How to paint a car yourself: useful tips

In the process of using the car its appearance with time loses its former brilliance. This is due to precipitation (rain, snow), and dirt on the body. In serious cases, it may be necessary to fully paint the car. The question arises: where can I paint the car, having spent a minimum of money on it? The first option is to use the services of professional masters. However, such a service will result in a round sum of money. Painting can be done at home, while the results of the work will not be different (with the proper and correct approach).

Preparatory work

The first thing you need to start is a workplace. It can be both a garage and a specialized hangar. In any case, the room should not be dirty, dusty and damp. This is due to the fact that moisture and dust, getting on the body, destroy the integrity of the paint. Because of what the paint will not last long. When visual inspection is important to pay attention to everything, even for minor moments. When answering a question about how to paint a car with your own hands, it is important to remember that the car should be thoroughly washed.

The most vulnerable places: wings, racks, bottom, thresholds. They should be cleaned thoroughly. External examination includes the search for obvious shortcomings. It can be corrosion, blistering paint bubbles, serious dents, deep scratches and chips. If such defects are detected, additional equipment will be required : welding and Bulgarian. All problems are solved on the spot, before applying the paint.

Cleaning the work surface

The next step is to remove all the elements that can not be painted. This applies to windows, bumpers, door handles (hood, trunk), a spoiler. Individual parts of the body can be tried to protect with adhesive tape and film (some glass accessories that can not be removed without significant damage). At this stage, there is also a straightening. This is the process of leveling the surface of the body. For this, a conventional and pneumatic hammer is used. To paint the car completely and ensure the longevity of the paintwork, it is necessary to get rid of all the irregularities. The surface of the hammer must be completely smooth. Otherwise, the details remain traces, which will be visible when painting.

Features of straightening

When straightening special attention is paid to the bending of metal, thresholds and places where deep scratches appeared. Here, dirt accumulates, and rust may form after painting. It is important to remember that if the car has already been subjected to body repair several times, do not completely get rid of dents. The fact is that after rimming the metal seems to be stretched. So only straightening will not give positive results. To protect the wheels it is best to purchase special covers.

Grinding works

Grinding is carried out using a grinder and sandpaper. Essential chips and scratches are best handled by a plane for metal. Places that are most severely corroded are cleaned by a Bulgarian. These are wheel arches and the bottom. The rest of the body is cleaned with a grinder. Answering the question about how much it costs to paint the car completely, it is important to consider your own skills. If there is no experience of cleaning the metal surface while preparing it for painting, it is better to use the services of professional tinsmiths. They will produce both straightening and initial preparation. However, the cost of painting will increase significantly.

After cleaning, the metal surface must be completely cleaned of paint. If in some places the latter holds tight, you should use a special sponge (scotch-brite). It allows you to get rid of the glossy gloss on the body. This is enough to apply a new layer of paint.

Features and types of putty for car body

Shpaltvochnye work is done in several stages - applying 3-4 layers. After each layer the body must be sanded. This is done because after removing the paint in some places the metal became thinner. If you paint the car at this moment, the coating will not last for a year. There are several types of putty. The most popular is soft-putty. It is used for all types of metals and is applied in an equal layer, filling irregularities and roughness. If the body is seriously damaged, dents (and even holes) can be sealed with fiberglass filler. Such material is very durable, but it is difficult to process. You can work with him, only having the appropriate skills.

In general, the question of how much it costs to paint the car completely, you can answer in different ways. It all depends on the availability of the right tools. For example, buying a Bulgarian (from 800 rubles to 2500) and a pneumatic hammer (the price from 1000 to 3000 rubles) will cost a considerable amount. As for the filler material, it is represented in sufficient quantity in the construction market. The consumption of putty (on a medium-sized sedan car) will be 1.5 kg per square meter. Based on this, it will take at least 7 kg of material to carry out quality work. Do not forget about the primer. The machine as a whole will need about 700 grams. The total cost of preparatory work for leveling, priming and putty (with economical use) will be 7000-9000 rubles. Depending on the quality of the rifting and the choice of the kind of putty, the final cost can vary greatly.

Technology of applying putty

For work you will need a rubber spatula. After buying the right amount of putty, you can start working. It should be noted that each manufacturer indicates on the packaging the period during which the applied material is to be dried. After applying the final layer, the body is ground. You can use the machine for grinding or perform the procedure with sandpaper. Ultimately, the surface to be treated must be smooth. If this effect can not be achieved, repeat grinding work. In exceptional cases, when the putty is applied with an uneven layer, it is better to re-produce the grinding work. In this case, you will protect yourself from uneven application of paint on the car body.

The answer to the question of how to paint the car with your own hands, having the necessary elements with you, is quite simple. With proper and responsible approach, the final result will not be different from the work of professional painters. In addition, money will be saved, which can be spent on painting other elements of the car, for example, wheel disks.

Priming works

The last stage of the preparatory work is the priming of the body. Some consciously skip this stage (for example, in order to save). However, the main advantage of the primer is the additional protection of the body from moisture. Most primers are based on acrylic. This material does not allow moisture, which increases the life of the paint.

The question arises: how much does it cost to paint the car during the priming works? For each element of the car will be leaving a different amount of primer. So, the expense for the processing of the hood will be approximately 450 ml, for the bumper 250, for the remaining elements - about 150 ml. Based on these averaged data, you can calculate the average price for a body primer. In any case, the result - complete protection from moisture and rust - will have a beneficial effect on the process of strengthening the paint on the treated surface.

