Revamp Your Ride: Car Paint Spraying Techniques in 10 Steps

You will be surprised to see just how to spray car paint really can be easy. That doesn’t mean that you can just grab a tin of paint and go at it like some kind of unhinged pinstriper. There are some basic guidelines you need to know, both in the preparation and application.

Key Points:

1. Preparation: Gather tools, protect the area, and cover parts not being painted to prevent overspray.
2. Sanding: Inspect and sand the surface with 220 to 300 grit sandpaper to ensure smoothness and better paint adhesion.
3. Priming: Apply primer in light coats for even coverage and to enhance paint adhesion.
4. Wet Sanding: Optional between primer and paint coats to achieve a smoother finish.
5. Color Application: Practice strokes on a test panel, then apply color evenly to avoid runs and ensure uniform coverage.
6. Clear Coat: Apply several clear coats for gloss, protection, and a finished look, allowing drying between coats.
7. Finish Sanding: Wet sand with progressively finer grits to remove imperfections and prepare for buff & polish.
8. Polish Sanding: Optional for intensive colors, using a fine grit to reduce buff time and enhance shine.
9. Buffing: Use medium and fine buffing pads with compound to achieve a high gloss and remove imperfections.
10. Polishing: Final step to remove haze and achieve a brilliant shine.

Step One: Preparation

Prepare by gathering all of the tools that you are going to need. Tool carts on wheels are invaluable in any shop, and make moving your prep tools around the shop easy. Make sure your surrounding area is protected against any possible over spray. Paint particles can travel a surprising distance and land on unintended surfaces, such as other customer’s vehicles. Any parts that do not need to be sprayed should be removed if possible. Back any holes or voids with masking tape. For other areas like glass or undamaged panels, cover well with paper and masking tape.

Step Two: Sanding

You will have to inspect the surface thoroughly, examining the car carefully for any rough spots. These will need to be sanded with 220 to 300 grit sand paper. This will smooth out the rough spots. It also allows the spray car paint to adhere better. Once you have finished sanding, make sure all of the dust dirt and debris are removed from the vehicle. It’s imperative that the car be perfectly clean.

Step Three: Priming

You will need to apply a primer. This will make sure that you get an overall even coat of your colored paint, and ensures the paint will adhere well. When you spray the primer, make sure you apply light coats and allow for drying in between. How to spray car paint takes a little getting used to, so don’t be afraid to practice and try things out on junk parts before painting a job car.

Step Four: Wet Sanding

Most likely, you will need to wet sand between coats of primer and color paints. Though less than ideal, this step can be skipped but only if applying paint wet on wet. You may want to research this option further by reading our step by step guide to wet sanding, or check with someone that is familiar with how to spray car paint.

Step Five: Color Application

Now you are pretty well to the point where you are about ready to spray the color. You may have decided to use the spray car paint that comes in aerosol cans, or perhaps you have opted for the spray gun. In either case, make a few practice strokes on a Test Panel before you start with the car. Once you are ready, start the passes with the paint without hesitation. If you hold the spray can or gun in one spot, you will end up with uneven coverage and possibly the paint will run. If this happens you have a major repair job on your hands. You will most likely have instructions as to how to spray car paint using the equipment or spray cans.

Step Six: Clear Coat

Once you are totally satisfied with the color, you are down to the finishing touches. You will now want to apply several clear coats. This will give the gloss and finished look to the car as well as protect the finish. Two good coats will normally be sufficient, but it will be up to you if you want to lay it on thicker. Make absolutely sure it is dry in between coats to allow the solvents to evaporate out.

Step Seven: Finish Sanding

Once again, you have the option of wet sanding if you prefer. Again, I suggest you ask the advice of individuals that are familiar with how to spray paint a car. If you decide to follow this step then you need to wet sand with the following grits in this order. Use 1000 or 1200 grit for runs or large dirt spots, 1500 grit to cut down orange peel, and the finally 2000 to smooth out the scratches to a buffable level. This will remove inclusions, dirt, or heavy orange peel in the clear coat application. For more advanced issues and how to fix them, see our section on Paint Correction.

Step Eight: “Polish” Sanding (optional)

This extra little step is one that’s for the more difficult or intensive colors, such as black, dark colors, or pearlescent paints. These colors tend to show scratches, making the buffing process laborious. 3M makes a wonderful little solution called a Trizact Pad, available from Eastwood. While made for a DA sander, I simply use these by hand with a little bit of water to remove even the finest scratches. In fact, the paint almost starts to look shiny again, due to this extremely fine 3000 grit. One of these Trizact pads will cut down buff time drastically, and I always keep one in my buffing box.

Step Nine: Buffing

You should now buff the surface. To do this start with a medium cut buffing pad and some trusty rubbing compound. Once you have done this, you should have a glassy look to the finish, although it will still appear slightly hazy and rainbowed, like a fish belly. Clear coats should be buffed with foam pads, while single stage paints (or extremely hard clears) need to be buffed using a coarse Wool Buffing Bonnet. Use caution when using one of these fluffy monsters because it’s really easy to burn the paint right off. For a detailed instructions and breakdown of the chemical process, see our guide on How To Buff Paint.

Step Ten: Polishing

As a final touch, you will need to use a Fine Foam Buffing Pad (for all paint types, never use wool for this step) as well as a bottle of Swirl Mark Remover. This will remove the hazy fish belly effect and bring the paint to a glorious, awe-inspiring shine. Nothing is quite as hypnotically beautiful as freshly buffed and polished paint, and it can stop people in their tracks because they get dumbstruck by the perfectly straight, shiny surface.

Why I Recommend Spray Paint Secrets

Paint Spraying Video Course

I’ve always been passionate about sharing my knowledge and experience of car spray painting, to the point where I considered launching a YouTube channel or Udemy course to document live video details of this intricate work. However, after discovering Mario’s Spray Paint Secrets instructional videos, I was genuinely impressed. The depth, clarity, and comprehensiveness of his tutorials far surpassed my expectations, making me realize that crafting a course of similar caliber in my own workshop would be an immense challenge. Mario’s approach not only covers the essentials but also delves into advanced techniques with such precision that it truly sets a new standard in Transforming Automotive Passion into Professional Excellence.

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