How the car is painted. Preparing for painting and painting a car with your own hands

Do-it-yourself car painting is a real way to save money on car repairs, but at the same time do the job with high quality, as well as give the vehicle individuality. Most motorists paint the car on their own using a spray gun or spray paint. The device allows you to apply paint in an even layer, as well as avoid smudges and irregularities. The whole procedure is quite simple, so it can be done within a couple of days. In order for the result to please the owner for many years, it is necessary to follow a certain sequence, and also to take the painting seriously and responsibly.

Preparatory work

The longest period for painting is preparation for it. If the coloring is not complete, then care must be taken to protect the elements that will not be painted. They can be covered with paper, tape, plastic wrap.

Since most often the car is painted due to damage to the paintwork, it is worth eliminating all existing defects on it.

If the old layer of paint and primer holds well, then you should not remove it by force. Such areas can be cleaned with sandpaper and degreased with gasoline. Practice shows that this is enough to ensure reliable adhesion of the old and new layers. If you still need to remove old paint or it is cracked and has very large chips, then it is better to use the etching procedure.

With the help of chemicals, you can easily clean a large area in just 10-12 hours. For these purposes, a solution of caustic soda is used. Preparing for painting a car with your own hands in the garage involves applying a 30 percent solution of caustic soda with a brush to the entire surface, which will then be painted. When applying the solution, you must be extremely careful, as etching can damage other parts of the body and be hazardous to the health of the car owner if used improperly. The solution is left for 10-12 hours. After the indicated time, the body is washed with hot water. The paint layer will be removed with the water.

If it is not possible to purchase a ready-made solution, then you can make it yourself. To do this, take a pound of potato flour mixed with water. The resulting mixture is added 2 kg of caustic soda and 2 liters of water. All components are thoroughly mixed and applied to the body. The paste is kept for an hour.

After the paste has acted on the paint and varnish layer, it is removed with a spatula, and the surface of the body is cleaned with a powerful jet of water.

Primer and putty

After cleaning the surface, it is primed with special compounds. Primer number 138 is used for this. On small surfaces it can be used without thinning. If the body is completely painted, then compounds numbered 647 or 646 can be used as solvents.

It is very convenient to use a rubber spatula for filling a car, the width of which is within 4-6 cm.

Since it is impossible to paint the car completely without using putty, it is better to pre-align the damaged body parts, and if small holes were found, then use solder and patch them. If you cannot do without applying a thick layer of putty, then it is better to use a nitro filler and apply it in several stages. Each layer must be dried well before applying the other.

Do-it-yourself car painting technology in the garage

Painting an already prepared car is usually not difficult even for inexperienced craftsmen. A prerequisite is the presence of good ventilation, as well as the absence of dust in the garage. The paint can be the exact same color as the body color for local painting, or it can be a completely different shade. If the car is completely repainted, then you can choose a shade in accordance with the one indicated in the technical passport or choose a completely different color, but after painting you will have to re-register the car.

If painting a car with your own hands in the garage using a spray gun, then the coloring composition is prepared before work. The paint is diluted with a solvent numbered 647 in a spray bottle or in any other container. The paint must be filtered through a fine sieve before use. Since large particles are sometimes found in it, an unstrained composition can lead to clogging of the nozzle or to irregularities on the surface of the body.

To save solvent and reduce paint layers on the body, you can heat the finished enamel to 50 degrees.

In each case, the viscosity of the paint is selected individually. While the first layers can be thick enough, the latter should be more fluid to obtain a smooth and uniform structure. Each layer dries in about 15-20 minutes. Do not apply several layers to the surface at once, as the paint can flow and lead to the appearance of irregularities.

Complete drying of paint on a car takes about a day. At this time, it is better to leave the car in a clean, well-ventilated place. Although the manufacturers of most paints claim that the formulations harden quickly enough, it is better to wait a while at home to obtain the best result.

Do-it-yourself painting of a car with a spray can is somewhat different from painting with the help of special devices. It is convenient to paint small areas with a spray can, but painting large areas will be quite laborious and expensive. The main advantage of spray painting is simplicity and no need for additional devices. The paint adheres well to the body, so the surface does not need to be leveled, but it is advisable to do this to obtain the best possible result.

