How To Clean Primer Before Paint

When it comes to painting a machine, whatsoever automotive professional person volition tell you the same matter: information technology'due south all in the preparation. Whether you're repairing a chip or re-spraying the whole motorcar, prepping the paintwork is just as important equally applying the paint, and plays a huge part in the quality of the end result.

There are 3 methods typically used to fix a auto'due south surface for painting: cutting, sanding and priming. From there, information technology's simply a instance of choosing the right paint colour and applying it evenly to the surface to achieve a polish finish that'southward indistinguishable from the original paintwork.

To help you prep like a pro, we'll guide you through some handy hints on cut, sanding, priming and picking the right paint for your car'south new look, with insider tips to give your car a truly professional finish.

Ready to get started? Use the links below to navigate or scroll down for the full guide.

Quick Links

• Cutting
• Sanding
• Priming
• Choosing the Correct Pigment

Cut

What is Cutting?

Cutting is a technique that involves using an abrasive compound to removes thin layers of paint. Cutting tin can be carried out as a prep step before yous apply paint or afterwards to blend the new paint into the old.

There are different types of cut chemical compound, each with a different cutting power. Be sure to choose the right one for the job – if yous're unsure, just ask in shop before buying.

How to Apply Cutting Compound to Your Car

Before you first the process of applying a cutting compound, be sure to tape off surrounding areas, especially if you're applying it with a auto. It can get all over the place, then work smart; wear onetime wearing apparel or overalls, safety glasses, gloves and cover up anything you don't want to have to clean afterward.

Using a clean material, apply the chemical compound in a circular motion by hand. Larger areas might be a scrap as well large to do by yourself, so become an orbital polisher with the appropriate pads. Watch your pressure and be sure to intermission every now and then to inspect the area you've just treated.

Expert Tips

• When you kickoff beginning there'south a good deal of trial and error – then be patient and keep at-home.
• Ever take care to movement the compound around; spending too long in one area tin can heat up the paint and fire it, creating more impairment.
• Spraying water on the surface will absurd the paint down and aid to move the compound over the surface.

Sanding

What is Sanding?

Sanding removes the top layer of your machine'southward paint using abrasive materials.

One of the near of import parts of paint preparation, it's well worth investing fourth dimension to do it right for professional person results. Depending on the job, sanding can be done with either sandpaper or an electric orbital sander, and you'll need to use different grades of paper depending on the job.

How to Sand Your Car's Bodywork

If you program to strip pigment from the car's bodywork, apply 1,200-grit paper or sanding pads to quickly remove the clearcoat and paint. To avoid the headache of trying to match the paint you want to employ to the existing paint on the car, you'll need to remove the primer and expose the blank metal.

The pigment on older cars may be incompatible with mod water-based paints and gel coats. Meliorate to be condom than sad – exercise it right and do it once.

You'll want to ensure that no glossy spots remain on the car'south bodywork, otherwise the primer and paint won't stick. Information technology might exist a long process, but information technology's worth it to get the right results.

Skilful Tips

• Alternatively, if you don't need to completely repaint the surface and you're doing a quick repair or touch up, smoothen the surface using two,000-2,500-grit wet and dry paper.
• Press lightly to remove minor light scratches in colour coats and clear coats quickly.
• Dealing with flaky paintwork? Read our guide on how to remove damaged paintwork safely and easily.

Priming

What is Priming?

An essential step in painting metal surfaces, and one you'll demand to do before applying any topcoat or color; priming seals the surface and creates a protective barrier, creating the ideal surface for the colour coat pigment to stick to. High-build primers incorporate loftier solids which help to smooth any imperfections on the bare metal.

How to Prime number Your Auto Before Painting

E'er cull a high-quality automotive primer that's developed for utilise on metal surfaces, and make sure the surface area yous programme to paint is cleaned thoroughly before you lot start. Typically, you should apply two or more coats of primer to ensure the bare metal is completely covered. If you're painting plastic, you'll need a specific plastic primer.

Either mode, make sure you've covered upwards the areas you're not painting, and tape down any edges with masking record. Is it dry and mild outside? These are the peak priming conditions you'll want to work in.

If you're doing the procedure indoors, cover up with middle protection, a dust mask and keep exposed skin covered. Apply the primer evenly to the areas that need painting and look for it to dry.

Insider Tips

• Interruption and audit the area. This is the ideal time to take stock of the situation and work out if any farther surface prep, such as sanding, needs to be washed. You can conspicuously run into whatsoever surface imperfection once the primer has dried. Don't skimp on or rush this key stage.
• Remove any bumps or crude patches past re-sanding the expanse. Clean and re-apply the primer. It's normal to have to repeat this stage a couple of times to get information technology right.

Choosing the Correct Paint

Whether you're painting your car a totally different colour or matching the existing paint, you'll need the right shade. Unsure what the correct colour for your automobile is? Holts Paint Match Pro makes things easy.

Using our clever pigment match tool, yous can pinpoint the right paint for your auto based on its manufacturer, color and registration yr. With over eight,000 vehicle color matches across the range, information technology'southward possible to find the paint that'south the perfect lucifer for your car in a matter of minutes.

Once you've picked the correct color, cheque out our stride-past-pace guide to painting metal.

From the smallest task to major makeovers, at Holts we want your car looking and running its best. To find out more than, and view our consummate product range, visit the homepage .

Source: https://www.holtsauto.com/holts/news/how-to-prep-car-before-painting/

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