![]() ![]() Masking is another job that shouldn’t be rushed - it’s important to avoid overspray and therefore rework. It’s important that you clean away dust, dirt and oily residue from the panels you intend to paint, as paint won’t stick where there are oils and grease present.įlecks of dust will also contaminate your paint job, leaving the surface uneven.īe sure to resist touching freshly sanded panels with your bare hands since this will transmit oil that’ll inhibit the ability of your paint to stick. When sanding a car down for paint, you’ll need to start with a low-grit sandpaper and work your way up to fine paper - often including wet sanding - and the use of a sanding block can ensure that you keep the panel uniform. Machine sanders, whether electric or pneumatic, can speed up the initial sanding stages considerably, though these shouldn’t be used in the final stages of sanding as they tend to be too rough and unpredictable. It’s not a fun job by any means, but should absolutely never be skimped on. Sanding is one of the single most important aspects of prep for painting. This is bad for two reasons - one is that body filler can potentially trap moisture and become a catalyst for future rust, and the other is that all that excess filler needs to be sanded back down! A lot of beginners will go way overboard, and slather body filler over entire panels. One of the most important things to know when using filler is how much to use. There are a few different types of filler, ranging from heavy duty stuff that contains glass fibres, through to finishing putty that’s designed to flatten out tiny imperfections, dents and scratches. Using Filler (or Bog)Ĭorrect use of filler is important in order to ensure that the surface to be painted is nice and smooth. Make sure that you also apply a coat of rust-proofing on the back-sides of your welds if possible, or if not then apply a weld through primer beforehand. ![]() When welding, be careful to use as little heat as is viable to still get adequate penetration - so as not to warp the metal around the area that you weld. The downside is that it generally takes more skill, time and money to do. Welding in patches of new steel is always a better option than using filler because it reduces the likelihood of rust developing in the future. This is to stop the rust from continuing to spread throughout your car once you’ve painted it.īe sure to grind away any surface rust and to treat any minor corrosion that is impossible to cut out or grind, with rust converter. It is absolutely imperative that you cut out any areas where rust has caused holes right through the metal. Less filler also means less chance for moisture to be trapped beneath your future paint. It’s a good idea to remove as many dents as you can without the use of filler, as this reduces the amount of sanding and shaping that you’ll need to do before paint. It’s worth investing in some trim removal tools, should you need to remove fragile trim pieces that could get damaged in the process. If the repair is somewhat minor, or manageable with a little know-how, then you’ll want to disassemble the relevant parts in order to get access. ![]() In some situations, a DIY repair might be infeasible or nigh impossible as certain types of damage can require the use of expensive specialist equipment or just outright replacement of damaged parts. Assessing the situation.īefore you go grinding off paint or smacking panels with a body hammer, it’s a good idea to figure out exactly what type of repair you should be carrying out (or even if you’re perhaps better off leaving it to an expert.) ![]() Some of the steps, such as welding in rust-repair patches or shaping metal with dollies are complex enough that they’ll be covered in more depth in their own articles. In this article, we’ll outline what’s involved in prepping a car for paint, and why each stage shouldn’t be skimped on. Proper preparation is crucial for a good result, whether you are painting a touch-up in a small spot or respraying an entire car, and in order to carry out proper prep you’ll need to understand the steps involved and why they’re important. If you talk to anyone who paints cars for a living (or paints anything for that matter) they will tell you that the single most important thing to get right when painting a car is prep. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |