Painting a car is different than painting a wall or painting a wooden furniture. It should be interesting for DIY enthusiasts to try and paint their own cars as this will help in saving a lot of money, and it also allows people to make variations in color and design and paint their cars however they like. But if you have started doing this without knowing how to do it properly, you will face a lot of problems.
When painting a car, professional guidance should is very important so that you don’t damage your car accidently and also to have knowledge of the proper procedure to get the task done properly.
For this reason, we have decided to help you with the detailed guidelines in order to enable you to sand and paint your own car.
What is sanding:
Sanding is the most important part when preparing to paint a car. Sanding is basically a process where you use sand paper to remove the old layer of paint from the top of your car’s surface.
There are many things required for you to start sanding and to paint your car, but the most critical thing you will need is time. As painting a car is no small job so it needs proper attention and a dedicated amount of time.
Other things that you will need are an excellent sanding machine e.g. an electrical orbital sander, abrasion resistant film and abrasive disks. You can also use 1200 to 2000 grit wet and dry sanding paper or different paper grades if you want to do a thorough work, which will require more effort on your part. The required equipment for sanding also depends on the job.
Step 1: preparation of the surface:
To clean the surface of the car which you are going to paint is very important. Cleaning the surface will remove any dirt, grease and other obstacles which can make your job hard.
To remove the unwanted grease, dirt and grime, you can opt to wash the car or just wipe the whole surface with a wet piece of cloth.
Take off the side mirror, badges, headlight covers and any other attachments from your car. In short, remove any thing that is attached on the outside of the car which can act as an obstacle in your job of sanding. Mask everything with abrasion resistant film.
Step 2: fix the dents and scratches:
Look for any dents or scratches on the surface of the car. If you are going to use a filter to deal with these dents and scratches, be sure to use one with strong adhesion.
Use the filter after cleaning the inside off the dent or scratch with an abrasive. This will create a rough surface.
Step 3: get the sanding machine ready:
Prep the sanding machine by attaching the coarse abrasive disk on to the machine after the exterior of the car is ready for sanding. Use grade P60 for first round of sanding.
Don’t use the sanding machine too much on the car’s surface as it will damage the surface. Follow the professional instruction and use the machine on a part of the surface until the old paint fades properly.
Use the sanding machine in smooth clear circular motions, without stopping or without going too fast, to remove the clear coat, the top and base coat completely.
To reach the corners of the surface where a sand machine will be hard to be used, use sanding paper to remove the paint with hand. To get an even surface, sand the whole surface properly so that new coat is clean and even too.
Step 4: change the abrasive disc:
Change the disk which you used to get rid of the clear, top and base coats and switch to a more delicate disc once you get to the primer surface on the car.
Once you reach closer to the interior surface, it is essential to strip off as much primer as possible, to get to the bare metal of the surface. Try to get rid of all the scratches that might have formed on the surface due to the abrasives.
Step 5: finishing:
The sanding process is important to get a clear surface which is free from any unwanted material or particles. The sanding process also serves the purpose of providing grip for primer and paint. Proper and clean sanding of any car’s surface will result in a clean canvas which will allow any DIY-er to paint smoothly on the car however you want.
The summary of the expert advice of sanding a car is to scratch the old primer and paint and get to the bare metal of the car. This will not only ensure a cleaner surface but also provide a strong grip for new paints and primer.
Sanding can result in a lot of mess, so be sure to be prepared for the mess. Prep your house and the floor for the dust and paint and spread plastic sheets or large papers down on the floor so that all this can be removed easily after the completion of the process.
Remove any floor mat, carpet or rugs that are placed on floor of the house or your workshop, so that it doesn’t get destroyed by the dust and powder of stripped paint.
If you are working outside of the house, make sure that there are no obstacles that can make your job harder. Remove any dust that might be stuck to the cars surface after stripping the paint.
The final verdict:
Even though hiring a professional to paint your car is much easier than having to do it yourself, it can be more expensive. Though the results will be amazing and you will not feel exhausted and the car will be handles professionally meaning it will have an even paint layer.
Many DIY enthusiasts like to do it by themselves, and once you get the hang of it, it feels like an easy enough job to do which is also very cheap.
Try to sand your car after which you can easily paint the car using an air compressor.
