Categories: Technology

Paint Like A Pro – Guide To DIY Car Painting

When the paint of your car begins to fade, you should consider repainting the vehicle. Hiring a professional spray painter can be costly, but the good news is that you can do it yourself if you have the right equipment to use. A paint job can seem like a daunting task, but you can do it yourself by following a few simple steps. Here is a guide that can help you paint your car like a pro.

IMAGE: PIXABAY

Choose The Best Gun And Supplies

The process of painting your car at home is time-consuming, so you need to set aside sufficient time to complete the task. There are also different things that you should take into consideration when starting out the preparation for spray painting your car. It is essential to make sure that you have the right equipment, including an appropriate paint gun that can give you excellent results.

When choosing the right gun, you should ensure that it has adjustable controls that are easy to use. You should also ensure that the nozzle of the gun consists of a low overspray and that it is also accurate. Your ability to control the gun determines the final outcome of the painting job.

On top of getting the right gun, you should also ensure that you have the right paint and other materials required for the task. When you want to maintain the original color, you should get the color code from the car’s compliance plate then take it to an auto shop. You also need other items that include the following: masking tape and paper, a powered sander, 1200 & 2000-grit dry and wet sandpaper, thinners, an air compressor, and a buffer.

Prepare Your Workspace And The Vehicle

Make sure that your workspace is clean and that it is free from debris and dust. A cover shed is ideal for the job of repainting your car. If you want to work outside, make sure that the weather is clear and avoid places with debris that can fall on the car. You should also prepare the body of the car before repainting it. The preparation of the body involves the following steps.

Cutting

Cutting involves the removal of the thin layers of paint using an abrasive compound. You should choose the right compound for the job. When applying the product, be patient and use water to cool the surface after you’re done. You must also ensure that the surface is not rusty. Another critical thing to consider is wearing protective clothing like gloves, overalls, and safety glasses.

Sanding

If you want to respray the whole car, you should sand its surface using an electric sander or sandpaper to remove the top layer. You can use grit paper to remove the paint and clear-coat on top since they may not be compatible with new types of paint. You need to do the right thing and remove all the glossy spots from the body of the car since they may prevent the paint from sticking.

You can use 2,500 grit wet sandpaper to smooth the surface if you do not intend to repaint the whole car. The essence of sanding is to remove all particles that may prevent the primer and paint from sticking to the body of the car. Remember to wear a dust mask to prevent inhaling the particles that may be dangerous. Wipe the vehicle with a clean cloth after sanding to remove all dust particles. Proceed to mask all the areas that you do not want to paint.

Priming

While still wearing your protective clothing, you can move on to priming your car before painting it. You should mix the primer with thinners and make sure that you apply about two or three coats. Essentially, you should ensure that the metal surface is covered completely.

While priming the car, you should inspect the area to get the job perfectly done. Leave the primer to dry, then re-sand the surface with 2000-grit sandpaper to make the body smooth. You can re-apply the primer in areas you are not satisfied with. After the primer has dried, you can paint the car. The painting process uses the same technique as priming and you can also apply three to four coats.

While painting your car can appear to be a challenging task at first, you can do it yourself as long as you have the right equipment. You also need to follow some basic steps and you will realize that the task is easy and manageable.