The paint is applied in 2-3 coats from a distance of 30 cm. The aerosol must be permanently perpendicular to the body.

The first layers of paint are applied horizontally, but all subsequent work is done in vertical movements.

A prerequisite for painting the body with spray paints is the ambient temperature. The room should have a constant temperature above 20-25 degrees. Each layer that is applied to the surface of the machine should slightly protrude beyond the previous one - this method of application will avoid abrupt transitions. Complete drying of the paint occurs within 6-7 hours.

After painting the car, you will need to sand and polish it. These manipulations allow you to achieve shine and radiance of the car. Only after polishing can you get a rich deep color that will last for several decades. Very often, after staining, small paint build-ups can occur, which can be easily removed by sanding. It is best to use a dry sanding method. In this type of grinding, special machines are used, which ensure an ideal result when used correctly. At the beginning, sanding paper with abrasive particles p1000 is used.

Grinding can only be completed after all visible defects have been removed. After sanding, be sure to re-clean the body of dust, and also inspect it for damage. Do-it-yourself car painting in the garage for the first time is often not very accurate, so defects in the form of scratches may appear on the body. During sanding, all this is easily and quickly eliminated, and sagging in the places of transitions of old and new paint is completely removed with a careful study of the areas.

Final polishing

The last step in painting the car is polishing the body. There are several types of polishing:

abrasive;
protective.

Abrasive polishing is designed to remove the smallest scratches and haze, which can impart a matte finish to the paint. Abrasive polishing is performed using special paste. Coarse abrasive pastes can eliminate minor imperfections in the paintwork and make the body shiny and beautiful. Fine-abrasive paste or non-abrasive compounds are used at the final stage. The products give the body an attractive appearance, which does not show even the smallest defects.

To eliminate minor damage to the car body, the possibilities of partial processing of body parts are often used. Local repair of your car can be done by hand and significantly save money on the services of specialized stations. At the same time, local work is carried out not only on metal body parts, but also on interior elements. Parts are processed in a pointwise manner in compliance with important technologies. Only in this way will partial painting of individual sections of the car really be optimal in all respects. Important aspects of the repair work must be observed.

Spot processing of body elements of your car should be carried out in decent conditions. If the air humidity is high or the temperature is too low, the car cannot be repaired properly. So it is better to provide a quality environment before investing in this process. Moreover, even local work done by yourself will have to spend a lot of money. You will need quality materials, good reliable tools for applying paint.

All parts of your car should be high quality painted. Today, painting of car body elements has become a real art, a huge number of special materials, devices, conditions and methods of performing work are distinguished. Each element can have a special approach in performing painting operations. But there is a certain principle of preparing a section of a car body and performing work:

Cleaning and washing the spot with fine sandpaper. This stage also implies some expansion of the painting area.
Protection of parts that do not need to be covered with a new layer of materials. This can be done with film and masking tape or other materials at hand.
Smoothing out any unevenness in the working area so that the local spots are completely flat and satisfactory in surface texture.
Cover the work piece with a primer to ensure good paint adhesion and to protect metal parts from future corrosion.
Painting and bringing the local area of your car to the desired state. At this stage, the car is often completely polished to ensure that the results are of good quality.

You can carry out all the stages with your own hands quite simply. There are a number of voluminous videos and instructions in a different format in the public domain. But painting a car locally with your own hands can also be tricky. Even if you have a theoretical basis, partial painting of a car is not always successful the first time. It is not enough just to know this process, you also need to have experience and skills for painting.

Local work for the elements of the car interior

Also, a number of videos and articles from experts talk about the principles of painting with plastic. For this, the parts must be dismantled from the car interior. Sometimes you need non-pinpoint processing, it is more convenient to repaint the entire object without preparation and complex protection of undamaged areas. The plastic is also washed off and then opened with paint. The primer can be missed if you do not completely remove all the coating when preparing the subject.

