Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Paint a Car
Having a car with the perfect paint job can be both the most rewarding and the most frustrating experience. Between finding a paint shop that can do the paint job perfectly, having it done on time and the price you'll have to pay, painting your car yourself has never looked so tempting. By taking each step one at a time, rather than as a whole, painting a car isn't as daunting as one originally might have thought and won't take more than a couple of days.
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Things You'll Need
- Car wash mitt or sponge
- Car wash soap
- Wax/Grease remover
- Dust mask and clothing to cover skin
- Goggles
- Putty and putty knife
- Thick and fine grit sandpaper
- Air compressor
- Masking tape
- Tarp or paper for covering
- Paint sprayer
- Primer
- Urethane-based paint
- Acrylic lacquer clear coat paint
Instructions
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Preparing The Car
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1
Wash your car thoroughly with a normal car wash soap, water and sponge in order to eliminate dust, debris and grime. Then use a wax/grease remover to clean off any dirt or oil that is not water soluble.
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2
Sand down the entire body of the car with sandpaper. Use a fine grit sandpaper for small areas that just need to be smoothed down, and loose grit sandpaper for larger areas. You can use a power sander to make this quicker. Use an air compressor to remove dust and dirt left by the sander.
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3
Fix any small dips, holes or scrapes in the car's surface with putty and a putty knife, smoothing them so they are flush with the rest of the car. Once the putty has dried, sand it down so it is smooth and level, and wipe clean.
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4
Join the car frame to any grounded object using a wire in order to keep dust away after the car has been washed.
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5
Make sure the car is completely dry and prep the car by covering the areas that you don't want painted, such as chrome, mirrors, windows, etc. with masking tape attached to a cloth or tarp.
Painting The Car
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6
Apply the primer to the surface of the car with a paint sprayer. This will make the paint adhere better, so don't skip this step.
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7
Once the primer has dried, sand it down again to make sure it is smooth. Then blast the car with the air compressor to get rid of dust.
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8
Use a urethane-based paint in your preferred color and paint your car. It is best to use a spray gun, although spray paint made for vehicles is available. Spray the base coat smoothly over the entire car. After it has dried for about 15 minutes, spray a second coat of paint. Let your final coat of paint dry for about 90 minutes.
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9
Once the final coat of paint is completely dry, apply the clear top coat. Using the same smooth strokes you used for the paint, apply three coats of the clear coat. Let each coat dry for about 15 minutes and let the final coat dry for 90 minutes.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Sand the car in a well-ventilated area.
Paint in a well-ventilated area.
Assess if you need to remove the car's top clear coat, or everything down to the metal. This will depend on the paint color you want and the condition of the car.
Wear a dust mask and goggles while working to prohibit dust or debris from getting in your lungs or eyes.
If you paint indoors, make sure the area is well ventilated.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit formes image by thierry planche from Fotolia.com
