Cars are a big investment and the paint job is just like an extension of your clothing. Paint jobs can make or break the appearance of your car, and choosing the right color as well as paying attention to all the little details will help you have a car that is beautiful inside and out. There are so many things you ought to know about painting and detailing your car-let’s explore it together!
Painting and detailing tips and tricks from experts in the industry
Table of Contents
This will cover what you need to prepare yourself, how to prime your vehicle and the steps to follow in detail when painting your car-from masking out areas to removing tape once everything is done. He/she also talks about what’s important when choosing a clear coat, as well as washing and caring for your car after it’s all over.
- Always do a test run before washing your vehicle for the first time after painting it
- When preparing to wash your newly painted car, always make sure you use soap and water in an equal ratio
- Be cautious not to get impatient when removing all of the tapes from where the new paint has been applied; any mistakes made will need to be fixed later on!
- Paint jobs of any sort should be a choice that is carefully considered. A professional will always know best what to use and how much
- If you’re painting the car yourself, check over everything twice – this is a step that shouldn’t be skipped in order to achieve great results!
- It is important to pay attention especially when working in crevices; they may seem unimportant but will definitely be shown after the paint dries!
- Professional painters emphasize that repair work should always be done before painting; there’s no point in fixing parts later since it’ll come back to haunt you sooner or later)
A-Z Terms in Painting and Detailing.
A.
Air drying – This is the process where you let your freshly washed car to air dry instead of using a blow dryer or any other similar machine. Blow drying may be necessary especially if there’s rain in the forecast, but most paint jobs can still survive when exposed to fresh air and sunlight.
B.
Bead – The bead of the car is the place where water will pool up at the bottom of your vehicle. This in turn creates a barrier for dirt and other contaminates to remain on top of the paint, which means that it can easily be cleaned off.
A glossy paint job has a high amount of shine, while a flat one appears dull; these types are also known as gloss and matte respectively
C.
Carbon soot – Soot is carbon material that comes from burning materials like oil, coal and wood. Carbon soot causes scratches on paint because it’s ingrained into rubber or plastic products used by mechanics when they work on cars. It gets stuck onto wheels and tires as well if you’re driving with dirty rims.
Carburetor – The carburetor is responsible for mixing air and gas, which creates the fuel necessary to run the engine of your car. There are different types of carbs used in cars with other functions such as a choke to control oxygen intake or an accelerator pump to insure that gases enter into combustion at a steady rate.
Carbon monoxide – Carbon monoxide (CO) is the same kind of gas found on charcoal grills and fireplaces, but it’s invisible and odorless. It can cause brain damage if inhaled since it hinders blood circulation causing suffocation. This type of compound also causes corrosion, rusting surfaces and paint jobs on vehicles; it depletes oxygen in its surroundings thus, it’s very dangerous for people to be around when this is exposed.
D.
Debadge – This is the removal of a badge or trademark sign that has been placed on your car. It’s done to give it a sleeker appearance especially if you’re into tuner cars.
Degreaser – A degreaser is basically a substance that dissolves dirt and oils from surfaces. They are mainly used for cleaning engines and their parts since oil is important in this process.
E.
Enamel – Enamel paints are used mainly for painting interior walls but it’s also a popular choice for touch ups since they don’t require priming. In order to maintain its shine, enamels should be kept away from heat and dampness.
F.
Fine line tape – This type of tape comes in many different colors and designs to easily distinguish between them. They are considered the most commonly used type of masking tapes since they are easy to remove; even small pieces can be pulled off without sticking back on the paint job.
G.
Gas cap – The gas cap is mainly there to regulate the flow of gas coming out from the pump. It is usually mounted on a car’s trunk, but nowadays it can be placed anywhere because cars are designed to deliver fuel in several ways like gravity or through electric pumps.
Gloss – Gloss paint jobs give your vehicle a high degree of shine; if you’re into show cars, then you must choose this kind of paint.
Glow plugs – Glow plugs are designed to burn the highly pressurized fuel used in diesel engines to create heat that will warm up the engine before it can operate. It is also used for pre-heating in gas and natural gas powered motors.
H.
Headlight restoration – If your headlights are dull and foggy, this process can restore their original luster. There are many kits you can buy in the market now that contains different types of cleaners and polishes to help you achieve that shine again.
Hose clamp – This is mainly used as a clamping device for hoses or cables to hold them together; it’s often made out of rubber or plastic.
I.
Interior detailers – This is used to clean your car’s interior like fabrics and upholstery, air vents, carpets and door panels etc. You can also use this for cars with cloth seats instead of leather since the product won’t ruin them. This type of product is used by professionals to bring back the original luster of the interior.
J.