Spot painting of a car often includes the process of finalizing interior items. But some of the components of the car interior are extremely difficult to dismantle. Their processing right in the salon should be as careful as possible. Since in the process you can paint glass or other elements of the interior space. Therefore, such a local painting of a car, and even with your own hands, should be carried out carefully and competently.

Transition is a necessary skill for local repairs

Your car may turn out to be ugly after ineptly performed actions with paintwork. The problem is that it is almost never possible to find ideal paints and varnishes. Therefore, spot work immediately becomes visible to the naked eye. Dots and local spots that were painted are visible, they differ in texture, color and freshness of the coating. Painting a car element using transition technology is performed as follows:

the car is prepared as indicated above, before the stage of paint application and direct visual finishing;

the first two coats are applied using a standard paint mixture that you would use for any work;

then the paint is diluted with a solvent, another layer is applied, then dilution occurs again;

you need to dilute in about a 1: 1 ratio by repeating the procedure about 6-7 times and applying a solution;

the range of repair places on the car is also gradually expanding in order to complete the transition;

at the last stage, an almost pure solvent is applied to the body, simply with a tint.

Such a partial painting of a car will save you from having to make excuses to a future buyer for repair places. And the most pleasant thing is to drive a car, the color of the parts of which does not differ from the main tone. Even not the most skillful spot painting of a car with your own hands with this technique will help hide all the shortcomings of overlaying paints and varnishes.

How to learn to paint local damage on a car?

The body parts of your vehicle can be painted only after you have completed the training work. When you pick up a spray bottle for the first time, you are unlikely to show excellent results. It is worth watching a video in which experts explain how all the work is done with their own hands. Local car painting must also comply with certain requirements and restrictions:

do not use materials that are too cheap, this will lead to their poor quality and poor overlap;

spot work should be carried out in a cell or a prepared garage, and not in the open air;

you should carry out training restoration of paintwork on surfaces that are not so important to you;

only good equipment with normal paint supply will be a good solution for your car;

You should not expect amazing results if you have never painted a vehicle before.

It is not worth approaching the painting process without experience. Better to take a garage door, for example, as a test object. On them, you can practice your own skills and get excellent results. Only then can you easily correct the shortcomings of the body parts of your own transport. There is no need to rush in this matter. And if the result is needed urgently, then it is better to contact a specialist.

Summing up

In order for local painting of a car body to be completely successful, define the tasks of your work. For a professional result, you will often need high-quality equipment, expensive paint and other expensive conditions. If you have only a can and a minimum of technical means at your disposal, you will have to accept the low quality of the processing results. It will not be superfluous to note that the car cannot be painted in inappropriate conditions, otherwise the material will simply peel off the metal or plastic and will not serve properly.

With simple technology, you can achieve the results you want. But keep in mind that painting in a booth with a good spray gun and a powerful compressor will still be better. Sometimes it is worth renting a camera or simply ordering services from specialists. This option will save you time, but it will require more money. After some preparation, you can independently perform all the necessary work without blots and difficulties. Any mistakes in the process can be corrected, you just need to know how to do it.

Most people believe that in order to paint a car beautifully and with high quality, one must have unique knowledge or be a magician. In fact, this is not entirely true. If you prepare and familiarize yourself with the practice of predecessors, then you can paint your four-wheeled pet with your own hands.

Choice of premises and materials

The first thing to start with when painting yourself is choosing a room and the necessary materials for work. The opinion that high-quality painting with your own hands is impossible, appeared, by and large, due to the neglect of the working chamber. Of course, few people will bother and create the perfect box for painting. However, it is worth paying attention to:

The dimensions of the room. Most of the hobbyists use the garage, but besides being dusty and dirty, it is too cramped. Ideally, there should be a distance of more than 1 meter along the periphery of the car (more is possible).
Wall decoration must be given credit. For professionals, painting boxes have plastic or metal walls, but in domestic conditions it is enough to cover the walls and ceiling with a matte film.

It is not allowed to use a room with wooden walls for painting a car. There is a high risk of poisoning and fire.

