Whether there be a load of scratches to the bodywork or you just fancy a colour change. This car spray painting tutorial will provide you with all of the information you need to complete a professional job yourself. If you like your DIY, then you will love this.
First things first, make sure that you have got all of the correct colours available for your paint job. We offer a colour matching and mixing service if you cannot find the exact paint you need.
Before any car spray painting job, you will need a number of products and materials.
Make sure that you have the following before you start; Abrasive papers (this is for working on any rusted areas), Cellulose thinners, Masking tape or Newspaper, Primers, Car spray paint, Custom spray lacquer, Warm soapy water, clean water, dust mask and protective gloves.
Now that you have got your equipment and materials sorted, we can start our car spray painting tutorial.
Getting Set Up
Unfortunately, custom colour spray paints and aerosols do not work too well when they are damp. The best time to use these is in the summer months as the weather is usually a lot more beneficial.
If you are not lucky enough to live or work in a dry climate, a well ventilated car garage will work just fine.
Make sure that you wear your finest old clothes, there is no point in wearing spotless Armani jeans when you are spray painting, trust us – they will get destroyed. Use your protective clothing, gloves and dust mask too. This will stop stray particles of paint going in your mouth and nose – trust us, it’s not that great!
Preparing Your Car
This first step will be extremely useful if your car has a lot of rust damage.
Using your abrasive papers, thoroughly rub down the car until you come down to bare metal. For this, we suggest using an aluminium oxide paper, graded at 80 grit.
If need be, you can add a rusting treatment. Make sure that you let it dry before moving on.
Utilise Your Masking Tape
Once you have cleaned your car and rubbed down the rusted paintwork, using your masking tape or newspaper, section off the individual areas that you are looking to refurbish.
Make sure that you cover the areas that you are not intending to spray paint.
Primer
Each car spray paint is different. Make sure that you check the operating instructions on the side of the can for the correct usage distance. Our DC Paint Solutions Car Spray Paints are best used approximately 25cm-30cm from the coverage area.
You need to make sure that you spray on a few coatings. We suggest you do this at 20 minute intervals so that the primer has enough time to dry completely.
Car Painting Prep
I’m afraid that you cannot simply start spray painting the car straight away. It’s important that you allow the car primer to dry before you apply the custom colour spray paint.
Allow between 24-36 hours for the primer to dry. Using a wet and dry paper, rub the primed areas until it is smooth and clear.
Spray Painting the Car
Do not just pop off the spray can lid and start spraying. This is the number one rookie mistake.
Before the first use, shake the can well for 2-3 solid minutes. This makes sure that the spray paint is mixed properly and will prevent the paint from developing bubbles or spraying inconsistently.
Apply the spray paint to the car in a similar way to the primer. After each coat, allow 20 minutes to pass between sprays to ensure it coats well. Again, make sure to shake the can well before and after each coating.
Completing Your Project
Once you have allowed the spray paint to dry, assess the coats. If it looks patchy, apply another coating or rub it down.
If there are still areas that need to be painted again, simply repeat the above process from the lacquer step.
