How to Paint a Car Like a Pro?
Painting a car needs a lot of time, effort, and skills. That is why it is an expensive thing to do. However, it does not mean you cannot paint a car. But you need to know how to paint a car. If you know how to paint a car, then it will not be that tough for you to paint.
So do you know how to paint a car? I guess you do not know since you are reading this article. Do you want to know? If yes, then all you have to read this article until the end. So without any further due, let’s get started. Here we go.
Contents
What will you need?
Electric sander
Masking tape
Air compressor
Safety glasses
Paint thinner
Grit-wet and dry sandpaper
Preparation, How to Paint a Car
The first step to paint a car is preparation. Without proper preparation, you cannot have an excellent finish at all. At first, select a space where you can work freely. It would be best if you can choose a large clean area and no chance of dirt. If it is a shade or garage, then clean it. On the other hand, if you are working in a free area, then try to choose an area where there is no tree or no wind. Threes or wind can contaminate your painting as well.
Also, you need to make sure you have a large enough to reach the water safely. Then wash the car thoroughly. Once the cleaning is done, you need to decide which color you want to paint and which parts of the car you want to paint. Once you decide which parts to paint, you need to mask off the other parts of the car so that these parts do not get painted.
Stripping
Now you are ready for the first step to paint. You need to start sanding in a circular motion by removing the clear coat, base coat, and topcoat. You can use the sander to get a good result. And if you want to get the best result, then you need to sand the entire car back to the bare metal.
This entire sanding can help you get a perfectly smooth surface for new prime to adhere to. If you do not have enough time, you can simply sand the surface as even and smooth as possible. Once you have done stripping to your car, wipe down the exterior with the help of paint thinner and clean rag. It helps you to remove any dirt shown on the surface. Now, wait until you see any evaporating residue from the thinner before continuing.
Priming
It is time for priming. Before priming, you need to make sure that you have covered all the areas of your car that you do not want to paint. Now mix the primer with the thinner in the right ration. You will get the correct ration from the user manual.
Now you are ready for paint, right? But isn’t it better to practice is a couple of times before going for the actual action? Of course, it is better. And to do that, you can try painting on any old car surface, or on a piece of steel. You will find it in any garage. It should not cost more; even if you are familiar with the garage guy, you might get it for free.
Now hold on the spray from 6 inches away from the steel or car surface and then start spraying. When spraying, make sure you move the spray with the holding of the trigger. If you do not do that, you will end up painting in some parts so thickly that the paint might run out.
Now you are actually ready for the prime. You should start from the roof and apply it in thin, and if possible, apply coats. In general, two or three coats are enough to cover a surface. Within one hour, you should end up covering the prime.
After that, your primer should have a powdery finish. Smooth it with 2000 grit wet and dry sandpaper. You might want to clean your spray as well.
Painting
Now we are in the final and main part. Before painting, make sure you have mixed it o the thinner. The ration is given to the user manual. You should follow the same technique that you have just done with priming. You should practice this one as well to get the error-free result. Also, it might take some more time than priming.
Apply three to four coats on the car, and before applying the final coat, you need to make sure you have removed any powdery residue with the 2000 grit wet and dry sandpaper. Then wipe down with a rag. You are not done yet, repeat the previous two steps once again to get the cleanest surface.
You are almost done. Before clearing the coat dries, you should remove the mask off that you have used in the areas that you did not want to paint. But make sure you do not let any paper or tape get stuck on any part of the wet paint. Now it is time to wait. Wait according to the recommended time. You should done it properly. However, if you see any defect in any part of the painting, you can again sand it then pain it with a circular motion to get the best finish.
Congrats, you are done painting your car.
Final Say About How to Paint a Car
As you can see, painting a car is not tough. But you need to know how to paint a car properly. Without knowing the basic things and the right way, you cannot get the best result, and you might end up damaging your car’s paint. That is why you should practice it several times so that you make no mistakes at all. But if you can make it successfully, you will get the satisfaction that you cannot get with millions of dollar, trust me.
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