How Do I Prep My Vehicle for Painting?

How do I prep my car for a paint job? Maybe you are looking to change the look of your car. Or maybe you really need to repair some minor damage to the structure of your car. Either way, it is a very simple process that you can do at home, but you should be prepared with the right tools and space.

Prepping My Vehicle for Painting

What do I need to do to prep car for paint job? Follow the steps below:

• Schedule time – Painting your car is going to take time to complete. The first thing you need to do is determine how much time you have available and map that out accordingly to clean, prime, sand, and cure your paint job. This is something that has the potential to take at least a couple of hours for each section. It could be more depending on how much painting you have to do.
• Clean – Make sure that your vehicle is clean before starting. Wash your car and be sure that you get in between every nook and cranny.
• Sand – The only way your paint will bond to the surface of your car is by sanding it. Sanding enables you to strip the paint on your vehicle and try to eliminate any rust spots before you can prime your car. If you notice any smaller spots, you can probably just sand them manually. For larger spots, a sander will do the trick. This is a process that can take a lot of time, so the key is to ensure that the surface of the vehicle is even and smooth.
• Clean a second time – After sanding, you may notice dust and other debris left behind. You must wash your vehicle a second time to eliminate any particles left behind from sanding. This will prevent them from sticking to the paint. Additionally, you may want to consider wiping it down using a thinner.
• Taping – This process involves covering parts of your car that don’t need to be painted. These areas include bumpers, door handles, windows, etc.
• Allow the paint to cure – A few coats of primer will be needed depending on the type you are using and the thickness of paint coats you are applying. In between coats, ensure that you leave enough time for the primer to dry completely before applying a new coat. This process may take longer depending on many factors, so read the instructions.
• Check it over – Check your work to ensure there aren’t patchy or thick areas remaining. You can also wipe it down a second time to eliminate any remaining dust.

Remember, while these steps are needed to paint your vehicle, the time to complete it may vary depending on many factors. Don’t rush it in an attempt to get it done quickly. If you need to stop the work, be sure to use a tarp to cover the vehicle until you are ready to proceed.  

Categorised in: Auto Painting

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