Sanding
Step 3 – Sand
Painting requires an even surface, and that’s where sanding comes to play the role. Sand your car using circular motions and do this till it’s enough for the new coat to adhere to.
Step 4 – Clean
With mineral spirits or denatured alcohol, wipe down the surface of your car and remove any residue.
Step 5 – Tape The Area
With masking tape and newspaper, cover all the surfaces of your car you don’t want to paint on, like mirrors, glass, grills, door handles, and window trim.
Priming
Step 6 – Primer
- Mix the primer with thinner and read all the instructions for the correct ratio. It’s best to use self-etching and corrosion-resistant primer to prime the surface of your car.
- Begin priming the vehicle by spraying the roof down. It will take about two to three coats to cover the entire surface evenly. You also have to leave the primer to cure.
- After you have applied one coat of primer, let it dry completely before applying another coat.
Step 7 – Let The Primer Cure
Allow the primer to cure thoroughly, and the time will vary according to the primer you’ve selected. Usually, it takes 20 minutes for the primer to cure.
Step 8 – Sand Once Again
After you’ve primed the surfaces, sand the area again but not too hard to expose the metal surface again.
Step 9 – Wipe The Surface
Now wipe the surface with a rag dampened with thinner.
Painting
Step 10 – Paint
After all the steps, it’s time to paint now. Ensure you’re wearing face mask and safety glasses to avoid any contact of paint to the eyes or lungs.
- Just like the primer, thin out the topcoat with thinner. Refer to the paint can for the recommended ratios.
- Just like you did with primer, paint the car by spraying the roof down. The painting and curing time will be approximately the same as a primer, around ten minutes to paint and 20 to 60 minutes to cure. Just like the primer, allow the paint to dry completely before applying another coat.
- Apply two or three coats of paint or as you feel necessary. If you run out of paint before the second coat, bring some more to ensure proper coverage.
- After the topcoat, wipe the car down again with a clean rag.
Lacquering The Vehicle
Step 11 – Lacquer
- Like you did with paint and primer, repeat the steps with lacquer with one or two coats.
- While the clear coat is wet, remove the masking tape. Be cautious while removing the masking tape to avoid any blemishes in the clear coat.
- Now see the recommended time and allow the lacquer to cure. Once the coat is dry, inspect the vehicle for any blemishes. If you find any, sand those and respray a little.
- With circular motions, complete your painting task by buffing the painted surfaces. You can also use a rubbing compound, but that’s completely optional.
The Bottom Line
Painting a car doesn’t have to be a stressful task. You can make the job successful by buying quality products, using the right tools, and having a clean, dust-free workspace.
Sometimes no matter how carefully you do all the steps, some mistakes can occur. Whether you see the paint drying in an uneven pattern or any blemishes, all these mistakes you can fix with a bit of research and, of course, patience.
