Painting a car yourself is a time-consuming process that requires the right tools and a steady hand. But for some enthusiasts, spraying car paint is one of their favorite parts of the classic vehicle restoration process. Here’s an introduction (pun intended) and all the supplies you’ll need and all the steps needed to paint a car yourself.
Can I paint a car myself?
Many automotive enthusiasts find painting their own car to be a rewarding hobby. But be aware that mastering and practicing this craft can take a long time. Plus, the cost of tools and supplies makes painting a car as expensive as hiring a professional.
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If you’re just trying to fix sun peeling or other paint damage, consider some repair paint or a car paint touch up instead of attempting a complete repaint. If you just want a new look, coat are an easily reversible option.
If you are simply intrigued by painting your car yourself and have both the time and the resources to indulge in this hobby, you may find it to be a fulfilling aspect of your restoration.
What are the stages of painting a car?
First, you need to sand off all of your car’s paint and primer and fix any dents or scratches in the metal below. Painting requires spraying coats on the metal, then sanding them down before adding another. Coats include primer, color/base coat and clear sealer on top.
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Here are all the stages of painting a car:
- Stripping old paint
- Preparation with body filler
- Spray on primer
- Spray on base coat/color coat and clear coat
- Polishing
Here are some supplies you will need to buy before painting a car:
- Compressor
- Spray gun
- Respirator
- Guide Coat
- Pre-painting
- body contour putty
- epoxy primer
- Urethane Primer/Primer
- base coat/color coat
- Varnish
- DA Sander
- Abrasive paper
- Sanding Blogs
- Abrasive pads
Other supplies you might find useful
- Paint mixing cups
- Paint filters
- Sticky rags
- Paint prep wipes
- Nitrile gloves
- Fill spreaders
How to paint a car
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Preparation can be the most time-consuming part of painting a car. That’s because you have to sand off every bit of old paint and primer first. Once you’re down to the metal, you treat any dents or scratches with a body filler such as Bondo and sand again. Only when the surface is perfect do you start painting.
The painting step includes spraying a primer, then a basecoat/color coat, then finally a clearcoat. After each coat dries, you will need to sand the results before moving on to the next coat. Obtaining the desired results may require several coats of the color coat and will definitely require a few coats of the clear coat.
Finally, you will polish the finished panel until it shines. Depending on your workspace, you can paint an entire vehicle at once, or you can tackle each body panel individually.
Want to see how to paint a car yourself? Watch the experts at Eastwood show you how to paint a car in the video below:
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