Tips on Auto Body Spray Painting
Spray painting a car isn't as effective as a professional paint job, but it can look nice and protect your car from rust. If you have an older car with rust or damage on it, a spray paint job can make it look better than it does and cost less than have a professional painter do the work.
Even though you aren't using professional paint equipment, you must wear a respirator mask while sanding and spraying primer or paint.
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Prepping for Paint
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The best paint job is only as good as the prep work done to the surface of the car prior to painting. Park the car in the shade or inside a garage. Seal off any areas inside the garage that can't get dust or paint in them. Make sure the area is well ventilated because sanding and painting causes heavy dust and fumes. Make sure to roll the windows up before sanding.
Sand the car with 150 grit sand paper. You can use a sanding block or a dual action sander to take the old paint off. Wipe the car down with a rag and some wax and grease remover to get the sanding dust off.
Use automotive masking tape to cover any areas that won't be painted. Trim, windows, tires, door handles, lights and the grill should be covered up and sealed with masking tape.
Spray a coat of primer on the car. Use light horizontal strokes until the entire car is sprayed. Wait a few hours for the primer to dry. Use a long sanding block and some 300 grit sandpaper to sand the body down lightly. This makes a smooth surface for the paint. Wipe completely with wax and grease remover.
Spraying the Paint
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Get an aerosol spray trigger to fit the top of the can. This will save your fingers from pressing on the small button sprayer at the top of the can.
Clean the car with a tack rag before painting. This grabs any particles and dust that may have landed on the surface of the car at the last minute. Starting at the the hood and working towards the rear of the car, spray light, even strokes of paint onto the surface. Several thin coats work better than one or two thick coats. Allow each coat to dry for a few hours before applying the next coat.
Once the paint has dried for several hours, spray several coats of clearcoat paint (found at automotive paint supply store) on the car. Allow them to dry for at least 30 minutes before removing the masking tape and paper. Allow a day or more for the car to dry enough to drive.
After the Paint is Dry
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Once the spray paint has dried completely, look closely for any visible specks of dust or runs in the paint. If anything is found, use 1200 grit sand paper and water to lightly sand it out. Keep the sand paper soaked with water the entire time it has contact with the car's surface. Don't worry if the sanded areas look dull, you are only sanding the surface and not the paint. Sand runs until they are no longer noticeable. Specks of dirt in the paint can be sanded to become less noticeable, but will remain in the paint.
After you have finished sanding, rinse the car and dry it with a synthetic chamois. Use liquid buffing compound and a buffer to buff the entire car, starting at the front and working towards the rear. Wipe the compound off with a soft dry cloth. This step isn't completely necessary, but makes the car shine more than painting alone.
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