If you’re wondering “can I paint my car myself?” Of course, you can. However, painting your car yourself is time-consuming, so you have to be well prepared for the task. It requires a multi-step process and may seem strenuous, but the good thing is: you get to save money. Also, you need patience, creativity, and a calculative mind to paint your own car. This is because one mistake can change the look of the car.
If you have no idea how to paint your car, this guide will put you through the necessary steps to achieve that. The most important thing to note while performing this task is the safety precautions. So be sure to get everything needed and be appropriately covered.
Preparing for the Job
The first thing you need to do is to set up and prepare for the painting.
Look for a covered, ventilated, low-dust area to do the job
To successfully paint your car, you must find ample, well-ventilated space with little or no dust, and good lighting. It can be dangerous to paint in your garage if it contains a furnace, water heater, or other potential ignition sources. And some state rules may prevent you from painting your car in your garage. If you have questions like where can I paint my car? Ask the local authorities for information and rules.
Take safety precautions when getting your materials
When gathering your materials at home, a motor part store, or a paint shop, you must prioritize safety and health rules. First, buy a respirator designed for vehicle painting and a respirator mask. Make sure you wear the respirator mask correctly before removing the old paint or adding new paint. Also, wear nitrile gloves, safety goggles, disposable plastic overall, and boots.
If you want a similar color to the existing one, use your vehicle color code
If you prefer the previous color but don’t know how to get the matching colors, you can check the compliance plate under the hood. You’ll find the color code, VIN, and other necessary information there. In some cases, the manufacturers may also state the color code inside the driver’s seat door frame. When you get the color code, take it to any automotive paint supplier to get it. If you can’t find the color, contact the manufacturer for enquires on the correct color code and paint for car exterior.
Sanding, Cleaning, And Masking Your Car
After the preparation, the next process is grooming the vehicle in readiness to be painted.
Remove any plastic trim or chrome that you can quickly take off
Removing trim pieces isn’t difficult. You can get tools for trim removal in some auto shops. However, if you find it uneasy to remove, tape it instead of forcing it to come off. Moreover, you can go through your vehicle’s manual for specific information on trim removal.
Repair any rusted spot before sanding the car
Before sanding your car, repair any rusted area with a metal grinder to prevent the rust from spreading. This part requires carefulness, so be sure to put on your safety wears before commencing. If you detect a small hole after rusting, use a putty knife to cover it up with a non-rusting auto-body filler.
Sand the paint thoroughly
When you sand the entire car down to the bare metal, you’ll get a more finished look. To achieve that, use a dual-action (DA) power sander with a 400 or 600-grit pad while working in circular motions at a constant movement rate. A 600-grit pad will take longer to complete the job, but the good thing is that it will reduce scratching and etching of the surface. Always wear your safety guards, especially the respirator mask and eye protection.
When the sanding process is over, clean the entire vehicle’s surfaces
If you notice any dust on the surface, use a tack cloth to clean that. Then, wipe the entire surface with a rag dampened with mineral spirits, denatured alcohol, or paint thinner. This will remove any invisible dust and oils. However, you should only use one surface cleaner as mixing them could spoil the surface.
Cover the areas you don’t want to paint with masking paper, plastic, or painter’s tape
You’ll need to tape the window trim, glass, mirrors, door handles, grills, and other parts you don’t want to paint. Be sure to smooth the paper tape over the edges to prevent the paint from penetrating.
Priming the Car
The first thing involved in this process is to practice your spraying technique on metal paper or a scrap car door. Set up your sprayer, and add your corrosion-resistant, self-etching automotive primer according to the product’s instructions. Then, hold the sprayer about 6 inches(15 cm) from your practice surface, squeeze the trigger, and steadily use a side-to-side motion to coat the surface. Do this till you’re done spraying the entire surface.
When you’re done with this, apply a primer coat on the actual vehicle from the top to down. Be sure to maintain the side-to-side Spraying motion throughout. This process should take at most 10-20 minutes for a complete coating. After that, wait for the primer coat to be cured. This will take about 20-60 minutes. After it cures, repeat the primer coating 1-2 more times so the bare metal surface is fully covered. When done with this, clean the sprayer according to the product’s instructions.
After an hour of adding your last spray, use 1500-grit wet/dry sandpaper to smoothen the primed surface of the vehicle. Lightly sand it up and down and side to side. Then use a clean rag dampened with a paint thinner, grease remover, wax, or acetone to wipe the surface. When you’re done wiping, wait for at most 10 minutes before applying the paint.
Spraying on the Paint Coat
First, practice on a scrap surface, then spray your car using the side-to-side motion from the top downwards. It should take about 20 minutes to spray a single coat on a typical vehicle. Be sure to put on your safety wear while painting.
After 20-60 minutes, spray again. Repeat this process 2-3 times more. Then clean your sprayer. Like you did with the primer coats, an hour after applying your last coat of paint, lightly sand and wipe away the paint with wet/dry sandpaper. Clean the surface with a clean rag dampened in paint thinner. After you’re done with this process, wait 5-10 minutes before going to the next step.
Finishing the Job
Fill your sprayer with the automotive clear coat lacquer you chose, and do all these with the product’s instructions;
- Spray on a practice surface before spraying on your car.
- Spray in the same side-to-side motion from the top downwards.
- Leave it to cure just like the previous steps. Then sand and wipe down the paint. Do this 1-2 more times for protecting car paint.
- After 10 mins of applying the final clear coat layer, remove any masking material or painter’s tape.
For the best results, allow the finishing to cure for about seven days. Also, make sure there is no dust inside the vehicle store room. And when it has cured, first sand down any imperfections with 1200 or 1600- grit wet/dry sandpaper. Then you can finish up with 1600 or 2000-grit sandpaper. Wipe the surface with a clean rag infused with paint thinner.
Conclusion
To bring out the gloss, buff the car by hand or machine. Also, do not forget to follow directions from the vehicle’s manufacturer. If your car is a Honda model, visit us at Mike Patton Honda for more enquiries on protecting new car paint. And if getting a new car is your preferred solution, check out our latest collection of Honda cars here.
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