Spray Painting

Say you want to repair and respray your Corsa bakkie and your friend has a Bull Bar that also needs spray painting. Can you do this in your garage? consequently well, yes. Let us explain some of the basics that we apply when preparing a whole vehicle and please do contact us for some car spraying prices.

Supplies for step one
Coat
Pre-paint prep
Contour body filler
Dual Action Sander
Sandpaper
Gloves
Filler spreaders
Paint prep wipes
Cotton Rags
Masking tape and paper
Sanding blocks

Step one is preparing the metal and getting down to the metal and also removing everything. Use your Dual Action sander to remove all fabrication blemishes and proud welds. Secondly use your pre-paint prep, gloves and wipes to remove anything still sitting on the metal, like dust. Thirdly use the tape to seal off any protruding parts that don't need to have spray paint. A stirring stick with a flat edge helps allot with those hard to reach grooves. Finally and most noteworthy mask the windows and any chrome that does not need spray painting. Use your masking paper and tape for this. Do not use newspaper as the paint will just go right through it.  

Next, we apply a guide coat that is sprayed on with a can. Due to this method we can identify any highs and lows after the block sanding phase. Next, we will use our sanding blocks and attached is an 80 grit sandpaper to the longest sand block you have. Apply with a crosshatch pattern for even sanding of the panel. This makes sure we have a level surface. Maintain the body lines and avoid going with the body line. 

The remaining guide coat now shows the lows that will need filling with the contour body filler. Now we wipe the panel again using a clean cloth, making sure we remove any dirt and don't spread any dirt.

Next, we apply contour body filler. Mix up your contour body filler and make sure you soften the hardner real good. A quick tip is to mix on a plastic table of a plastic dedicated tray. Apply the filler with a straight edge, semi-hard, plastic scraper. Make sure that your filler is spread as much as you can and as thin as needed. Apply to the entire body panel and let dry as per body filler instructions. Now, let us use the 80 grit sandpaper and longboard. 

Try your best to sand from edge to edge in a cross hatch, 45-degree, pattern. This will ensure a level panel. Use durablock to shape laser straight body lines. Apply a coat of guide coat to identify all highs and lows.

Then start moving up the grit levels and don't skip any steps. First from the 80 grit you go to 120 grit. Second 180 grit. Third 220 grit and finally all the way up to 320 grit. Most noteworthy now repeat filler process again to get to any low areas that need filler.
 Then repeat the filler steps. 

Remove all dust and any debris. Then apply the guide coat and continue with the 80 grit sandpaper and progress through all the grit types up to 320 grit. The guide coat really brings the 80 grit and 120 grit scratches out. With the final block sanding completed, we are now ready for epoxy primer.

Supplies for step two

Pre-paint prep
Epoxy primer
Urethane primer or surfacer
Guide coat
Sandpaper
Gloves
Mixing cups
Paint prep wipes
Cotton Rags
Respirator
Paint filters
Paint gun
Abrasive pads
Paint suit
Sanding blocks

After doing another final wipe down with wipes and cotton cloth, we can begin mixing the epoxy paint. Mix your epoxy paint and epoxy primer as per instructions on the containers. It is normally a one to one ratio. Now let's filter the epoxy into the spray gun.

Put the lid on your gravity feed spray gun. Make sure the vent hole on the top of the Spray gun is pointing at you as you don't want any paint dripping out of there. Before we start, go ahead and test your fan pattern on a piece of masking paper. For this application get as close as you can to a 25cm fan pattern.
Tip number one, spray all your jams and edges first then your main areas. This will prevent overspray on the door or outside main panels. 

The large spray pattern is for reasons like spraying outside or in your driveway. Get the epoxy on and let it sit outside. Dont hang around. We are using epoxy primer as it has great adhesion to the body filler and the metal. Next, a full coat 90degrees to the first two coats to ensure full coverage.
Apply two full wet coats
The fluid tip is 1.4-1.8mm
Pressure is 25-30psi

Go ahead and apply another two wet coats if you feel that it is too thin.

Sometimes life happens and a bug or something can happen to check out your panel. Don't worry as these small little marks will come out with the sanding. Now we are back to the sanding board and the 320 grit at 45-degree angles. Make sure you are using the largest board that can fit your panel to ensure a nice even surface. 

If you have irregular surfaces like around the door handles, use an abrasive pad as it tends to work easier. Now, let us wipe down and wipe with the cotton cloth. Always wear gloves as this will prevent oils on your hands that you don't want in your primer. Even the natural skin oils are no good with the primer.

Next, we are going to spray the Urethane primer-surfacer. Mix as per the instructions, strain and fill the spray gun. Apply 2-3 full wet coats starting with the edges and jams and then to the main surface.
The fluid tip is 1.4-1.6mm
Pressure is 25-30psi

A tip here is to apply using a 50% overlap, consistently. Consistency is very key. Apply the guide coat. Now sand down the surface with a 320 grit sandpaper, after it is dry. Using the cross hatch pattern continue up to 620 Grit. Now we are going to do a wet sanding session. Continue from 320 grit up to 620 grit. The water helps with keeping the panel clean while sanding. You can carefully use your hand and the sandpaper for hard to reach areas. Use a lint-free rag to get the dust off the panel once it is half dried. Now grab your pressure hose and blow away any dust or water that may be stuck in hard to reach areas.