Custom Auto Painting Techniques

Painting your own car can be a hassle, but by following these steps, you will be able to strip, primer and paint your car in your own garage. Just be sure to take the necessary precautions and remember to always put safety first.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Goggles
• Plastic sheeting
• Paint
• Chemical paint stripper
• Masking tape
• Sealer
• Balloons
• Primer or lacquer
• Filler
• Polish
• Paint sprayer

Instructions

1. Clean the work area making sure that it is dust free and has excellent ventilation.

2. Cover the area in plastic sheeting to retain the fumes inside the work area. This will allow the stripper to work efficiently.

3. Strip all the paint from the car using a chemical paint stripper. Read all precautionary steps and directions on the stripper container. Use gloves and goggles, and rinse off any areas of skin that come into contact with the stripper.

4. Remove the plastic sheeting after the allotted time.

5. Scrape the paint off your vehicle with a putty knife or paint scraper.

6. Rinse off the car to neutralize the stripper.

7. Sand the vehicle to create an adhesive layer for the paint to bond to.

8. Apply masking tape to windows, tires and other locations you do not want paint to touch.

9. Create a static storage to keep dust off the car. Simply take several balloons you've rubbed to gather a charge and hang them above the vehicle. A ground wire hooked to the frame can also be used.

10. Spray a urethane primer or gray lacquer over the car. Apply four to five coats of primer. This is a great time to get comfortable using your paint sprayer. Primer is inexpensive compared to paint, so if you mess up, just apply another layer.

11. Apply a red primer coat. Sand the vehicle lightly. This will help you find dents in the car. Use filler to mask these parts.

12. Apply sealer over the car. Let dry.

13. Apply paint evenly and with a thin coat. This will prevent droplets and uneven blotches. Begin at the top and work your way down. Apply at least seven coats, sanding each time between coats. Sand in the direction you sprayed the paint on.

14. Remove masking tape and polish the vehicle.

15. Polish the vehicle.