Joiner – This kind of tape comes with a smooth edge that offers cleaner paint lines unlike fine line tapes which can leave unsightly bumps on your car’s paint job. The texture and width of joiner tape depends on what you’re planning to use it for, but the most common is about a ½ inch with paper backing.
Jumper cables – These are mostly found in cars that have electric fuel pumps; they consist of two wires that run through a cable that has alligator clips and clamps which can be used to make a connection if the car’s battery dies.
K.
Kundans – Kundans are mainly used for show cars or antique cars since they look like jewels. They are placed on the edges of headlights, taillights and bumpers to make them shine brighter and give these parts of the car a 3D kind of effect.
L.
Lawnmower paint – It’s a special kind of paint that is made out of latex that has a rubber base, they are specifically used for painting your lawnmower or any other kind of outdoor equipment so they won’t rust.
M.
Masking tape – Masking tape is used to cover areas in your car that you don’t want to get paint on them. It’s usually used during the prep work for a new paint job or when applying touch ups. You can also use masking tape instead of painters’ blue tape but the latter will be easier to remove from your car’s glass since it removes better than masking tape.
N.
Nitro – A type of fuel used in dragsters, stock cars and any types of racing vehicles; nitromethane is more powerful than gasoline (petrol) or methanol, hence making the vehicle go faster since it contains more oxygen.
O.
Oops – This is a specially formulated type of polish made by Meguiar’s Company to remove light swirl marks and scratches from your car’s paint. It can also be used in removing bugs and tar from your car’s exterior too.
P.
Paint – Paint, as stated earlier, is the coating that gives form to any surface; they come in different types and colours to make your car look unique. A single coat can usually cover about 300 sq. feet or 3 square meters of surface area; so, it would be wise if you know what coverage rate is the average paint for your vehicle
Paint repairs – These are used for minor scratches made on your motor’s exterior. You can use these to fill in scratches, dings and swirl marks by sanding them smooth first using 800-1000 grit wet/dry papers.
Paintless dent repair (PDR) – PDR is also referred as paintless dent removal or non-destructive panel beating; this is a method of fixing minor dents on the exterior of your car without having to repaint it. You can usually find a PDR specialist if you are living in Australia or the UK since these methods are not yet being used widely around other parts of the world.
Paint pens – These kinds of paint pens have been around for about 50 years now, and they use different types of inks to give your car different colours. They are portable, easy to use and the best part is that they are mess free!
Q.
Quartz coating – A type of clear coat used to protect your car’s paint job; it is usually made out of silicon dioxide and other minerals that have a thermal resistance. This type of coating can also be applied on glass so you won’t have to replace them every now and then, but the downside is that it is quite expensive depending on the brand.
R.
Rattle can – These are short cans of paint used to paint your car’s small parts like the grill, side mirrors and even door handles; it is made up of a special kind of spray nozzle called a siphon tube which will help control the type and thickness of the paint that will come out.
S.
Speciality paints – These paints are not really a paint; they are actually made up of clear coats and primers that are tinted to give your car different colours. They can be applied on vehicles as well as in commercial buildings like billboards, hotels or even residential houses
Satin – It is the type of finish you get when applying thin layers of coats of paint, clear coats or any other protective coatings
Spray – This is the process of getting a liquid from an aerosol container towards a certain surface by means of pressurized gas like air pressure.
T.
Touch-up paint – Touch up paints are used when you want to repaint your car’s chipped areas ; these are usually made up of small tins that you can easily carry around in your car’s trunk. They usually come in different colours and shades so it would be wise if you choose the right shade for your car to make sure it blends well with the rest of your paint job
Towel – This is an absorbent fabric used to dry a car’s exterior after it has been washed; the use of towels made out of microfiber is not really recommended since these types of fabrics do not absorb water well. It would be better if you just use regular cotton towels for this job.
U.
Underbody coatings – This type of paint is placed under your car’s body so that it can protect the whole area from corrosion, rust and any other damages made by water or dirt.
V.
Valet key – This is a special type of key used by valet staffs to park your vehicle when you go out; it is made of a thin material that cannot be easily broken or stolen.
W.
Waterborne paints – These kinds of paints are commonly found in countries like the USA; they are made up of materials like alkyds, epoxy and polyurethanes
Wax – Waxes or polishes are applied to the surface of a car’s paint job when you want it to have a shiny look; in some cases, these can be combined with other products like synthetic sealants and glazes when you want better protection from the elements like rain and UV rays. Waxes are usually made up of materials like natural or synthetic waxes, silicone and carnauba
Wet paint – These paints are not ready for application until they have dried; it is best that you wait for about 4 hours before using wet paint since it may still have moisture in it. This is usually indicated by the word “Wet” when you are buying paint cans so make sure to read the label first before attempting to use them.
