinking about a flat finish of some kind.

[john grey]

1. Always sand with the grain.

2. Quality sanding with lowering grades of steel wool can "reach" into dings very well.

3. IF those dings have a blended sanding of the wood around it many thick polyurethanes will disguise them nearly totally.

4. A quality wood finishing place like WOOD-CRAFTERS will have the proper putty and color selection to fill DEEP cuts & holes - and make it look GOOD.

5. If you are really set on a solid color consider epoxy paints as they adhere vigorously to the wood & withstand chipping.

6. Use a quality air-brush painting setup. Avoid spray cans as they (by their design) cannot lay paint down in an even manner after the level of propellant diminishes.

7. A good sanding setup makes a moderate paint look better than an expensive paint can make a weak sanding look good.