If the paint of your car is looking dingy and faded, it means your car needs to be painted for a change of color. You can get your car painted by yourself; this could save money. It is true painting a car is a time-consuming job, so you must be ready to spend a couple of days to get the work done.
If weather permits you can get the work done outside. So, if you have decided to invest money in getting your car re-painted using automotive paint, make sure you choose a paint which is the best clear coat for cars.
Things to be kept in Mind before you start Your Painting Job
- Check the weather – The optimal weather for painting your car is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature shouldn’t go below 55 degrees and above 90 degrees. During hot days, paint in the shade and late at nights. Avoid high humidity and never paint your car in direct sunlight. If the clear coat becomes foggy, it means there is an issue with temperature or humidity.
- Don’t rush, take your own time – You must wait 10 minutes between each application of clear coat. You must wait 30 days before waxing and buff your car. Once the final coat is applied, wait for 1 hour before you touch the surface.
Materials Needed
- Automotive clear coat
- Air compressor
- Automotive paint
- Buffer
- Clean cloth
- Masking tape
- Face mask
- Thick industrial paper
- Paint gun
- Large plastic sheet
- Sandpaper
- Water
Step 1:
Remove or tape non-painted trim on the car. If you don’t want the same color to be applied to windows, then cover them using a tape to avoid accidently spraying them with paint. Strip off the old paint using a paint remover or by sending all of it from the vehicle. Use a 360 grit sandpaper to remove the paint from the car.
Step 2:
Spray paint to the places you have fixed with primer. Any exposed surface you are planning to should be left unprimed. Allow the surface to dry completely before you start painting. Then, using a painting prep solvent, remove any grease, wax, and oil from your car.
Step 3:
Spray the surface of your car with base coat paint. You must hold the sprayer 6”-10” away from the surface and spray the paint smoothly. Overlap strokes by about 50 percent. You may read the instructions written in the paint about drying time before you start sanding.
You may wet sand the base coat if you want to get a smooth finish. This process may not be good for metallic color as it would remove the metallic flakes from the base coat.
Step 4:
You may spray the entire surface of the car with clear coat paint. Allow the paint to dry completely before you start sanding. Two or three coats of paint have to be applied to get good coverage for some metallic paints. Wait for 10 minutes between coat to prevent flash-off.
Step 5:
You may use a buffer or buffering compound to polish the clear coat and make the paint on your vehicle shine.
It is very important to wear a protective face mask while painting your vehicle to prevent the inhalation of harmful fumes. Re-painting is the best solution to repair the damage to the exterior of your car after an accident. Acrylic paint is considered to be easier to apply, but they may show signs of wear after a few months due to UV rays. If you make a mistake while painting, you can start over in that area by sanding.