Painting a component step by step

Many drivers treat their dream car like a member of the family. No wonder that damage to the bodywork - caused by accidental scuffles, bumps or even hailstorms - can bring them to tears.

Until recently, the desire to restore a car to its former glory involved having to take it to a professional painter and spending several thousand zloty. Today, however, there are products available on the market which, with a bit of skill and patience, will allow you to go through the process of painting individual car elements yourself.

Painting your car yourself - is it worth it?

Virtually every town and city offers professional refinishers who, with their experience and tools, will be happy to restore your car to its former glory. So why should you consider painting your car yourself?

The main argument is usually the price. The price of painting a car by a professional refinisher will probably cost between PLN 4,000 and PLN 6,000. However, in case of more complicated works, the price may be even twice as high! For many drivers this is a prohibitive price, sometimes exceeding half the value of the car itself.

In the case of extensive damage requiring the painting of the entire car, the help of a professional will be invaluable. If you do it yourself, the process will take a long time and the end result will probably not be what you expect. In the case of individual components such as bumpers, mudguards or doors, however, the task should be simpler and manageable even for the occasional DIY enthusiast.

If you don't have a workshop or garage that you can adapt for paint work, the whole process will be much more complicated. This is because painting a car outdoors poses a number of problems - mainly related to weather conditions. Unpredictable rainfall or strong wind can effectively thwart our efforts. In bright sunlight, the colour fades quickly and discolouration occurs. Dust, dirt and even insects can also have a negative impact on the paintwork.

Not sure how to go about it? Take a look at our step-by-step guide to painting your car.

Spray painting a car - where do you start?

Before you take your car spray paint in hand, you need to prepare yourself properly for the whole process. Otherwise, spray-painting your car will not only be ineffective, but will also put you at risk. It is a good idea to start thinking about the repair of individual car body elements by properly arranging the chosen room.

Remember to clear away unnecessary items, protect the space with plastic sheeting and pour water on the floor alone - this will prevent some of the dirt from reaching the surface of the bodywork. Also ensure that the entire room has adequate ventilation.

Painting step by step

Painting a car, step 1: Preparing the component

Room prepared? Then you are ready to proceed. First, wash the car body element with water to remove any dirt and dust. Then remove the old paintwork using sandpaper of the appropriate grade.

Use sandpaper between 60 and 120 to remove rust, chips and larger irregularities. For subsequent preparation, use superfine sandpaper (approx. 320 grit) for a perfectly smooth surface.

Sanding, i.e. removing the old paint with sandpaper, is one of the most demanding and time-consuming tasks in car refinishing. Many

Many inexperienced painters do not give it their due attention and, as a result, the final result is far from the desired one. Remember - only a properly prepared and perfectly smooth surface will ensure proper adhesion of the new coat of paint.

Car painting, step 2: degreasing the surface

If you have removed the old layer of paint, you can move on to degreasing the surface of your chosen bodywork component. This process involves removing any dirt that may have been left behind after sanding. Degreasing the surface will help to avoid defects on the newly applied paintwork, such as flaking, cracking or the formation of craters.

The best way to properly degrease a bodywork component is with extraction gasoline, also commercially available under names such as solvent or extraction thinner. This is an agent that is great for removing greasy stains, deposits and dirt. Most importantly, however, it is not corrosive, so you do not have to worry about damaging the surface to be cleaned.

The use of extraction gasoline is extremely simple. Simply soak a cloth in it and then wipe the soiled surface. When you have finished, it is a good idea to leave the bodywork for a few minutes for the petrol to evaporate and then wipe it off with a dry, clean cloth. Remember to carry out the whole process wearing gloves - this will help protect your hands from the adverse effects of the solvent.

Car refinishing, step 3: application of primer

Once the car body has been thoroughly cleaned of old paint and any dirt, it is time to apply the primer. Its primary task is to protect the element against the appearance of rust and to even out minor irregularities of the repaired car body. The refinisher also applies the primer to create a so-called interlayer, which increases the quality of the coating and reduces the likelihood of refinishing errors.

There are two types of primer available on the market. The most common is acrylic primer, which allows even large scratches and surface irregularities to be filled in. It also ensures very good adhesion - regardless of the type of substrate. In painting work, acrylic primer is usually used for putty surfaces and old coatings.

Epoxy primer, on the other hand, is used where a high level of corrosion protection is required. When dry, epoxy primer forms a barrier against rust up to twice as good as acrylic resin. In some cases, it is a good idea to use both types of primer - first an acrylic primer to fill any cavities and irregularities, and then an epoxy primer to provide better protection against the appearance of rust.

How is the primer applied? Professional painters usually use a spray gun for this process. However, in a garage environment, spray primer is much more suitable as it requires neither years of experience nor specialised tools. The primer is applied from a distance of 20-30 centimetres from the component, applying several thin layers. It is important to leave an interval of 5 to 10 minutes between applications and to shake the can vigorously before each use.

Application of the primer can be done using two techniques. Usually, the “dry” method is used, where you wait for it to dry completely and then proceed with the sanding process. However, if the primer is mainly used as insulation and interlayer, then the wet-on-wet technique can be used. The topcoat is then applied while the primer is still wet and chemically active.

Painting a car, step 4: Application of basecoat and clearcoat

If all the preparatory work has been completed, it is time to spray-paint the car properly. It is best to start the whole process by choosing the right colour. If you want to change the look of your car, then you are in a comfortable situation - you can just choose the colour you like and its shade and start the painting process. The situation becomes more difficult when you are carrying out a repair process and would like to match the entire component with the rest of the bodywork.

How do you determine the paint colour of a car? The colour code on the rating plate can help you identify the colour of the car. Depending on the model, this can be found under the bonnet, on the side frame or in the boot. An OEM parts catalogue website can also help you find the right colour. If you know the VIN number of your car, you can easily obtain all the necessary information.

There are many types of paint on the market. If you want your car to look like it came out of a professional painter's workshop, you should invest in a spray gun that, when connected to a compressor, allows you to spread the paint evenly and avoid streaks. However, there are also spray paints on the market that do not require professional equipment. However, such products are particularly suitable for smaller and simpler items, such as bumpers.

Applying basecoat is not an easy task and requires some experience. That's why it's a good idea to practice on unnecessary sheet metal or other materials before actually spray-painting your car. It is good practice to use a sweeping motion from right to left and back.

It is also important to use the trigger only when the spray gun or spray can is in motion. This avoids the application of too much paint in one place and, consequently, its dripping and the formation of streaks.

While when painting walls it is sufficient to apply the paint twice, when painting a car, the best effect will be achieved by applying up to 3-4 layers. Remember, however, that it is necessary to wait until the basecoat is dry each time.

All treatment completed? Now apply a layer of clearcoat. Its main task is to protect the basecoat - both from mechanical and atmospheric influences. The clearcoat is applied in a similar way to the basecoat - with the difference that the spray should be kept a little further away.

The whole process should start with applying a thin initial layer to achieve the right adhesion. This should then be repeated twice and we should wait 24 hours for the clearcoat to dry. Finally - using polishes - polish the car body.

Painting a car body - summary

Is painting car body parts yourself an easy process for an amateur? Not necessarily. However, it is certainly very rewarding and saves a lot of money. If you use good quality paint materials and paints when painting the sheet metal, and back up the whole process with DIY skills, the result can be captivating.