Tips on Automotive Painting
A car with an excellent painting job is a true treasure to possess. But having one’s car painted is one of the most arduous and painstaking tasks in crafting an automobile. There are paint shops out there which can deliver a good job in terms of painting an automobile but one can actually opt to paint his car by himself. If the car is painted right, one will have a feeling of insurmountable satisfaction.
There are several steps in automobile painting. If a car owner would want to re-paint his car, he would have to have basic knowledge about these steps such as preparation, primer application, blocking, up to the final spray painting job and detail application. This can seem like a daunting task for any beginners but the job, taken as a whole can be achieved in a few days.
Preparations
First of all, one must do some research regarding the local laws and regulations regarding the use of spray paint in homes. No one would want to mess with the law and delay the whole painting job.
Cleaning the car is a very important process. This sets the car for the whole process. One can use detergents in cleaning and follow this up with grease removers or wax application.
After the whole cleaning process, one should start the sanding process. An air sander (preferably a dual-action sander) should be used in removing the old paint of the car. This kind of sander does not damage the body of the car because it removes the paint without digging like other sanders and grinders. It is important to remove all the paint to be able to have a good foundation for the paint job. To prevent damage, one can use duct tape to cover the moldings of the windshield while removing the old paint.
Aside from the old paint, the rust which has stuck in the car’s body should be removed.
Fillers should be used on minor flaws on the surface of the car to achieve a smoother look. The filler should be shaped with care by using a sanding board. Glazing compounds should be used on top of the fillers. This will smoothen out the surface of the coarse fillers.
Masking
After the whole cleaning and sanding processes, the car is given a final cleansing and it is masked. Masking is taping all the parts of the car which shouldn’t be touched by the new paint to be applied. There are numerous masking tools available out there for car paint jobs.
Primer Application
The valspar epoxy is a good primer to apply to the car. This primer combines wonderful filling with minimal shrinking. After the primer has been applied, paint that contrasts the color of the final finish should be applied on top of the primer. This will serve as a sanding guide. The primer should be sanded to achieve smooth finish, but this shouldn’t be over done because it can damage the actual body of the car. After this, a sealer is applied. This will again be sanded.
Finishing off
In finishing off the car painting job, it is necessary to achieve uniformity in coloration. The spray gun should be held at 10-12 inches away from the body. This is a must when applying the basecoat and the clear coat and the final coat.
Painting a car is comparable to creating something new. A wonderfully painted car not only increases its value but it makes the owner feel proud about his wonderful machine.
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