Washing mitt – This is an absorbent, sponge like fabric used for washing the surface of your car’s exterior; this is better than using rags because it will reduce the risk of scratching and fading your paint job.
X.
Xylene – This is a chemical solvent used for paint stripping; it must be used with caution since it can cause respiratory problems and even death.
Y.
Yellowing – When your car’s exterior paint job gets discoloured with time, it is known as yellowing; this usually happens when you store the vehicle in places that have too much sunlight. This is a very common problem that can usually be corrected with the use of regular car washing or polishing procedures
Z.
Zinc – It is also known as ZDDP; this material helps in keeping your car’s engine components from getting worn out too easily. If you are using products like motor oils and greases for your car’s engine, make sure to check the label first and if it is ZDDP-free; this is because of its adverse effects on catalytic converters.
Things you need for car painting and detailing
- Paint
- Clay bar
- Car wash soap
- Towels
- Car wax
- Car polisher
- Slurry pad
- Detailing brush
- Tape or puddy knife to make masking lines
- Gloves (optional, if you are a non contact painter)- Exterior cleaner and polish
- Interior cleaner and conditioner
- Glass cleaner
- Tire shine
- Wheel cleaner
- Chemical rags or towels to clean up spills and so on.
How to prep your car’s paint surface for painting [when applicable]?
1. Clean – After you have washed your car, make sure that there is no dirt or mud on the surface of its body before proceeding to the next step.
2. Clay – This is a very effective step in making sure that there are no contaminants left on your car’s surface; claying will help in preventing future scratching by removing paint over spray, overspray and other small impurities from the surface of your vehicle.
3. Polish – Sanding can cause tiny scratches all over the surface of your vehicle, so make sure that you polish it properly before applying your paint.
4. Wash again – Double check to see if no dirt is on the body of your car; this will help in preventing future issues like swirl marks and other unwanted blemishes on the surface of your paint job after you have applied the paint.
Steps for painting your car:
1) Wash the car.
2) Compound or polish entire surface
3) Wash the car again with a cleaning agent.
4) Mask (Duct tape is good for this) off everything that you don’t want to get paint on (i.e.- wheels, mirrors, window seals, lights, etc.)
5) Prime all imperfections in the surface (missed chips/scratches, door dings and so on). This can be done for any part of the car with a sprayer or brush
6) Paint the car.
7) Remove tape/puddy knife line off when it is dry
8) Clean up if there are any spills or drips of paint on places you want to keep clean (this can be done with a damp rag or towel for a light mess and with a chemical stand for heavier ones).
9) Wax the car
10) Drive the car!
What should you consider when picking a color for your car’s paint job
The most popular colors that sell are the best ones to pick. Whatever color is in demand will usually not be in stock at the paint store for long and you’ll have to wait several weeks before they can mix it up for you, if ever.
If a particular color seems hard to come by, this may indicate high demand among consumers or an unpopular offering from your manufacturer. Cars that are painted matte finishes always sell faster than shiny paints because they’re more difficult to clean and maintain.
Manufacturers also prefer their cars painted matte since the paint protects against scratches so well; when they get little nicks on them during shipping, it’s easier to touch up with these paints than those which are glossy. Also, it’s less work for the detailers when they go to apply waxes and polishes.
If you like a car that is glossy, but it doesn’t come in that finish, do not fear. You can still get your car finished with shiny paint even if the manufacturer gives special attention to matte or solid colors. When a car is painted matte, it just means the paint will not reflect light; if you like glossy finishes, there’s also a way to go about that
The level of shine on your car does matter in some cases-for instance, solid colors can look dull or faded compared to those with metallic flake. Always research what type of finish goes best with the color and style of your vehicle before making any purchases. Consider spending extra for this service since it will leave your vehicle looking beautiful and worth every penny you spent putting it together.
Normally you’ll have several choices or levels of textures available when buying paint for your car: ultra smooth gloss (the brightest and most reflective), diamond cut (a more subtle shine than gloss, yet still reflects light), and high gloss (even more reflective than the other levels of shine). Be sure to consult a professional for advice on what will look best with your vehicle.
How to choose the right type of paint for your car’s needs
Keep in mind that as good as paint is these days, you can’t expect it to look perfect forever. You want a paint job that will last long and keep its beauty for years to come, but a duller finish will help the car resist scratches better than a shiny one. All paints eventually become faded or scratched enough to warrant repainting; you don’t ever have to feel bad about doing that if it improves your car’s overall appearance
High gloss coats are easier to scratch than other types of finishes simply because they’re so sensitive. They’ll catch on practically anything since they tend to be more brittle; this may not matter when the rest of your vehicle isn’t polished like glass either
If you go with a high gloss paint job, consider using other methods to keep your car scratch-free. Clear bra seals protect the paint from key areas on the vehicle since it’s such an easy area to damage (you can cover anything from light scratches only to full body work). A lot of people like clear bras because they also look nice and shiny in certain instances where there’s nothing behind them-this way, you don’t have to worry about low quality finish showing through nor do you need special tools or skills to apply them
Matte finishes are excellent for protecting against nicks and scratches since these won’t show up as easily. However this is not suitable if you want a vehicle that shines brightly enough to blind someone. You can always go with the next level of shine up from matte (typically diamond cuts) for additional protection without having to worry about making your vehicle look dull.