Ways to apply a primer

Primer is applied by means of a compressor. It will take 2 layers. The first layer is indicative. Enamel and solvent are added to the primer. All this is applied to the body in order to detect irregularities in the application of putty. These pores should be removed immediately with sandpaper. The second layer is the main one. It is manufactured in order to protect the body from corrosion and moisture. At this preliminary stage is over. It is necessary to leave the car for a day in a dry place to "grasp" the primer. The next day you can proceed directly to painting.

Car paint spraying

The most economical and effective option - painting cars with a balloon. In what color to paint the car, the owner of auto decides. Now in the automotive markets a huge selection of colors and all kinds of shades. The main advantages of this method of painting is the convenience of applying paint on the surface of the car. Thus, it is possible to achieve even coating even in hard-to-reach areas (for example, wheel arches or at the bottom of the car).

Painting begins with degreasing the working surface. This is done by applying a solvent to all parts of the treated metal. Then you can apply the paint. It is better to experiment on an unnecessary material. It is important to understand how the paint lays on the surface, at what distance it is best to spray it. The vast majority of cans allows spraying paintwork from a distance of at least 30 cm.

Before use, the can should be shaken thoroughly. The first layer is applied quickly enough. It is important to ensure that there are no missing items left on the bodywork. One layer is not enough. It is necessary to wait for about 30 minutes. During this time, the paint will dry. After the second layer is applied. If there are defects and irregularities, a third layer will be required. Then, using a can of varnish, 2 coats are applied. It is important to ensure that there are no drips, otherwise there will be an impression that the body is colored unevenly. In general, when answering the question about how to paint a car with a can, it is important to take into account that the LCP should be applied smoothly. It is also necessary to give time to dry the body before applying the next layer.

Giving the auto matte shade

More and more cars are painted in matte color. Now there is a huge number of such shades. The most popular are black, brown and white. It is possible to apply a matte color only to some parts of the body. In this case, nothing remains, how to paint the car with a can of the right color.

Dullness can be given, using the appropriate varnish. The procedure is carried out in several stages: the varnish is applied to the old surface of the car in order to hide the glossy sheen of the old LCP. Then, using a balloon with the necessary matte paint, the coating is sprayed onto the body. This procedure is almost no different from the usual repainting of cars.

The most expensive and effective form of painting is the addition of velvet shine. This gives the car a "roughness", which is felt if you touch the body. Thus, the color of the car in a matte color can be any available way. You can perform this procedure yourself. Or - if finances allow - with the help of professional painters.

Peculiarities of painting the body with liquid rubber

Liquid rubber differs in that it is applied to the surface of the body relatively easily and withers away just as quickly. This is due to the peculiarity of the paint composition. It is based on a polymer-bitumen substance, which, when exposed to the external environment, instantly solidifies and forms a thick protective film. This nuance should be considered when determining the place where the color will be produced. In general, you can paint the car with liquid rubber alone, withstood all temperature conditions, and with the help of professional painters. The latter option, however, will affect the purse of the car enthusiast. We do not consider it.

The advantage of this method of painting is also the fact that it can be applied by an aerosol method or a conventional brush. When spraying, an even and dense layer is obtained, which is difficult to achieve when working with paint tools. Given that the composition has a dense basis, it should be diluted. In most cases, the usual solvent will not work. Optimum variant - firm solvents recommended by the manufacturer of a rubber paint (this information is located on the label). Rubber paint is applied in 3 layers. The break between them should be at least 10 minutes. In the end, you must leave the car in a warm place for a day. After it can be started to polish to give shine. So, when answering a question about how to paint a car with your own hands, it's important to remember that it takes a long and laborious work. Only in this case it is possible to achieve the best result.

Tips for painting a car

To achieve the best result, it is best to paint each element of the car separately. If this is not possible, care should be taken to ensure that the paint does not fall into open areas that can not be painted. This applies to plastic, wipers, wheels. In all cases, the visible parts of the body are covered with film or tape. So, to paint the car with rubber, you will need to purchase covers for the wheels. Only so caustic liquid does not get on the tires.

Before work it is important to calculate the right amount of consumables. This applies to cans with paint, and solvents and putty. In critical situations, when the car has significant damage to the body, additional tools will be needed: a hammer (for straightening), welding, sandpaper, scotch. In general, the question of how to paint the car with your own hands is relevant for those who do not want to pay for dusty and uncomplicated work to specialized car paint centers.

Conclusion

The answer to the question of how to paint a car with your own hands is quite simple - you need to be patient and consistently perform all the steps discussed in the article. In this case, you can not only avoid typical mistakes, but also save significant funds that would go to eliminate defects that occurred during work. Another important question. How much does it cost to paint a car if you use only improvised tools? The final cost will depend on the selected consumables and the degree of equipment wear. So, when painting balonchiku it is necessary to take into account that the flow will be about 200 ml on average for each element of the car. The average price of such a paint varies from 150 to 300 rubles (in different regions it is different). The volume of one balonchika is 200 ml. In general, the painting of the body of the car will take about 2 liters of paint. This is the average price and depends on the technology and the thickness of the layers. So, the expense for the purchase of cartridges will be 3000 rubles. Taking into account the solvent and curing agent, the price will increase to 5500-7500 rubles. Thus, this figure will be 10 times less than if you used the services of professional painters.