How to Prepare a Car for Paint
Painting a car is not the easiest automotive-related project to do, but it can be done without having years of experience. The absolute most important part of painting a car is in the preparation work. Proper preparation is necessary for the paint job to look professional and done right. Skipping any step in the preparation process can cause even the best painter to look inexperienced. Imperfections that aren't repaired during the preparation process will show up in the paint once it has dried. Make sure to follow all directions without skipping anything.
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Things You'll Need
- 120- and 300-grit dry sandpaper
- Long block sander
- Dual action sander
- 600-wet sandpaper
- Water
- Wax and grease remover
- Microfiber towels
- Masking paper and tape
- Automotive primer
Instructions
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Sand the entire car using a dual action sander and 120-grit dry sandpaper. You can use this sandpaper on painted surfaces and surfaces consisting of dried body filler. This can be done by hand but is much faster with a dual action sander. Make sure all of the original paint is sanded and the surface is dull and smooth. For the best coverage and results, sand away all of the old paint and primer until the entire car is nothing but bare metal.
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Place masking tape and paper over all areas that won't be painted. Cover the window glass, mirrors, tires, wheels, door handles, grill and lights.
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Spray two thin coats of primer over the car. Allow thirty minutes for each coat to dry. Once the final coat has dried, use the long block sander and 300-grit dry sandpaper to sand the entire car. Keep the block sander flat against the surface of the car so that any dents or high points can be seen. Low spots or dents won't get sanded since the sander stays flat and doesn't dip into the low areas. High spots are quickly sanded down to the metal. Repair these areas and repeat the process until no imperfections are found.
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Use 600-grit wet sandpaper and water to sand the entire vehicle once again. This smoothes the surface and prepares it for paint. Keep the sandpaper wet while sanding so dust doesn't build up and scratch the surface. Once the sanding is finished, rinse the car clean and remove all masking tape and paper. Use a chamois or allow the car to dry on its own.
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Re-apply clean masking tape and paper on all of the areas that won't be painted. This is to keep dust and other particles from going from the old paper and into the paint. Fresh tape and paper keep things clean.
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Wipe the car down with wax and grease remover and a microfiber towel. This removes any last dust particles and any oil or grease from your fingerprints. Those things seem small, but can cause orange peel and other imperfections in the finished paint. The vehicle is now ready to be painted.
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Tips & Warnings
Never sand or spray primer without wearing a protective mask.
