When it comes to vehicle restoration, auto maintenance, and repairs, it’s not uncommon for a vehicle to need a fresh coat of paint. With this, respraying a car is not as simple as repainting a wall; specific steps are essential for professional results. Moreover, you will also need particular tools and supplies to get the job done. Fortunately, the tools and supplies required for the job are all reasonably affordable, and the technique required is also relatively straightforward.
While some car models are easier to maintain and repair than others, respraying auto parts always requires the same process.
In this article, we detail the types of tools and supplies you’ll need while also going over the process of professionally respraying a vehicle.
Power Sander And Sanding Pads
Before you can start picking out the right shade of gunmetal gray car paint, you’ll need to prep the surface. To do this, you’ll need a power sander and sanding pads. It’s essential to remove any rust and trim from the surface. Moreover, eliminating dents now is necessary too.
While you can sand away rust carefully, you can use hot water and a dent remover tool to restore the surface. What’s more, you can also effectively remove dents with other tricks, like using a plunger as a suction to pull the dent out after softening the surface with hot water. Next, you must sand the surface smooth using finer sandpaper. It’s essential to sand down the surface until it’s entirely even and smooth.
Tape And Primer
Once you have sanded the surfaces smooth, clean the area thoroughly with soapy water, allow it to dry, and use tape to protect surfaces that don’t need to be painted. You can also use newspapers for more surface cover.
Now you must prime the surface with an auto body primer and allow it to dry thoroughly for about half an hour. It’s best to opt for a corrosion-resistant self-etching primer. Furthermore, be sure to apply the primer product evenly and smoothly.
Priming the surface is critical to ensure the car paint has something to bond to. Unfortunately, if you apply the car paint without using a primer first, the paint will not adhere properly to the surface.
The Fresh Coat Of Paint
Now that the primer is dry and you’ve allowed it to cure, clean the surface once more and sand it down to a smooth finish. Next, you must clean the surface again and start applying your choice of auto body paint.
It’s critical to select the right paint product suitable for vehicles. In addition, it’s also best to purchase a pneumatic paint sprayer for accuracy and precision. It’s not possible to paint a car with a paintbrush; an air sprayer is typically the best option for professional results.
With this, it’s critical to spray from a distance to avoid paint drip marks and splatter. Ideally, about 10 inches is a safe distance to start spraying. What’s more, it’s also worthwhile to allow the first layer of paint to dry thoroughly before applying a second and sometimes third layer of paint.
Apply Lacquer
A clear coat lacquer is essential for auto resprays. This paint product will seal in the auto paint beneath, provide a protective layer, and leave your vehicle shining. Apply this coat the same way you have applied the auto paint. And be sure to allow it to dry thoroughly. Once the lacquer is dry, you can buff the surface. To polish the surface, use a microfiber cloth and a rubbing compound to smooth out the surface. It’s best to use fast circular motions.
Respraying a vehicle is a pretty time-consuming project. However, the steps are relatively straightforward. The primary need for precision comes in when using the air sprayer. So, it’s worthwhile to consider practicing the use of this tool before you get started on your car. By practicing, you will be able to determine the best spray distance and establish accuracy.
That said, it’s also essential to respray your vehicle in a ventilated area that’s also protected from the elements. Your car will need to dry thoroughly between coats, so it’s not suitable to respray your vehicle outside; sun, wind, and rain can all harm your efforts.
Nevertheless, respraying a vehicle is a relatively easy restoration project. With the right tools and a refined technique, you can achieve professional results without the help of an expert. Vehicle resprays can be pretty pricey otherwise, so it’s worthwhile to invest time towards learning this handy skill.
