giving up on your old reliable vehicle

3 Of The Biggest Mistakes Diyers Tend To Make With An Auto Paint Job

7 August 2016

Glen Soto

With the ready availability of informational how-to's and instructional videos online, it is easy to do a little research and decide that you may be able to tackle your own car's paint job after all. The only bad thing about having so much information available is it can create a false sense of confidence to do tasks that may be better left to a professional. If you are determined to paint your car on your own, at the least make sure you take some time to get to know the biggest mistakes you should avoid in the process. 

Mistake: Underestimating the amount of time it will take to paint your car.

Why? Painting a car is one of the most lengthy projects you could attempt when it comes to auto body changes. You will be faced with days of sanding and prep work, potential hours of actual painting, and several days of drying time between each coat of primer, paint, and clear coat if necessary. Assuming the process will be a short thing that you can complete in just a few days may lead you to try and do a rush job, which is never going to give you a good outcome.

Mistake: Choosing to tackle the car-painting project outdoors.

Why? It is not impossible to paint a car without shelter, but it will definitely make the process even more of a challenge. Outside, there are way too many variable factors to control, especially as someone who has no experience with painting cars. Things like wind, condensation, rain, and even direct sunlight can prevent you from being able to paint the car and see the results you would like. If you do go the DIY route with an automotive paint job, move the project indoors or build a temporary protective structure with plastic tarps and a wooden frame. 

Mistake: Using a paint sprayer to start painting without getting a feel for how it works first.

Why? Making a painting mistake once you actually start painting is not a reversible thing. In fact, splatters and runs will have to be completely sanded away before applying a new coat of paint. You may have used an air paint sprayer for other tasks, but there is nothing that quite compares to painting a car. Before you get started painting, grab a few pieces of sheet metal and do some practice runs to ensure two things. One, you need to know you can maneuver the gun correctly to distribute the paint, and two, you want to make sure the spray nozzle is allowing for smooth flow without splatters.

For professional help, contact a business like Select Collision Group.

Share

Search