Beautiful paint comes from a proper clear coating.
The modern two-stage painting process involves a color coat followed by a clear coat. This is theoretically a good way to make a durable finish on vehicle. The trouble with the process is that the finished product is prone to failure. The clear coat tends to peel away from the color coat, leaving a dull spot of paint surrounded by a blistering rash of peeling clear coat. You do not need to completely repaint the vehicle if this occurs. You can simply recoat the affected area or the entire vehicle. It is your choice.
Instructions
1. Prepare the surface. Sand the entire vehicle or just the affected area with 600 grit sandpaper. This will create a proper surface for the clear coat to adhere to. When the sanding is complete, wash the vehicle with a grease cutting soap. A dish soap works best to cut any grease or oil that may be on the surface. The oil from a fingerprint will ruin a paint job.
2. Cover the tires, windows and anything that you do not want painted with paper. Use masking tape to hang the paper and secure it in place. Get into the tight corners with a utility knife. Keep the tape edges pressed very tight to prevent the clear from seeping behind the paper.
3. Degrease the vehicle. When the vehicle is dry, wipe the surface down with a wax and grease remover and a soft towel. It is recommended by some of the better painters to repeat this step at least twice and some say to do it three times. It is extremely important to assure there is no trace of oil or grease on the surface prior to painting.
4. Pull into the spray booth. With your vehicle positioned in the center of the booth, attach a grounding strap--this can be something as simple as a jumper cable--to your vehicle's chassis and to the floor of the paint booth. Grounding will remove static electricity generated by the painting process and prevent dust and overspray from sticking to your vehicle. Finally, prior to spraying paint, put on a pair of rubber gloves (without powder if using a medical type of glove) and go over the entire vehicle with a tack cloth. This is a sticky cloth which removes all traces of dust and contaminates from your vehicle. The gloves will prevent you from getting oil from your hands onto the prepared surface.
5. Apply the clear coat. Mix the clear to the manufacturer's recommendations and apply it top to bottom, making long even strokes and making sure to overlap each pass by 50 percent. This will prevent streaking. Allow the first coat to tack up or dry the recommended time (typically 10 to 15 minutes) and apply the second coat in the same manner. A typical application will require three coats of clear with the final coat being applied a little heavier. Take care not to apply it so heavy that you get a run. This is the most difficult part of the process. If a run does develop, it can be wet-sanded out when it has dried. Allow the final coat to dry and follow the manufacturer's recommendations for buffing and polishing the paint.
Related posts
Adding a clear coat to a paint job will provide protection from normal wear and tear, scratches or gouges, but that's not the only benefit. You can also change the appearance of your paint by appl...
A quality paint job can enhance the appearance of your car. However, hiring a professional could cost you anywhere from $300 to $1,000. Even though it costs less to do it yourself, some people fea...
Painter's tape is a key tool when painting your room two colors.Using more than one paint color in a room can give it a definitive personality; however, choosing the color combination and then app...
Keep your porch steps looking beautiful for years with a protective barrier.Painting porch steps allows a homeowner to match or contrast the stair color to the color of the house siding, shutters...
Paint Your Motorcycle HeadsA motorcycle cylinder head is a visible part of the motorcycle engine. Many people choose to paint this part black, chrome, white or another color. Painting the motorcyc...