Craftsmen equip their workplaces with a metal mesh floor, which is raised relative to the concrete to provide additional air circulation. But at home, an ordinary screed is also suitable.

Special attention should be paid to air filtration. It is divided into two stages: cleaning the air that comes from outside and filtering the air directly in the room. For this, active dry or water filters are usually used.
The lighting should be uniform. Experts recommend using cold fluorescent lamps to avoid glare and poor quality results.
Temperature. The ideal temperature for bodywork is between 20-25 degrees Celsius. In such conditions, the vehicle is primed, painted and polished. The temperature can be raised to speed up the drying process. The main rule is that the distribution of heat throughout the body must be uniform.

To start work you will need:

Spray gun (it is necessary to determine the best option for yourself in practice; moreover, several options will be needed - for working on large open surfaces and in hard-to-reach places);
Compressor (must have a receiver and correspond to the characteristics of the atomizer);
Tools for polishing and grinding (required at all stages of work);
An industrial hair dryer (important for drying, and also useful when dismantling some elements).

Workplace preparation, dismantling and protection

First, the vehicle must be washed. It is better to do this with a special set of sponges and cleaning agents. It is imperative to remove all road dirt, dust, old adhered debris, bitumen and greasy stains. During washing, special attention should be paid to the inspection of the load-bearing parts of the car: pillars, sills, bottom and joints. If necessary, for high-quality cleaning, it is possible to use white spirit or other specialized products.

After washing and inspection, you can proceed to dismantle all removable parts. Usually it is necessary to remove the radiator grille, headlights and sidelights, bumpers, everything related to lighting, protection on the arches (if any). Then the washing and stripping of grease and stains is repeated. Removable parts are also cleaned and dried.

When painting yourself, take into account the wide range of chemicals you will have to work with. To protect the skin and respiratory tract, prepare a respirator with a filter, gloves, mask and protective suit in advance. Since the paint will be sprayed, it is best to have several replacement filters on hand.

The glass of the car must be protected from paint ingress. To do this, you can completely glue them up to the joints.

Elimination of body defects, cleaning and grinding

In order to get a high-quality painting result, washing alone is not enough. After all removable parts are dismantled, the glass is glued, it is necessary to get rid of the layer of old paint, and check the body for dents and cracks.

Craftsmen say that if high quality paint is used, small dents can be neglected. Large areas of deformation need to be straightened. It is difficult to do it on your own - you need professional materials, exhaust equipment, straightened supports and hammers.

To get rid of a layer of old paint, you need competent work with a sander and sandpaper. Then all seams, cracks, chips will be removed. Hard-to-reach areas are being processed. If large areas of a layer of old paint are found, possibly even cracked, but it is not possible to remove it with sandpaper - it is better to treat the area with a 30% solution of caustic soda, and in the morning treat it with gasoline. You do not need to be zealous with sandpaper, since the risk of damage to the body is very high.

If areas of rust are found during grinding, these areas must be processed to bare metal, and then putty. It will be easier to clean the welded seams with a grinder, and as a completion it is necessary to process everything with P220-P260 paper.

Working with putty, features and types of putty

There are several types of car putty:

Medium-grained universal putty. It can be applied in a layer up to two millimeters thick on aluminum, zinc, stainless steel.
Filling. When cured, it forms a strong bond that is difficult to fill. Shrinks up to 10%, smoothes the surface of the body.
The finish. Lightweight, serves to eliminate minor scratches and chips.
For plastic. Despite the name, it can also be used for metal surfaces. It smooths out vibrations perfectly, is versatile.
Liquid putty. A special gun is used to apply it. It is processed identically to the primer.

A common feature for all types of putties is the composition: each type includes a filler and a hardener directly. It is better to knead the putty in small portions, as it begins to harden after 5-10 minutes.

To perform well, it is better to have a metal and rubber spatula on hand; be sure to follow the instructions for use during work. The finished putty must be mixed for 30–40 seconds, and then applied to problem areas with sharp perpendicular movements.

