Whether your vehicle has a couple of scratches that could do with touching up or whether it needs a complete paint job, you can save yourself a lot of money by painting it yourself. How to paint a car?
It may sound like a complicated job, however, it isn’t as hard as it sounds as long as you’ve got a good paint sprayer and some willpower. That said, while spray-painting your own car is something that is perfectly possible, you’ll definitely need a few tips to make sure you get the best possible result. Here’s our simple, straightforward guide to how to paint a car!
How to paint a car?
Before you begin, prepare the materials and tools you’ll need:
- Abrasive papers
- Cellulose thinners
- Rust treatment (if necessary)
- Newspaper
- Masking tape
- Primer
- Lacquer
- Car Spray Paint
- Dust mask
- Clean water
- Soapy warm water
- Overalls
- Disposable gloves
Setting Up
Choose the right time to start spray painting. Summertime is best since it will be dry and warm. Paint will dry poorly if the temperatures are cold and the weather is damp. So, pick a nice summer day to work. If you cannot work outdoors, you should make sure your garage is well ventilated. Use a big box fan to help out. Always dress in old clothing or overalls and wear a certified respirator, goggles, and disposable gloves to protect your mouth, nose, and eyes.
Prepare Your Car
First, rub down your vehicle’s surface with 80 grit aluminum oxide abrasive paper until you get down to the bare metal. You use a palm sander, a heat gun, or a paint stripper for this operation If necessary, apply a product to remove rust and leave it dry. You will also need to remove any build-up of wax using a cellulose thinner, and any fill any dents with putty as they could affect your final result.
Mask Up
When the area is dry and clean, you can mask off all areas which you will not be painting. You can do this using newspaper and masking tape. You’ll also want to do this for the floor and anything else nearby. There will be lots of misting and overspray!
Primer
Hold the nozzle of your spray gun for automotive around 25cm from the surface and apply several primer coats, waiting 15 minutes between applying each until you have achieved even coverage. Help the new paint to blend well with the old paint by going an inch over your border. You can fade pretty easily by spending less time around these edges than you do on the bare metal area.
Prepare For Painting
Leave your coats of primer to dry for 24 hours and then use wet and dry 1200 grit paper until the area is smooth and ready for the next coat. Wash the area using soapy warm water, rinse with clean water and allow to thoroughly dry.
Apply The Paint
Be sure to take plenty of time to mix the paint before starting. Once you’ve done that, apply several coats, waiting 15 minutes between each. Be sure to remix the paints in between. If using metallic paint, you should allow it to dry for 24 hours and then use wet and dry 1200 grit paper to rub it down. Clean the area with soapy warm water, rinse with clean water and leave to dry.
Add A Further Coat
For a more professional finish, apply another layer of paint once the first layer is dry. Leave for 48 hours to dry and then apply car wax or polish for a final coat.
Best Spray Painting Kits For Cars
If you need to find the right spray painting system for painting your vehicle, check out our homepage. We’ll give you all the information you need to make an informed decision. You’ll also find links there to our guide to HVLP spray systems or airless spray guns, which are what we recommend for car projects.
Here’s a quick look at two of the most well-equipped spray systems on the market today for working on automobile coats:
Fuji 2804-T75G Mini-Mite 4 Platinum – T75G Gravity HVLP Spray System
- Professional Gravity Spray Gun features convenient side Pattern Control Knob to adjust size of fan pattern from small to large
- Non-bleed lightweight Gravity Spray Gun with Ergonomic Stay-Cool handle
- PLATINUM Turbine featuring The Heat Dissipation Box; Cup capacity ranging from 3oz (89cc) to 1Qt (1000cc)
- Featuring with all Mini-Mite PLATINUM models are Fuji's Noise Reduction Covers
- Portable and easy to transport. Suitable for both waterborne and solvent-based coatings. Can be used with a range of materials (high to low viscosity)
This popular spray system is one of our most highly-rated, thanks to its all-purpose functionality. With a four-stage turbine motor, it offers lots of power and can produce a professional standard finish. Cranking out 9 PSI, this versatile piece of equipment is ideal for finish work, however, it can also be used for all coats for even better efficiency. A very compact system, it features a turbine in a neat crate which is ideal for transporting from A to B, especially since it is lightweight and features an inbuilt carrying handle. Its rugged all-metal casing is very durable while the system is cool running for a longer lifespan. The turbine comes with a high-quality T-5 spray gun and a nylon cup. Adjusting the spray pattern is a breeze and you can rest assured of an accurate finish.
Fuji 2895-T75G Q5 Platinum Quiet HVLP Spray System
- The extra power allows for less thinning of viscous paints and achieves finer atomization5-Stage Turbine produces 9 5psi featuring Variable Speed Control Dial allows user to adjust motor speed
- Quiet turbine - Patented noise reduction feature + Heat Dissipation Chamber (HDC)
- Professional Spray Gun features convenient side Pattern Control Knob to adjust size of fan pattern from small to large
- 25ft hose includes air control valve to reduce overspray and bounce back
- Includes the 5-for-5 Bonus Kit
The absolute best HVLP system on the market according to our team, this model is very powerful, highly versatile, and ultra-quiet. Although it is very expensive, this impressive piece of equipment features a five-stage motor that can produce 9.5 PSI to apply thick coatings. Ensuring a speedy application with minimal thinning, this is the perfect system for varnishing and for applying a clear coat on your vehicle.
About this spray gun
The speed control knob is very precise with the ability to change the sprayer’s output to achieve the perfect setting for every project while reducing overspray. Its compact size and low weight of just 32.6 lbs make it portable, especially with its inbuilt handle, and with its metal casing, it is extremely durable and rugged. Even better, it runs quietly making this a good choice for anyone who is worried about noise levels in their working environment, you can have a look at the technical sheet. Putting out just 60dB at 20 feet, this is half of the standard noise level of a regular HVLP system.
The T-75 gravity feed gun which comes complete with this kit is also high quality and offers fully adjustable spray patterns as well as a very precise, non-bleeding general purpose cap which is perfect for all-purpose jobs. The tips are simple to change and the entire kit comes with quick-connect fittings and a 25′ hose for even better convenience. We don’t think you can do better–at any price.
Finally, I hope that we have resolved your main query: How to paint a car if you have more doubts about the painting process or the best painting tools you can head to our homepage and read others article on the painting topic!
