How to Paint Your Own Cars
- 1). Sand the car using 120-grit dry sandpaper. Do this by hand, using a block sander or a dual-action sander. Sand until all of the old clear-coat paint is gone and the entire car is dull.
- 2). Place masking tape over all pieces and parts that won't be painted. Cover the lights, glass, mirrors, wheels, grille and other trim pieces.
- 3). Wipe the surface with the wax and grease remover using a cloth. This removes all oils and grease from the surface, which could cause imperfections in the new paint.
- 4). Apply primer to the surface, keeping the coat thin to prevent runs. Thick primer won't dry very well and could cause wrinkles and bumps in the paint later. Let the primer dry for an hour.
- 5). Use 300-grit dry sandpaper to sand the primer lightly. This smoothes the surface for the paint and allows the paint to adhere better to the primer. Wipe the car once again with wax and grease remover.
- 6). Spray four or five thin coats of paint on the car. Allow 15 minutes between each coat for it to dry. Start at the top of the car and work your way down to the bottom, Keep the coats thin and even to prevent runs.
- 7). Add three or four thin coats of clear-coat paint after the base color has dried for at least six hours. Remove the masking paper and tape very carefully. Allow the car to dry for a full day.
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