how do you prep a car for paint

[BellaAnn]

Prepping a car for paint is a meticulous process that directly determines the quality and longevity of the new finish. Proper preparation involves cleaning, stripping old paint, repairing dents, sanding, masking, and applying primer. Skipping any step risks imperfections like poor adhesion, peeling, or premature rust. The goal is to create a perfectly clean, smooth, and chemically neutral surface for the new paint to bond to.

The first step is a thorough cleaning. Use a dedicated automotive grease and wax remover to eliminate all contaminants from the paint surface. Any leftover wax, silicone, or road tar will cause fisheyes (small craters) in the fresh paint.

Next, you must address any body damage. This involves denting and rust repair. Small dents are hammered out and filled with body filler, which is then sanded smooth. Any rust spots must be completely ground away to bare metal to prevent it from spreading under the new paint.

Sanding, or feather edging, is the most labor-intensive part. You need to sand the entire area to be painted, feathering the edges of the existing paint to create a seamless transition. Start with coarser grits (like 180 or 320) to remove the clear coat and color, then progress to finer grits (400, 600) to create a smooth, uniform scratch pattern for the primer to grip.

After sanding, a final chemical wipe-down with a dedicated surface prep solvent or tack cloth is essential to remove all dust. Then, carefully mask off every part of the car you don't want painted—windows, trim, lights, and wheels—using high-quality automotive masking tape and plastic sheeting.

Finally, apply a primer surfacer. Primer seals the surface, provides a consistent base for the color coats, and can be sanded to fill minor sanding scratches. The entire process requires patience and attention to detail for a showroom-quality result.

Preparation Step	Key Action	Common Grit Progression (if sanding)	Purpose
Deep Cleaning	Degrease with wax/tar remover	N/A	Remove bonding contaminants
Dent Repair	Hammer, pull, apply body filler	N/A	Restore smooth body lines
Rust Removal	Grind to bare metal	80-180 grit	Eliminate corrosion source
Feather Sanding	Sand existing paint edges	320 -> 400 -> 600 grit	Create seamless transition zone
Final Wipe	Use tack cloth/surface cleaner	N/A	Eliminate all dust particles
Masking	Tape off trim, glass, lights	N/A	Protect non-paint surfaces
Priming	Apply primer surfacer	N/A	Seal surface & create uniform base

[LoganLee]

Wash it, then really scrub it with a wax and grease remover. The paint won't stick to a dirty surface. Sand the whole area you're painting to rough it up—it gives the new paint something to hold onto. Fix any dents first with filler. Blow off the dust, wipe it down with a tack cloth, and mask everything you don't want painted. A good primer is the final step to a smooth base. It's all about the prep; rushing it shows in the final job.

[DiPhoebe]

For me, it's all about the gear. I start with my dual-action sander and a stack of discs—320 to 600 grit. After a good wash, I block sand the panels to get them straight. Then I break out the masking gun and fine-line tape for crisp edges. The last thing I do before priming is a wipe with a pre-paint spray cleaner. It grabs any leftover dust that a tack cloth might miss. Using the right tools makes the difference between an okay job and a great one.