Guide to Painting Your Own Auto
Painting your own car is something that a car owner can do themselves. It is not as difficult as many may think, though it can be time-consuming. There are steps that you should follow in order to give your car the best possible paint job that you can. Before beginning the project you should check with your local fire department to be sure that spray painting a car in your area is legal.
- Wash the car. It is important to get all dirt off the car, even if it was washed a few days ago and looks clean, do not skip this step.
- Remove wax. Use a wax removing product that you can purchase at your auto supply store to remove any wax on the car.
- Take off trim. Any plastic or chrome trim on the car should be removed. These pieces generally snap off.
- Sand. You can sand the car until you see the original primer or you can sand down to the metal. It is up to you.
- Blocking. You should take newspaper and tape to block off any areas that you do not want paint on. Areas such as windows, grill and door handles might need to be covered.
- Priming. Use a self-etching primer that is corrosion-resistant. This product will fill in any scratches and pits. Read the instructions on the label for curing time. It can up be a few days. Some primers will recommend a second coat be applied.
- Sand. Use a wet dry sandpaper. Do not sand all the way down to the metal. This should be a light sanding used to remove any primer drips or runs.
- Spray painting. Begin pressing the trigger and spraying away from the car, move across the area of the car and away from car again. This will help to prevent drips. Overlap your painted areas and be sure to use even strokes. Allow the paint to completely cure.
- Sand again. Use a fine grit wet/dry sandpaper to lightly sand and smooth out the paint.
- Clear-coat. Apply a clear-coat for a glossy look. Once the clear-coat is dry, apply rubbing compound and use a polisher to buff the car and make it look shiny.