What Are the Steps for a Full Car Paint Job?

[OElizabeth]

The steps for a full car paint job are: 1. Remove oil stains, rust, and dirt from the car body surface, and degrease plastic parts to keep the surface clean; 2. Apply zinc-based phosphating solution to the car body surface, rinse with clean water, and wait for the body to dry before painting; 3. Pay attention to air pressure and nozzle size during spraying to ensure the paint is applied evenly and smoothly; 4. After painting, drive the car into a paint baking room to dry quickly and solidify the paint. Methods for car paint maintenance include: 1. Wash the car only after the engine has cooled down; 2. Minimize exposure to direct sunlight; 3. Clean stains on the car body promptly; 4. Rinse with clean water after rain to prevent acid rain corrosion; 5. Apply wax or glaze coating.

[VanOlive]

Painting an entire car is no easy task. I've seen at least dozens of vehicles being refurbished. The first step is to completely disassemble the body - door handles, lights, and trim strips all need to be removed, otherwise the paint won't spray evenly. Next comes sanding off the old paint layer, using sandpaper or a grinder to thoroughly remove rust spots and bubbling paint surfaces. This step is crucial - if the foundation isn't done right, all subsequent work will be wasted. Then you need to apply putty to fill in scratches and small dents, followed by repeated sanding until it's as smooth as glass. After that, the car enters a dust-free baking room for primer application to prevent rust. Once completely dry, the topcoat is applied, usually requiring two or three coats to achieve proper thickness and color richness. Finally, a clear coat protective layer is sprayed before the car goes back into the baking room for curing at 60°C. The entire process takes at least three to four days, and if any details are overlooked, the paint may develop orange peel texture or fade.

[LeJaxson]

We have a standardized process for full vehicle painting. After removing external parts, the car body must be thoroughly cleaned to remove grease, otherwise the paint adhesion will be compromised. Metal repair cannot be sloppy either—dents need to be pulled straight, and weld spots must be sanded. Before painting, masking tape is applied to protect glass and rubber components. During spraying, the spray gun distance must remain consistent, and even movement is essential to avoid sagging. I’ve personally seen beginners spray too close, resulting in teardrop-shaped paint marks. After the primer fully dries, interlayer sanding is done for finer results. The color paint must be mixed precisely, while the clear coat requires even coverage. After leaving the baking room, manual polishing is performed to fix minor imperfections. The entire process is carried out in a temperature- and humidity-controlled workshop, as roadside shops with poor environments are prone to dust and particle contamination.

[AmyLynn]

In the past, a full car repaint was simply about sanding and painting, but now the process is much more complex. During the metal pretreatment stage, metal treatment agents are used to prevent oxidation. I once worked on an old car where skipping the phosphating agent resulted in rust perforation within just six months. Water-based primers have replaced the old solvent-based paints for better environmental friendliness, but the spraying viscosity must be precisely controlled. For the color coat, a three-layer process is now popular—primer, base color, and pearl coat—to achieve a stronger sense of depth. During high-temperature baking, temperature control must not deviate by more than 5 degrees, or the clear coat will turn yellow. Finally, robotic arm polishing delivers a more even finish than manual work. The entire process demands extremely high environmental standards, making professional results impossible in an ordinary garage.