Whether you’re about to paint your entire car or just a panel, preparation is key to producing best results. Even if you’re going to take the car to an automotive painting professional, you can still undertake this critical step on your own to ensure the job gets
done right.
1. Use a wax/grease remover to free the area of contaminants.
2. Fill in dents. Use a suction cup to pull out dents or lightly tap them out from the inside. Use polyester filler for small dings and fiberglass filler for larger dents – both available at automotive repair retailers. Apply the filler in thin coats of about 1/8-inch thickness.
3. Sand the filler with a fine sandpaper and examine the surface. If you see pinholes, and another coat of filler and sand again. Rust holes should be sanded down to the bare metal before you apply fiberglass filler. See Remove Body Rust story in this issue for more details.
4. Once you’re sure the dent is smooth, sand again using finer and finer sandpaper. Use long strokes and work on an angle to prevent grooves.
5. If you’re painting your whole car and it’s in good condition, there’s no need to sand the entire body. If all the paint is flaking, sand the rest of the surface.
6. Apply a “high build” urethane primer that won’t shrink. Spend a little more on this step and your body work will last longer and look better.
7. Once the primer is hardened, sand the area again.
8. Apply a sealer to help the new paint adhere to the old paint and filler.
9. Tape off any parts that won’t be painted including glass, door handles and mirrors. If you’re repainting just a small area, mask off about a foot around the area to avoid overspray.
