Things You'll Need:
- Masking tape
- Tarp, paper, or other covering
- Car washing detergent
- Brush
- Wax or grease remover
- Sandpaper
- Primer
- Urethane-based paint
- Paint sprayer(or automotive spray paint)
- Dust mask
- Goggles
- Putty
- Putty knife
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Step 1
Before you can even begin to think about painting your car, you need to wash it down thoroughly. Washing it will rid the surface of your car of any dust, debris, and grime that has accumulated. First, you should wash it with normal soap and water. After that, use a wax/grease remover to get the dirt off that is not water-soluble. After washing it thoroughly, you should let your car dry for at least a couple of hours before moving on to the next step.
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Step 2
After your car is washed, you are ready to sand it down. This step is very important. If you don't sand the surface of your car, then the finished product will be bumpy and uneven. You should especially do a thorough job at sanding if paint is peeling from your car due to a rust problem. You should use 400-600 grit sandpaper for this step. Use loose-grit sandpaper for the tough jobs, and fine-grit sandpaper for smaller areas and for smoothing. If your car has any dips, holes, or dents, fill it in with Bondo (putty), then sand those areas to ensure that they are smooth.
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Step 3
Now that your car is washed and sanded, you can cover up any parts of the car that you do not want to be painted, such as mirrors, windows, frames, bumpers, and so forth. Use a tarp, cloth or paper and masking tape to help cover those areas that aren't to be painted. But even before you start painting yet, you need to prime your car. Priming your car will allow the paint to adhere better. You should use an epoxy primer and apply an even amount. This may take a few coats. It is better to apply multiple thin coats than a thick coat of primer. If you are priming your car indoors, such as a garage, be sure that the space is well-ventilated. You should also use eye and lung protection. After the primer coat is dry(give it about 90 minutes), sand the car down again using the same procedures as before.
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Step 4
Now you are ready to actually paint your car. You should use an automotive finish paint, which is sold at most paint stores. It should also be urethane-based paint. There is also specific spray paint for vehicles. You should buy an HVLP spray gun for applying the paint (which can be found at most paint stores or Home Depot). Make sure that you are still wearing your eye and lung protection. Apply a thin coat smoothly, and let it dry for about 10-15 minutes. After that, apply a second coat using the same procedure. Again, it is better to apply multiple thin coats than just one thick coat. Allow 10-15 minutes for the coats to dry before applying another coat of paint. However, you should let the final coat of paint dry for at least 90 minutes.
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Step 5
After you have painted the car and let it dry, you can now apply a clear coat. You will use the same process for applying the clear coat as you did in painting the car. After each coat of paint, let it dry for 15 minutes. It usually only takes about 3 clear coats to get the finished product. You should let that final coat dry for about 90 minutes.
After all of those steps, your car is ready to drive!