Detailing is just as important as painting – what do you need to know about detailing
A car with a shiny paint job is just as beautiful as one that’s dull-it all depends on the type of finish you choose. If you want to keep your vehicle looking good and shiny, here are some tips for detailing it:
Leaving dirt and other types of contaminants on your car will not only make it look duller, but also cause serious damage over time. Work up a solution with distilled water (perhaps mixing in other chemicals like dish soap) or simply use plain old tap water combined with cleaning wipes; this should be enough to clean most surfaces quickly and easily
Cars are finally becoming easier to detail-the materials used aren’t toxic and they’re easier to care for than ever before. This is great news especially if you have kids or pets since it means toxic materials aren’t everywhere and your children won’t be exposed to anything harmful. You can also breathe easier knowing that any little spills will wash off quickly with nothing to worry about on the long run
Be sure to store any cleaning products in a cool, dry place since heat and/or moisture can cause them to break down. However do not store them near food items as they may end up spoiled both by temperature and smell
Always try out new things or techniques before going full force with them-that way if something doesn’t work out like you’d hoped, you haven’t made too much of an investment yet nor are there too many expectations set this early already. Get a feel for your new tools and products before applying it to the whole car; that way if there’s any issues, you can work them out first
If you need to wash the vehicle on rainy days, be sure not to dry it immediately with a towel as this will leave streaks behind. Fill up your sink/tank with water and let your vehicle soak in this instead for 10-20 minutes (the longer the better) until all residue are removed. Use distilled water or simply tap water combined with dish soap to get rid of grime more effectively
How long does it take to fully paint an entire vehicle?
It takes hours upon hours for someone who is going at a steady pace, but many factors can make this figure go up or down significantly. You can reduce time taken if you have a team, for example; two people can typically work at twice the average speed (and it’s easier to do certain things in pairs/groups anyway). If you’re painting your vehicle alone, don’t be afraid to take breaks during this process – working on the same area for hours in a row can get tedious and is also easy to mess up when you’re distracted
If you want your new paint job to last as long as possible before showing signs of aging, consider using clear coats-these coatings will protect the base color underneath from fading faster and looking duller over time. When choosing which type of clear coat to use, be sure it allows UV protection (however the base color should already provide this) – this will keep your vehicle looking brand new for many years to come
If you have to mask out certain areas to protect it, always go over these in a clockwise direction-this way you won’t leave anything behind (or cover things up by mistake). It is important that you clean the masking tape carefully after removing it. If there’s parts that are missed, use a paint touch up kit or simply repaint those areas again with a small brush and lighter color; be sure not to get impatient and try getting them off even if they’re still not fully removed! The longer they stay on there, the harder it’ll be to remove later
Any time you need to use a spray or paint can, be sure to hold it with both hands. It’s best to start slow and build up speed after you get a feel for how much paint/spray comes out of the can without overexerting yourself. Those being sprayed by cars should prepare themselves beforehand by getting their hair wet (and tied if long enough)
Whether you’re painting your vehicle at home or paying someone else to do it for you, always check that order is followed correctly-it’s easy to miss things when you are in too big of a rush. Take note particularly on edges like body creases – this area may seem insignificant at first but they will reveal themselves soon once the paint hardens! Your painter may have his/her own suggestions as well; don’t hesitate to ask for clarifications or if there’s any aspect you’re unsure about
When preparing to wash your vehicle after it’s completely painted, always do a test run beforehand. Fill up your tank with water and soap mixture (half-half ratio) then get a sponge/cloth and wipe the paint surface gently so you can observe if any marks or scratches are made – fix these before using the washer on your car! This will help you save time later on when you have to go over everything again until it is sparkling clean
Even though painting your vehicle can be done by DIY enthusiasts, it is not a choice that should be rushed into without thorough thinking. If done right, this will be one of the most rewarding things you can do to help improve the appearance of your vehicle. Be sure that you get excellent quality products and consult a professional for good results – there are so many paint jobs out there with ugly spots because someone didn’t take enough care or simply wasn’t fully serious about doing it right in the first place
The process might seem intimidating but if one thing is certain: while your car may lose its shine over time, great customer service will never go out of style!