Surface Preparation

• 1). Thoroughly clean the surface of the vehicle with a solvent-based cleaner to remove all the wax and grease. Note: Clean all surfaces that are to be painted.
  
  
• 2). Sand existing paint surfaces with 600- to 800-grit sandpaper. The paint may still be in good condition; therefore, a good scuffing of the surface may be all that is required. In other areas, you may need to sand the paint to bare metal. These areas should be feathered in with the existing paint.
  
  
• 3). Clean the surfaces with a solvent-based surface cleaner again. The most important step in painting any surface is to ensure there are no contaminants on the surface.
  
  

Paint Preparation

• 1). Remove the canister from the spray gun; ensure no contaminants are in the canister.
  
  
• 2). Strain the paint through the nylon mesh strainer into the canister, again, ensuring that no contaminants enter the spray gun. It is important to note that unlike traditional paints, water-based paints normally need no thinner. Re-attach the canister to the spray gun.
  
  
• 3). Attach the spray gun to the air compressor. The required air volume range for the spray gun is normally on the specifications sheet supplied with the spray gun. Typical HVLP spray guns require 8 to 20 cfm.
  
  

Application

• 1). Apply two to three light coats of self-etching primer, allowing a 5- to 10-minute drying time in between coats. Allow the top coat of primer to dry for 1 hour before applying paint.
  
  
• 2). Apply a light first coat of paint. Keep the gun perpendicular at a distance of 5 to 7 inches from the surface. Overlap your paint strokes by 50 percent at an even pace. Note: The first coat will not offer full coverage. This coat should have a speckled appearance. The subsequent paint coats will offer more substantial coverage as more paint builds.
  
  
• 3). Apply a second and a third coat. The second and third coats may be applied with more material to create an even finish using the same spray techniques described in step 2.
  
  
• 4). Allow the paint to cure for a minimum of 15 minutes with an airflow temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the paint booth. Outdoor drying can take longer and is only recommended with low humidity and temperatures in excess of 70 degrees.