Table Of ContentHow to paint
your car
revised & updated
By Dennis W. Parks
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Dedication
To my wife, Sandy, for putting up with me for all these years, and to Roger Ward,
for knowing the answers to most of life’s questions.
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Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Chapter 1 Automotive Painting Defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Chapter 2 Automotive Paint Chemistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Chapter 3 Supporting Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Chapter 4 Tools, Materials, and Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Chapter 5 Surface Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Using Paint Stripper on Small Jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Mixing and Applying Body Filler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Applying and Sanding Primer-Surfacer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Chapter 6 Masking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
How to Tape and Mask Windows and Windshields . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Chapter 7 Paint Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Chapter 8 Extra Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
Laying Out and Painting Scallops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Applying Vinyl Adhesive Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
Chapter 9 Part Replacement and Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
Reinstalling Door Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
Chapter 10 Keeping the Shine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Detailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
Touching Up Your Vehicle’s Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
Chapter 11 Painting Other Parts and Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
Painting Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148
Repainting a Vehicle (Start to Finish) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154
Appendix I: Vehicle Painting Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189
Appendix II: Fiberglass Body/Body Component Preparation Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . .189
Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192
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Foreword
How To Paint Your Car is an informative, well-written that it is vitally important to read and understand the
book that will help the first-time painter, the novice latest tech sheets for all the products you are using.
hobbyist, or even the professional custom car painter. To the novice painter: always try to do the next job
Whether painting for a business or as a hobbyist, there are better than the one you just finished, and you’re on your
many pitfalls to avoid, and the way you react can make way. Remember that good taste and simplicity always
or break a paint job. Paint products change so frequently work. Good luck.
Roger Ward
Automotive paint professional
Automotive painting guru Roger Ward (left) and the author in front of Roger’s taupe-colored 1932 Ford roadster at the 2012 Goodguy’s Heartland Nationals.
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Acknowledgments
They say that the only thing that remains constant serve as a good example of the type of vehicle that you
is change, and that is certainly true when it comes might be painting for your first project.
to automotive paint products and practice. Other than I must thank my longtime friend, Roger Ward, who
getting good advice beforehand, painting an automobile has taught me most of what I know about auto painting.
simply takes practice. Contemporary paint products are Roger painted his first car when he was fourteen years
designed to make the task as easy as possible. Whether old, and has been refining his skills for almost sixty years
you start on a complete vehicular repaint or just a now. Roger has seen a new development or two in the
fender, practice is the key. No matter what you paint, painting industry, has earned a fair amount of magazine
the first shot at it won’t be perfect, which will allow you coverage, and most of all has been a truly great friend
to learn with each new attempt. Evaluate your results over the years.
after each job and then consult this book again to find Thanks also go to Keith Moritz at Morfab
out what you may have done wrong, and then get ready Customs, Kevin and Wendy Brinkley at Harding’s
to do it again. Auto Works, Jim Miller and Duane Wissman at
After discussing the steps required in painting a Jerry’s Auto Body, along with Steve “Bones” Bauer
vehicle in the various chapters, I will walk you through and Todd Pflanz at High Ridge NAPA for providing a
a complete paint job on an older vehicle. The vehicle is wealth of information.
not meant to be a show car by any means, but it does Wishing you the best in your painting projects,
Dennis W. Parks
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Introduction
Even though automotive paint products and mix primers, hardeners, top coats, and their respective
techniques have changed over the years, it is still catalysts as directed. The directions are included with
possible to paint your own car or truck. With the each product—you just have to read them. If you
products now available, you have perhaps the best can read and follow directions, you can paint your
opportunity ever to achieve a perfect paint job. What car. The chemistry of automotive paint has already
you must realize before you start, however, is that there been determined for you—there is no reason to try to
is much more to painting a car than squeezing the “improve” the characteristics of any paint product. Mix
trigger on a paint spray gun. the components as directed, apply them as directed, and
How To Paint Your Car tells readers virtually allow them to dry as directed before applying successive
everything they need to know before painting their car, coats, and you can apply a professional paint job to your
from disassembly and prepping the surface for primer, car. The guidelines in this book will help make your car
to buffing, polishing, and waxing the same finished as ready for paint as it can be.