The filled places need 40-50 minutes for complete hardening, usually for this it is enough to observe the temperature regime of 20-25 degrees Celsius in the room. You can check the degree of hardening with # 80 sandpaper. When dry perfectly, the filler will leave a white dust clump-free.

Cleaning dry putty must be carried out with a set of skins of different grains. An additional layer of putty may be required. Upon completion of work, the surface of the site must be identical to the surface of the body in terms of geometric and tactile indicators.

Primer technique, final preparation before painting

There are three types of primers: acrylic, epoxy and acidic. Most of the soils are incompatible with each other due to their physical and chemical properties. It is better to choose the necessary primer based solely on the needs of your car. For example, epoxy serves as an excellent insulator, acrylic perfectly fills cracks and chips, and acidic refers to rust converters and forms an oxyl layer on the body.

The primer is applied exclusively to a dry surface, as it absorbs water and forms a film. Moisture penetration under the ground can further provoke the development of corrosion. When using, it is better to follow the instructions carefully, however, as a rule, it is necessary to apply three to four coats at intervals of 15-20 minutes.

The primer comes in a variety of colors and the choice is based on the intended color of the vehicle. For the correct color combination, you must use a set of products from one manufacturer. The primer is developed with a contrasting paint the next day, after which they proceed to cleaning with 600-800 emery. Grouting is carried out extremely carefully, due to the thin layer of applied primer. If, through negligence, it has been erased, you can use the aerosol option and fix problem areas.

Car painting technique

Directly the technique of painting the body does not have any particular difficulties, all depending on the desired color or effect. The process begins with internal, hidden and hard-to-reach places. Exterior painting is done last, starting with the roof.

When using a spray gun, you need to follow several general rules: it is better to take a nozzle No. 1.4; pressure according to the standard 2.5–3 atm; the distance to the painted surface is 200–250 millimeters.

It is recommended to apply 2-3 coats of paint at intervals of 15-20 minutes. Be sure to apply the coating evenly, avoiding smudges. If there are any, the coating must be completely redone. In most cases, after the paint has dried, the body is immediately polished.

LCP polishing

After painting, the car enthusiast can apply a polishing coating to the body. It usually comes in several types and can even get rid of minor scratches. However, after painting, a protective polish is usually applied.

First of all, the protective layer can protect the car from the negative influence of precipitation and other external factors. Such a polish contains silicone, which, after application, has a bright shine.

At home, while polishing the paintwork, it is necessary to protect the body from direct sunlight. A layer of polish sets very quickly in bright light, so you need to take care of diffused cold lighting in advance.

After applying a thin layer of the substance, you must wait a few minutes. Only after a pale white film has formed on the body can it be rubbed in circular movements until it shines. Usually, this requires about 15–20 circular movements. You can learn more about the polishing technique in the video:

The reason for the unsatisfactory condition of the paintwork can be many factors: an accident, sandblasting and the ingress of stones when driving at high speed, branches leaving scratches on the car body, or natural aging of the paintwork. In all cases, painting a car with your own hands can save a lot of money for the car owner.

It is worth considering that painting body elements or plastic requires certain technological knowledge. If the goal of self-repair is only to save money, and at the same time a bawdy attitude to the process, then it is better to refuse the idea of self-painting (there is a high probability that you will simply spoil the material, and the result of the work will inevitably force you to turn to specialists).

It is not enough just to know how to paint a car with your own hands. You need to be involved in the process, to carry out all the work with great scrupulousness. In this case, the quality of painting at home will be no worse than that carried out in specialized service stations or garage cooperatives.

Tool

In order to paint a part or the whole car, you will need:

Materials (edit)

High-quality painting of a car with your own hands is impossible without the use of appropriate materials:

Technology

The order of work includes the following stages:

dismantling of elements that prevent access to hidden cavities. Parts that will not be painted should be covered with insulating material (masking paper, newspaper, film);
surface degreasing, removal of bituminous stains;
removal of the old paint layer from the repair area (it is desirable to putty on "bare" metal), matting of the entire surface;
putty, followed by sanding and giving the body element a natural shape;
repeated application of the putty (it is almost impossible to perfectly remove the plane at a time);
applying a developing layer and re-sanding;
application of primers;
washing the soil (wipes to metal or putties are covered with a second layer of soil);
degreasing;
applying the required number of layers of base paint;
surface varnishing;
finishing polishing.

