Car Painting Process?
2 Answers
The car painting process consists of the following 7 steps: 1. Cleaning: First, thoroughly clean the car's surface to remove dust and debris, and determine the repair process. 2. Oiling: Apply oil treatment to the areas to be painted. 3. Sanding: Choose appropriate sandpaper to sand the areas to be painted, ensuring all paint is smoothed out. 4. Applying Putty: Once all the paint is sanded off, apply putty to the surface. 5. Cleaning and Masking: After applying the putty, use an air gun to blow away dust and impurities to prevent paint splatter. 6. Painting: Spray the pre-mixed paint, which can be done in 3-5 layers. 7. Finishing: After the paint dries, sand and adjust any uneven areas to achieve a natural finish.
Last time I had my old car repainted, the whole process felt quite demanding. The first step was to thoroughly wash the car to remove all dust and grease, otherwise impurities on the paint surface would look terrible. Then came sanding the old paint areas—I used sandpaper to smooth it out slowly, which took half a day, ensuring the surface was even and rust-free. Next was masking and protection, covering areas like windows, headlights, and door handles that shouldn’t be painted with tape and cloth; any mistake here would lead to messy overspray that’s hard to clean. After that, I applied primer—choosing the right material is crucial—and once it dried, I lightly sanded it again for smoothness. For the main color coat, I applied three thin layers, waiting 10 minutes between each for partial drying, keeping the spray gun 30 cm away with even strokes to avoid thick spots, bubbles, or drips. Finally, I sprayed clear coat for gloss protection and let it dry naturally for 48 hours—no rushing to polish. The car looked brand new afterward, but the process reminded me: the environment must be clean and wind-free, preferably in a garage, to avoid rework.