surface. From that first coat of primer-surfacer to the You must also have the right tools. As with most
last coat of paint (and beyond with polish and wax), jobs, that requires the correct safety equipment. Today’s
this book explains everything you need to achieve that paint products are safe to use, but only when they
“I did it myself, and I’m proud of it” attitude. Whether are used properly. Correct safety equipment, such as
you are planning to straighten some minor dents and respirators, rubber gloves, and painter’s coveralls, is
repaint just the affected area, or repaint the entire car or essential. Learn what safety equipment is required for
truck, this book will tell you how to do the job correctly. each type of paint product. This book will also tell the
You must get the body as straight and as smooth as differences between conventional, HVLP, touch-up,
possible; painting over imperfections is only going to siphon feed, and gravity feed spray guns, and which
highlight them, rather than cover them. You must also type is best for your particular needs.
The author’s former 1927 Ford roadster was painted VW Harvest Moon. At this point, scallops had been laid out with Fine Line tape, and the car was ready
to be masked and painted.
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Chapter 1
Automotive
Painting Defined
Depending on the job at hand, paint can be applied out and quickly repainted. Lacquer’s fast drying time
to automobile bodies in more than one way. afforded painters the opportunity to fix blemishes
Initially, our automobiles roll off the assembly line with almost immediately.
a fresh coat of paint. Eventually, our cars or trucks will Although both paint products (enamel and lacquer)
need slight touch-ups to keep small nicks or scratches offer specific benefits, they cannot be used together on
from blemishing their fresh appearance. Touch-up work car bodies because they are not compatible. It would
is usually accomplished with a small brush attached to be all right, under proper conditions, to spray enamel
the cap of a bottle of touch-up paint. If wear and tear over lacquer when surfaces are properly prepared, but
necessitates the painting of small body items or trim, you lacquer applied over enamel almost always results in
might use a spray can to bring that finish up to snuff. If wrinkling or other severe finish damage. This is because
your automobile has sustained collision damage, repair the solvent base for lacquer paint (lacquer thinner)
will usually involve repainting the affected panel(s) or is much too potent for the softer materials used in
sections with conventional paint spray guns. enamel products.
The techniques used to apply automotive paint Product compatibility factors are also extremely
are determined by the type (and amount) of coverage important today. Compatible materials are not confined
needed and the condition of the existing surface to just enamel, lacquer, or urethane bases—every
material. You would not use a full-size spray gun to product in an entire paint system must be compatible
touch up a small scratch, or expect to use a touch- with the surface material to which it will be applied,
up brush to refinish an entire panel. Likewise, paint as well as with every other product in the system. For
from a spray can may be “close enough” in color match example, using a PPG reducer with a BASF hardener
and texture to refinish or modify a trim panel, such in a DuPont paint product is asking for trouble. The
as a grille or body molding. If the entire vehicle is individual products were not designed as parts of a
going to be repainted, however, use paint specifically single compatible paint system, and as a result, the
manufactured for automotive refinishing. color, adhesion, and surface flow of that combination
To achieve a visually acceptable, compatible, and could be adversely affected. More information on paint
durable paint job, you must use products designed to chemistry and compatibility is found in Chapter 2.
suit the existing paint finishes or undercoat preparations. Before arbitrarily purchasing paint for your car, you
The finest paint job in the world will not last if the need to determine what type of material currently exists
various layers of body filler, primer, sealers, and final on the vehicle’s surface: enamel, lacquer, or urethane.
