How to: Paint a car

Fourth Step-Masking

The fourth step in considering how to paint a car is masking the parts of the car that you don't want painted. This is achieved by using a special self-adhesive masking tape designed specifically for car body spraying. You should be sure to cover the lights, windows, wheels and any other part of the car you won't be painting before you begin the priming process.

Fifth Step-Chemical Safety

The fifth step in considering how to paint a car is chemical safety. Chemical safety is a necessary precaution when working with all paint-related materials. Safety equipment should be purchased and used during the painting process.

You will need an approved respirator, disposable nit-rile gloves, eye goggles and a painters suit. Another important point to remember is to carefully read all instructions in regards to chemicals you are using.

Sixth Step-Purchasing the Proper Equipment

The sixth step in considering how to paint a car is purchasing the proper paint equipment. You will need to purchase a paint gun. I recommend you purchase a gravity feed HVLP paint gun. With this paint gun you'll be able to spray every bit of paint in the cup. Other paint guns such as siphon-feed paint guns tend to leave a small amount of paint in the cup.

You will also need an air compressor that can handle the demands of your paint gun and a moisture separator to ensure that you have a dry air supply. Moisture in your air supply can very often ruin a paint job. You may also want to consider using cup liners which can allow you to spray the paint at different angles and even upside-down.

It is very important that you clean your paint gun immediately after every use to avoid paint curing in your gun. It will set very quickly and you will be buying a new gun soon thereafter.

Seventh Step-Priming

The seventh step in considering how to paint a car is applying primer to the car body. Primers are materials that are applied directly over properly prepared bare metal. Epoxy primer is a waterproof material used to protect bear metal from the process of oxidation.

Epoxy is also used to cover imperfections such as scratches and small dings that have occurred during the sanding process. One or two coats of this primer are usually recommended and are applied before the application of any other product.

Most painters use a guide coat (usually black spray can enamel) over the metal surface. Once the guide coat is applied, the primer is sanded with a sanding block until all of the guide coat has been removed. It is very important to let the primer sit for at least two hours or preferable overnight before sanding.

A few auto body painters believe that epoxy primer does not have to be sanded unless runs, scratches or slight imperfections are discovered after you have applied it. But most auto body painters are of the opinion that there will always be some imperfections after applying the epoxy primer and therefore sanding with a sanding block to correct them is usually the proper recourse.

Sealer primer is then applied for the purpose of protecting the undercoat from the materials and solvents contained in the soon to be sprayed top coat. Simply stated the sealer primer creates a wall of protection between the undercoat and the top coat.

Sealer also provides the top coat paint a consistent base to enhance color uniformity. In essence the proper sealer will make the difference between an exceptional paint job or an average one.

Eighth Step-Selecting and Spraying the Top Coating

The eighth step in considering how to paint a car is selection of the proper Top Coat of Paint. Your project will depend on what outcome you will want to achieve when painting your car. There are several different types of paints used to achieve the perfect finish.

There are Base coat/Clear coat paints, Urethane paints, Water-based paints and Acrylic lacquer or Acrylic enamel paints. Head on down to your favorite paint and body shop and ask them what type of paint they would use.

Learning to spray the paint from your gun onto the cars surface without it running, blotching or drying out is an art. Only after many hours of painting will you be able to acquire the skill needed to produce a quality paint job.

Try to hold the gun 6 inches from the surface of the car. The gun must stay perpendicular to the surface as you move it at a uniform speed. Be careful not to move your wrist because this will vary the guns distance from the surface and create an uneven spray.

A neat trick to gain experience is to spray very slowly with an empty gun. Actually air paint the car to get the feel of the gun and the motion.

But what will happen is initially you will be become very skilled at buffing, due to all of the mistakes and imperfections you will have to correct. Practice your spraying skills on different objects and materials in your shop or garage such as old tool boxes, bicycle frames anything that can hold a coat of paint.

Once everyone knows you paint cars, you'll get a lot of people wanting you to paint their cars. Charge them for expenses and practice, practice, practice. Once you bang out a couple of nice paint jobs, there will be no shortage of jobs to work on.

Don't be to hard on yourself after your first couple of paint jobs. Your going to make mistakes and learn a few lessons along the way. But with practice and dedication you will get the hang of it. You will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you'll catch on.