The best way to paint your car - how to do it right! 🚗

When it comes to painting a car, any auto professional will tell you the same thing: it all depends on the preparation. Whether you're touching up a scratch or repainting the whole car; painting preparation is just as important as applying the paint and plays a big part in the quality of the end result. Therefore, plan at least ninety percent of the time you plan to spend on the painting project preparing for it. Basically, you can count on two days of work for the painting of a normal car.

To help you prepare like a pro, we'll walk you through some handy tips on washing, sanding, priming and choosing the right paint for your car's new look for a truly professional result.

Preparation

Your car needs to be as clean as possible. We recommend a visit to the car wash (make sure you don't use hot wax!) and then a careful touch-up by hand.

Then dismantle everything that is attached to the outside of the vehicle and can be removed (lights, turn signals, antenna, decorative strips, washer nozzles, hubcaps, windscreen wipers, if necessary. door handles).

The discs do not need to be removed.

Your work area should be dust-free and clean. A garage or carport is ideal so that you can work despite the rain. Alternatively, it is best to set up a gazebo.

Take off

Now carefully mask off all surfaces that are not to be painted. Masking tape is suitable for this. Windscreens including rubber should also be masked. Garbage bags, for example, are practical for this.

loops

When sanding, the top layer of the car paint is removed with the help of abrasives.

One of the most important parts of painting prep, it pays to invest time and work carefully. Depending on the task, the sanding can be done either with sandpaper or with an electric orbital sander, although you will have to use different types of paper depending on the car.

If you plan to strip the car body, use 400 and 600 grit sandpaper.

You should make sure that there are no shiny spots left on the body of the car, otherwise the primer and paint will not stick. Avoid sanding down to the sheet metal. Danger! The paint is usually applied thinner on corners and edges.

Dust sources should be removed afterwards.

Clean/descale/degrease the surface thoroughly (silicone cleaner is ideal for this) and then rinse the surface with water. Then let the surfaces dry.

Important: Do not use soapy cleaners or scouring milk. (These are made from fatty acids and are therefore not suitable for dissolving fat. )

Paint

Now paint the background. Laying newspaper around the car will prevent paint drips on the floor. We recommend two thin coats to get the best result. Before the second layer, the varnish must dry out completely. You can also work with a paint roller . Start at the roof of the vehicle.

Let the paint dry completely (approx. 12 hours).

As a final step, remove the masking tape and reattach the removed car parts.

Your car's new paint job is done! For the best possible shine, polish the car afterwards.

Search for your car paint today! We offer you a large selection of high-quality car paints.

Observe our instructions for use.