Looking for Suggestions as I get Ready for Paint

[Russ130]

Ok I have the paint its a urethane enamel single stage along with reducer and hardener that can be clear coated at a later date. I have the 'no sand' primer also urethane enamel again with reducer and I have the self etching primer for when I get down to the metal in some of the repair areas this is the bug bomb type since I figured there are very few spot actually going down to bare metal. I have bondo but would prefer something a little more stable or reliable. Suggestions welcome here. I have a ton of sandpaper in all different grits and types. I have a stud welder for fixing the dents which are very few. I have the full floor pans, rockers and cab corners for both sides to bring those areas up to par. I have a DA sander a few different types of orbital sanders and a board sander but plan on getting an air board sander to make life easier. I have my autorepair shop to paint in during off hours and it can sit as long as it takes inside too. I am planning on hitting the headlight buckets with the head lights removed and then replacing them. Then the windshield with it removed then replaced and so on. Figuring this way the paint is complete and then the taping will not be so critical either. Only problem I see now is the paint says metallic on it and from what I understand metallic has to be sprayed all at once. So maybe I'll just remove everything and paint the whole truck in one shot. Not looking forward to this way since I will have to dedicate many hours all at once instead of a little here and a little there. I'm looking for suggestions of what else I might need in the form of materials and tools. Also any tips or tricks to make life easier are appreciated as well.

[Layne]

I hear metallic has to be a certain temp too, so that the sparkles don't cling together and look zebra striped. I was always under the impression that you had to paint as much as possible at the same time so there won't be any differences in the paint. I'm not a pro so if I'm wrong someone will correct me.

[Blazin]

Zebra striping is cause by either improper spray / fan pattern, or not over lapping your strokes correctly. If you get a little uneven looking stripes going on. While your painting the entire truck, paint a panel, then a second panel, Then go back to eh first panel and pull the gun way back and do a fast light spray at a 45 degree angle to the panel, and the horizontal pattern you just did. Then spray the third panel, go back and 45 the second panel. Then the fourth panel, then back and 45 the third panel.