Understanding the steps and techniques used in car painting is valuable, not only for someone wanting to paint their car, but for someone paying a professional to paint their car for them. There are three main areas of the paint process, each are as equally important as the other. Knowing the painting process helps to understand and justify the basis for the price and materials used.
Paint Preparation
The paint preparation stage sets the groundwork for the paint job itself. If the preparation is not done correctly, it will show through once the paint has dried. Begin this process by repairing dents or damage in the sheet metal of the car. Once the repairs are made and the body filler has been sanded smooth, the real preparation begins.
Spray two thin coats of primer over any areas that have been repaired or over the entire car if it is being completely repainted. Allow the primer to dry for 30 minutes. Use a long block sander with 120-grit sandpaper to evenly sand all of the areas with primer. Don't use an air or electric sander. Hold the sanding block even, and sand the surface lightly so that the top layer of primer is removed. If there are any dents in the metal, they will show up as dark areas in the primer once they have been sanded over. Any high spots will show up once the block has moved over them a few times. Repair these areas, primer and sand them again until they are straight.
Go over all areas with one final coat of primer. Once it has dried, use 300-grit sandpaper to sand the car. Keep the sandpaper wet while sanding and then rinse the car. Allow it to dry completely. Wipe the car down with wax and grease remover and a microfiber cloth.
Painting
Park the car inside a paint booth to begin painting. Some body shops allow people to rent their paint booths after hours. If this is not an option, use a prepared garage to paint inside. Rinse the garage ceiling, walls and floors with water to remove all dirt and dust. If this isn't possible, place large sheets of plastic or clean tarps on the floor and over any items in the garage. Open all windows and doors of the garage and place fans in the openings, facing outward, to draw out fumes and overspray.
Use masking tape and paper to cover any parts of the car that won't be painted. Wipe the car down with a tack rag to pick up any final pieces of dust. Begin spraying the car, starting at the top and working your way down. Use thin, even coats of paint so there aren't any runs. You should end up with three to five coats of paint, but can use up to six or eight, depending on the coverage and color desired. Allow each coat 15 to 30 minutes to dry between coats. Once the final coat has been sprayed, wait at least 12 hours before spraying the clearcoat. Use the same steps for spraying the clearcoat paint, but wail a full day after the final coat has been applied before moving the car. Remove the masking tape and paper 30 minutes after spraying the final coat of clearcoat paint.
Repairing Imperfections
Once the paint has fully dried, park it in the sunlight. Look for runs or bumps in the paint. Use 900-grit sandpaper, keeping it wet the entire time, to sand the imperfection until it is gone. Once this is done, use 1200-grit sandpaper to sand the entire car until it is slightly dull. Rinse the car clean and allow it to dry completely. Use an orbital polisher with liquid polishing compound to polish the painted surface of the car. This brings a deep, glossy shine to the paint and blends any imperfections.
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