How To Repair Fading Paint

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Whether yous're touching upward a couple scratches or looking at a whole new paint chore, there are a few important steps to take before you tin begin painting a car. Kickoff past building up majorly-damaged spots with a body filler putty and sanding them smooth. So, scuff the entire painting surface with a sanding cake or orbital sander to remove the old paint and set up information technology to accept a fresh glaze. Once you've stripped your vehicle, spray on 2-three coats of a suitable automotive primer, which volition help your new pigment stick and evidence it off in all its glory.

1. i

   Pull out large dents using a dent repair kit. If the auto you're painting is heavily dented, the first affair you'll need to practise is to remove equally many dents as you tin to smooth out your painting surface. Glue an appropriately-sized suction loving cup to the center of the paring using a hot gum gun and look 1-2 minutes for the glue to harden. And so, pull firmly yet gently on the retractable tab until the metal returns to its original shape.^[one]

   • You can pick up a dent repair kit from any auto supply store for just a few dollars.
   • In certain places, similar the hood, torso, and rear panels, it may be possible to pound out dents from the within of the trunk using a hammer and dolly.^[2]

2. 2

   Fill in gouges, dings, and depressions with body filler putty. Mix your filler material to a foam consistency on a mixing lath or slice of scrap cardboard. Then, spread it over any irregular areas in the trunk of the car using a clean spreader or buffing pad. It volition assistance fill in these areas, resulting in a smooth, level painting surface.^[three]

   • Brand sure you use enough putty to fill in each damaged spot completely.
   • To deal with smaller imperfections similar pinholes, try a glazing putty. Glaze putties are thinner than ordinary fillers, which allows them to penetrate into places that thicker products tin can't.^[4]

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3. three

   Wait for your filler material to harden. This will typically take 10-30 minutes, depending on the product y'all're working with and the amount yous've applied. In the meantime, avert handling the putty. Otherwise, you may accidentally smudge an area you just repaired.^[v]

   • Torso filler materials don't technically "dry," they cure via chemic reaction. For this reason, a heat lamp or hair dryer can come in handy to help speed things along.^[vi]
   • Some torso filler materials double every bit primers, which means you lot can paint right over them as presently every bit they've cured. Be sure to read the specifications on the product you're using—it could end upward saving you a lot of time.

4. 4

   Sand the edges around the hardened filler to smooth it out. Once your putty has had time to cure completely, go over it with a sheet of sandpaper 150-180-grit sandpaper. Be sure to sand in all unlike directions, using vertical, lateral, and round strokes to produce a seamless finish.^[seven]

   • While sanding your filler material, it's especially important to plume the edges to minimize the chances of lines or ridges showing up in the finished paint.
   • A block sander can make smoothing large areas easier and more comfortable.

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1. 1

   Get over your car with a sanding cake to prepare information technology for small-scale touch-ups. If yous only plan on freshening up your car'due south pigment in a couple spots, y'all can use a fine sanding cake or Scotch-Brite pad to get it prepare. Glide your sanding block in small circles over each department y'all want to pigment to scuff upwardly the outer surface. This volition give it just enough texture to accept a fresh coat of paint.^[8]

   • Make sure the block y'all're using is no more than about 1,200-dust. Any smaller and it may not exist able to rough up the existing paint properly.

2. 2

   Use an electrical orbital sander to remove paint from large areas. Fit your orbital sander with a piece of 500-1,200-grit sandpaper or a sanding pad. A loftier-speed sander will allow you to piece of work as speedily and efficiently every bit possible. In fact, it's all only impossible to sand downwards to the base metal past paw, so having i is a must.^[9]

   • If yous don't own an orbital sander, you may be able to hire i from your local hardware store or abode improvement center for a modest daily rate.
   • Even with an electric sander, it may take hours to remove all the paint y'all need. This is 1 of the about fourth dimension-consuming steps in preparing a car for pigment, and then exist patient and don't rush.^[ten]

   Alarm: Things can get pretty dusty while yous're sanding. Equip yourself with a pair of shop goggles and a respirator or dust mask to avoid breathing in harmful particles.

3. 3

   Run your sander in a circular motion over each area you'll be painting. Apply consistent pressure to make sure you're removing the same amount of paint from each function of the car's exterior. You should see the existing paint fading a little more than with each pass. Work your way over the entire painting surface in 1–2 ft (0.30–0.61 1000) sections.^[xi]

   • If you're going to be painting your car a unlike color, you'll need to sand all the way down to the blank metal to forbid the old color from showing through.^[12]

4. 4

   Keep sanding until at that place's no visible gloss or seams remaining. After sanding a given expanse, plough off your sander and requite it a quick look. If you still see shiny patches or edged pigment lines, it ways yous haven't taken off plenty of the old finish. Burn upwardly your sander and go over the expanse again to ensure that your new paint will be able to take concur.^[thirteen]

   • Information technology's important to make sure that the entire expanse has been scuffed evenly. Automotive pigment and primer have a hard time sticking to smooth, glossy surfaces.

5. 5

   Wipe your painting area with a clean, moisture rag to remove debris. One time you've finished stripping abroad the old finish, wet a lint-free store cloth and run it over your vehicle's exterior to articulate away the dust generated by sanding. Then, pat the surface dry with a clean microfiber cloth or chamois.^[14]

   • If y'all continue without cleaning your vehicle, you could stop up with pocket-size particles trapped in the fresh paint.

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1. 1

   Mask any parts of the vehicle y'all don't want to get primer on. Cover the areas surrounding your painting surface with newspaper or plastic sheeting and utilize strips of low-adhesive masking record to secure the edges. Strategic taping will keep you from having to deal with messes every bit a result of drift and overspraying.^[fifteen]

   • If you're painting i of the car's dorsum panels, for example, yous'd want to brand sure the rear cycle, trunk, and windows are all sealed off.
   • It may as well be a adept idea to motion your vehicle exterior or park it on top of a dropcloth to forbid making a mess in your work area.

