What Are the Process Steps for Complete Automotive Painting?
3 Answers
Automotive painting generally follows these process steps: 1. Dust removal and cleaning: First, use an air gun to blow away dust particles on the vehicle body, then use a silicone remover to clean stains, followed by blowing dust out of body gaps with the air gun, and finally use a tack cloth to remove fine dust. 2. Base coat application for solid colors: Apply 2-3 coats with 5-10 minutes between layers, adding hardener and thinner according to temperature. 3. Color coat application: Apply 2-3 coats of solid color, metallic, or pearl paint with 5-10 minutes between layers. 4. Clear coat application: Mix and apply two layers of clear coat with 5-10 minutes between layers, adding hardener and thinner as needed based on temperature. 5. Baking: Let stand for 5-10 minutes, then bake at 60°C for 30 minutes. Drying stages should be checked - if slightly sticky to finger touch, it's surface dry; if no fingerprint remains with light touch, it's semi-hard dry; if no mark remains under firm pressure, it's fully cured.
When I restored that classic car, I specifically researched the whole car repainting process. It basically involves five major steps: First, completely grind off the old paint from the car body - this is particularly laborious but must be done thoroughly, otherwise the new paint won't adhere properly. Next comes body filler application to level the surface, where all minor dents and imperfections are smoothed with putty, requiring repeated sanding until it feels perfectly smooth to the touch. Then spray the anti-rust primer - this layer is most critical as it directly determines the adhesion strength of subsequent paint layers. After the primer completely dries, apply the topcoat - at least three to four coats are needed to ensure even, vibrant color. Finally, apply the clear protective coat, followed by meticulous polishing with fine sandpaper until it shines like a mirror. The entire process takes about a week, with each step requiring complete drying time - no rushing. I remember my car stayed in the paint booth for several days, as the technician said improper temperature and humidity control would cause tiny bubbles in the paint surface.
My friend just had his off-road vehicle fully repainted, and I watched the entire process. The first step the workers took was using an electric grinder to sand down the car body, with metal shavings flying everywhere. The original factory paint was completely ground off until the metal layer was exposed. Then, they used a putty that looked like toothpaste to fill in scratches, and after filling, they used a level to check the smoothness. The primer was a dull gray color, and after spraying, it looked like nothing had been done, but the technician said this layer prevents rust. The most exciting part was the color painting stage. In the paint booth, an automatic spray gun rotated in circles to apply the paint, and the metallic paint sparkled under the lights. After painting, the car had to go into a large baking room for three hours, and when it first came out, the surface was still hot to the touch. The final polishing required skill—the apprentice used a polisher for over ten minutes, transforming the paint from a hazy finish to a shiny brilliance. The owner of the modification shop specifically warned that the new paint shouldn’t be washed for half a month, as the paint layers hadn’t fully cured and could easily be scratched.