top coat are not compatible. Simply put, do not try to On newer vehicles, factory paint jobs are all going to
be a chemist when it comes to repainting your car. be urethane-based, as enamels and lacquers are quickly
becoming history. For your specific vehicle, it will be
Determining the type of paint on your Car worth asking your local automotive paint supplier
Before the advent of high-tech polyurethane paint for information on which kind of paint the factory
products, cars were painted with either enamel or applied. For those cars still clad in factory paint jobs,
lacquer. Each had its own distinct characteristics. their identification tags should list the specific paint
Enamels were quick and easy, generally covering in codes. In addition, auto body paint and supply store
one or two coats and not requiring any clear coats or professionals can determine the exact type of paint and
rubbing out. Lacquer, on the other hand, required color from the vehicle identification number (VIN) on
multiple coats, but imperfections were easily rubbed older vehicles, or from a separate paint and options tag
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for complete new paint system applications. If you are
still unsure about the type of paint on your car after
this test, or if you have any other related questions or
problems, consult an auto body paint and supply store
professional. Be earnest and attentive in order to receive
definitive answers and patient assistance. Remember,
applying mismatched coatings to an existing finish can
D
e ruin the whole paint job.
n
fi
e
g D niCk anD SCratCh repair
n
ti Minor nicks and scratches can sometimes be polished or
n
Ai buffed out. They must be shallow and expose only paint
P
e at their deepest point. If primer or bare metal is visible,
v Not that Joe Public can make any sense out of a paint and options tag, but
oti to a service technician, this tag provides tons of information. One of these you must apply new paint.
m
o codes—maybe “BC/CC U 9260” on the bottom—tells us that the paint is An easy and inexpensive way to repair nicks
t
Au base coat/clear coat Victory Red. This particular tag is in the glove box, but involves the use of touch-up paint. Small bottles of
can be found in other places on other makes and models. Consult a repair
stock factory colors are commonly available at auto
manual if you can’t find the tag on your vehicle.
body paint and supply stores and a number of auto
parts houses. Mostly supplied for newer cars, these
on newer vehicles. This makes material identification touch-up paints match the paint code on your vehicle’s
easy when you plan to match existing paint. ID tag. Apply them with a small brush attached to
If your car or truck has been repainted with a type the bottle’s cap or with an artist’s fine paintbrush. For
of paint or a color different from its original factory job, years, auto enthusiasts have successfully used the clean
you will have to obtain paint code numbers from a paint ends of paper matchsticks to apply touch-up paint.
can used during the repaint or from some other source, The choice is yours.
like the painter who completed the job. Hopefully, that It is imperative to cover nicks as soon as possible,
person kept track of this information and will make it especially when bare metal is exposed. Oxidation
available to you. quickly attacks bare metal, beginning a costly rust and
If you are unable to determine specific paint codes corrosion process. Like a cancer, oxidation spreads
or information relating to the type of paint used on
your car, you will have to test an inconspicuous spot on
the vehicle body with lacquer thinner; you could also
test a spot on an area already slated for repaint. Dab a
clean, white cloth with lacquer thinner and rub a spot of
paint. If color comes off immediately, or the spot begins
to wrinkle, the paint type is enamel. Should color wipe
off onto the cloth after vigorous rubbing, lacquer paint
is present. If nothing wipes off, the paint is probably a
type of urethane.
To determine if finishes include coats of clear paint
over their base color, sand an inconspicuous spot with
600-grit-or-finer sandpaper. White sanding residue
indicates the existence of a clear coat finish, whereas a
color residue demonstrates that the body was painted
with a color material only.
Enough emphasis cannot be placed on the
importance of determining the type of paint covering This blemish scars the driver’s side bedside of the author’s daily driver
pickup and is a common type of damage that could happen to most any
the surface of your car before you apply new coats of
vehicle. This isn’t a dent or a gouge—it simply has a few layers of “skin”
fresh paint. The only exceptions are vehicle bodies
peeled off. Since the factory primer is still intact, it hasn’t developed any
that have been stripped to bare metal in preparation rust yet. In later chapters, you will see how to repair this common damage.
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