   Tip: If you're merely painting one small part and yous have feel working on cars, consider removing the role so yous tin can simply prime and pigment it past itself.^[16]

2. 2

   Apply a base glaze of automotive primer using a paint sprayer. A sprayer will speed up the awarding process and assistance distribute the primer better. Hold the nozzle of the sprayer 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) away from the surface of the vehicle and pull the trigger to begin releasing the primer. Movement the sprayer back and forth slowly over the expanse y'all're painting, aiming for even coverage.^[17]

   • Make sure your primer is properly thinned and mixed earlier you begin spraying.
   • A standard epoxy or acid-etch primer will be the best pick for almost projects. If you lot're going to exist painting over plastic, you'll need to utilise a plastic-specific blazon primer instead.^[18]
   • A thin base coat may be all you need if yous're just doing some touching up.

3. 3

   Await 20-lx minutes for the initial coat of primer to dry. It's of import that your first coat have plenty time to set completely before you motility on to sanding and applying follow-up coats. Nigh automotive primers are formulated to dry in thirty-45 minutes, and volition exist gear up to sand in near an hour.^[19]

   • Sanding primer while information technology'south still moisture will but cause it to rub off, undoing all your difficult piece of work.
   • Exact drying times will vary depending on the product used and how heavily you apply each coat.

4. 4

   Block-sand the base coat to smooth out inconsistencies. If you happen to notice whatsoever rough or uneven spots in the dry primer, sand these out manually with a 1,200-grit fine sanding block. Utilise smooth, swirling motions and light pressure to wear downwardly the area until it matches the surrounding surface.^[20]

   • If you don't observe any glaring differences in texture, you can skip straight to applying your next glaze of primer.

5. v

   Prime and sand ane-2 more times to ensure a uniform finish. Be sure to allow each of your follow-up coats to dry for a total hour before sanding or starting the next glaze. Once you've put on ii-3 even coats and factored in the recommended drying fourth dimension, your vehicle volition be set up for paint!^[21]

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Add New Question

• Question

  When do you utilize clear coat?

  

  Angel Ricardo is the owner of Ricardo'due south Mobile Automobile Item headquartered in Venice, California. With over ten years of experience in mobile detailing, Angel continues to attend auto detailing trainings to ameliorate his customer service and car detailing skills.

  

  Motorcar Technician

  Expert Answer

  

  Back up wikiHow by unlocking this expert reply.

  It'south the last footstep in this procedure. The clear coat'south chore is to protect your paint, so information technology goes on at the end. Remember, you lot accept to reapply the clear coat every three-6 months or your pigment job is going to start peeling, chipping, or rusting.

• Question

  Can you pigment over existing auto paint?

  

  Angel Ricardo is the owner of Ricardo's Mobile Motorcar Detail headquartered in Venice, California. With over 10 years of experience in mobile detailing, Affections continues to attend motorcar detailing trainings to improve his customer service and auto detailing skills.

  

  Car Technician

  Good Answer

• Question

  Is information technology possible to affect-upwardly clear coat?

  

  Angel Ricardo is the owner of Ricardo's Mobile Motorcar Detail headquartered in Venice, California. With over x years of experience in mobile detailing, Angel continues to attend machine detailing trainings to improve his customer service and motorcar detailing skills.

  

  Auto Technician

  Expert Answer

  

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

  If you're dealing with a super small chip from a pebble or something like that, totally. You can affect up something minor like that. If it's super noticeable or your articulate coat layer simply doesn't await right, yous're going to need to redo information technology, though.

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• If the car you're painting shows signs of extensive rust, information technology may exist necessary to take information technology professionally resurfaced before you can begin painting.

• Paw-sanding can be useful for getting into corners, grooves, recessed detailing, and other places your orbital sander tin't reach.

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• Preparing an auto for painting involves a lot of careful specialized work. If yous're non confident in your ability to prep your car yourself, it may be all-time to take it to a trusted garage to make sure the chore gets done right.^[22]

• If possible, piece of work in a well-ventilated open area. Pigment thinner and automotive primer give off powerful fumes that could make y'all lightheaded if practical in an enclosed space.

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Things You'll Need

• Dent repair kit
• Body filler material
• Spreader or buffing pad
• 150-180-grit sandpaper
• Hammer and dolly (optional)
• Glazing putty (optional)

• Sanding block or Scotch-Brite pad (500-grit or lower)
• Electric orbital sander
• 500-1,200-grit sandpaper or sanding pad
• Protective eyewear
• Respirator or dust mask
• Lint-free shop textile
• Microfiber material or chamois

• Paper or plastic sheeting
• Depression-agglutinative painter's record
• Automotive primer
• Painter spray
• Paint thinner
• one,200-dust sanding block
• Dropcloth (optional)

Almost This Article

Article Summary 10

To prepare your automobile for paint, you'll demand to sand away the old finish and add together a few coats of primer. If you're simply touching up a pocket-size patch, use a sanding block, but if you're painting the whole car, you'll want to utilize an electric sander. Buff the surface in small circles until y'all tin can't see whatsoever shiny patches or lines. So, wipe abroad the droppings left over from sanding with a clean, wet rag. In one case the car's clean, comprehend the areas yous don't want to get paint on with masking tape. After y'all've protected those areas, utilize a base of operations coat of automotive primer using a pigment sprayer to help the paint adhere. Wait xx-threescore minutes for information technology to dry, then apply another 1 or 2 coats. For more tips, including how to repair dents in your machine before painting it, read on!

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