At all stages of work, be sure to use personal protective equipment (protective mask with a respirator, gloves).

Important nuances

It is worth considering that it is rather difficult to paint a car yourself without experience. There are many factors to consider, including:

Be sure to find a part or surface that will serve as a training ground for you in working with a spray gun. Ideally, you should check the compatibility of materials (for example, sometimes the soil with the base can be poorly combined, which leads to the "undermining" of the layers. This can only be corrected by a complete repainting of the site. Such troubles can be caused by the inconsistency of the mixing technology of the proportions in the preparation of the material, poor degreasing of the surface ). The issue of training is especially acute if the scratches are located locally, and you decide to paint the element with a "transition". It is practically impossible to perform such a technique at home with high quality, without experience in painting work.

Hello! In order to produce a high-quality painting of a car, you need to have certain skills and knowledge. Both are acquired empirically. In other words, in order to learn how to do something, you need to do it yourself. Do-it-yourself car painting step by step in our material.

Do-it-yourself car painting is difficult! And coping with this task will not be easy. It is better to contact the professionals at the service station in the auto-painter shop. Look at the AVTOSOL website for a list of services and paint options, because only modern equipment with high-quality consumables will transform your car as it should!

DIY car painting step by step

A bit of theory. First, you need to understand how important the following processes are:

First, leveling the surface with a putty.
Secondly, the application of the primer.
Thirdly, the color of the surface itself.
Finish with polished finish.

The listed processes should be performed in this sequence. All operations should be performed carefully, not missing a single one. The quality of painting depends on the fulfillment of these conditions. A poorly painted body quickly rusts and decays.

Putty before painting the car

This operation is performed in order to level the surface before painting. To obtain the finished composition, you should thoroughly mix a small amount of putty with a hardener in a certain proportion indicated on the package.

The more hardener is mixed into the putty, the faster it sets. In the absence of sufficient experience, you may not have time to develop a prepared mixture. Therefore, at first, it is better to add less hardener, but apply the layer evenly and efficiently.

The composition is applied using rubber spatulas. When machining a large area, a wide metal trowel can be used. Before applying the putty, it is necessary to treat the old paint with a 240 grit sandpaper and be sure to treat the surface with a degreasing compound.

Then it is better to grind the surface with a grinder. Used abrasive paper, size 60 and 240. Work should be carried out in goggles and a respirator.

Primer

Before priming the car body, the putty areas are treated with sanding paper, size 360 to remove the gloss. The soil composition is mixed in the proportion indicated on the package. The primer is applied with a paint spray gun.

In order to prevent drips, a thin layer is first applied. After that, two more layers are applied. The soil will dry out until the next day. Then the primed surface should be sanded with a 500 or 600 grit sandpaper.

This completes the priming.

DIY car painting

But the best option is to paint the car in a special chamber. If not, you can paint on the street. At the same time, you should be aware that in the hot sun the metal will heat up, and the paint will dry out very quickly, to the detriment of the quality of work. The use of a cheap spray gun is also undesirable.

Poor spraying will give a lot of defects that are difficult to fix. In the presence of high-quality paint, two or three coats are enough. Next, varnish is applied, also in three layers. You can evaluate the result of your work in a day.

Polishing

The painted surface can become covered with dust and debris. To eliminate these defects, the surface is polished.

For work you will need:

Polishing machine.
Polish.
Water.
Sandpaper size from 1500 to 2500 in sheets.

The detected defects are eliminated with sandpaper. As a result, the surface should be smooth and matte. At the beginning of the polishing process, an abrasive paste is applied to the parts. Then processing is performed with a polishing compound.

But after getting acquainted with the process of painting a car, it becomes clear that the process is not simple, requiring accuracy, consistency and patience. But this work can be done by yourself, without the help of a specialist.