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6 Common Auto Car Paint Problems & Cures

November 22, 2021

Car paint geeks around the world will agree that automotive painting is an art and requires skill and expertise while getting the job done perfectly. However, everyone, expert or not, can make mistakes. While these mishaps and blunders may not necessarily be the painter’s fault, they could be due to other factors like the working environment, paint, composition, surface texture, etc.

Factors like humidity, temperatures, dry times, and the film thickness can influence the overall quality of the paint and its finish. There could be times when no amount of precision or care is enough for a blemish-free paint job.

Six common problems you could encounter while painting your car and their fixes are mentioned below to make your life easier.

1. Peeling

This appears after you spray or paint the primer or paint on the surface. It appears like small craters or circular dips.

This usually occurs when the surface has been contaminated with wax, silicone, grease or oil.

To avoid this, thoroughly degrease or remove wax from the surface before going for the primer or paint. Using a fisheye eliminator can also help.

2. Cracking

Long or shorter lengths of cracks can be seen on the paint wither while painting on a cracked surface or if the undercoat or topcoat film is too thick.

It can also happen when there is too much hardener in the paint composition.

The only way to fix it is by stripping the paint and redoing it to finish.

3. Bubbling

Sometimes, tiny air bubbles in the paint can rise to the top and pop resulting in small craters. Adjust the spray gun settings to the appropriate pressure and spray the paint from a specific distance from the surface.

You can fix air trapping and bubble problems by sanding the spot with 1200 grit sandpaper and then polishing it.

4. Fading or dulling

You may have noticed a loss of gloss or dieback after completing your paint job. This could be due to multiple reasons.

Some of the common reasons for dull appearance is contaminated hardener, porous primer, when solvent from topcoat attacks primer, uneven temperature of the environment, very thin topcoats. It can also occur with some metallic basecoats.

To prevent this, you must ensure to use fine sanding paper, increase topcoat thickness, provide even baking temperatures, and seal solvent sensitive primers like lacquer.

To fix dulling or fading, buff the surface and polish and if it is extremely dull, sand and refinish.

5. Orange Peeling

After painting, the uneven texture of the finished surface may resemble an orange peel. This is the most common problem that can happen when painting a car.

This is caused when the paint is under thinned or is sprayed at low pressures. It can also happen when the environment is too hot while painting and baking. Very rarely, it happens when too many heavy coats are applied.

To avoid the orange peel effect, use paint mixing and thinners as instructed by the manufacturer. Use spray gun settings that are appropriate and schedule your painting sessions when the weather conditions are not too hot.

To fix orange peel, sand and buff using mild polish for enamel coats and use a compound for lacquer. In case of extreme conditions, sand the surface till it is smooth and re-spray the topcoat.

6. Chipping off

Sometimes, small paint portions may chip off from the surface due to a lack of adhesion.

This can happen when the metal is not treated properly, improper mixing of paint components, when cleaning or preparation of the surface is done poorly or when a good sealer is not used in the process.

To avoid paint chipping off, make sure to measure and mix the paint components thoroughly, and use compatible products as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Degreasing the substrate and using proper metal conditioners can also help with chipping.

The only way to fix it is by removing paint from a larger area near the chipped area, smoothening the surface by sanding, preparing the metal and then refinishing.

Summing Up

Automobile paint jobs can be challenging when proper conditions and expertise are not available. Mishaps when painting a car is normal and every problem has a solution that does not require stripping off the paint of the entire car. This article has insights on the most common problems and ways to avoid them or fix them with simple yet efficient solutions.

By Paint For CarsIn Auto Paint, Car Paint, How To

4 Life-Saving Steps to DIY Car Painting

September 24, 2021

For a lot of people, it is not an uncommon decision to choose to paint your own car when necessary. There are attractive options in the market today for car painting and many supplies have made this process easier. While you can always get this done from an expensive garage, you might want to consider doing this by yourself. This not only allows you to save up a ton on costs but also lets you customize your painting experience. You can go about the paintwork the way you want.

Once you hire professionals to color your automobile, it may be rather costly. If you get it performed well, it will cost you big bucks. You might be able to save a lot of cash by doing it personally. While this seems like a daunting challenge, handling paintwork is quite easy a task that you are fully capable of taking care of.

Coloring an automobile personally is expensive by itself. In general, painting your personal vehicle costs approximately $200 but there are ways for you to reduce this cost.

Try ‘Do It Yourself’

The most cost-effective approach to save money on car body painting is doing it yourself. It will not only save you money but will also give you the creative liberty you desire. The issue is that doing a fine job on an automobile requires both time and experience. For example, you’ll have to build a car paint booth. This is completely doable, and you will possibly manage it in a few bucks, but it will require time and dedication. Doing it all by yourself is usually not the best option if you need your car to be on the road soon.

Otherwise, you simply need to buy the bare necessities. You may even lease a spray gun if you need one, avoiding the cost of purchasing one. You may, however, get one at a reasonable price if you wish to buy it nevertheless.

Prepare in Advance

When it is about car body painting, proper preparation is crucial. You must already have mended any sections that require it and filled any dents with the filler. Allow plenty of time for the filler to settle before sanding it smooth. Remove any dust with the help of sanding with a wet towel. Don’t rush your preparations. The stronger the connection to the paint, the smoother the final finish, and the better your surface will turn out. Make sure the top is as smooth as possible by going over it again and again.

The Primer Talk

Choose between using urethane primer and epoxy primer. Each of these choices come with their own set of benefits. An epoxy primer will provide a far better seal with minimal applications compared to a urethane primer. This might help you cut back on both time and money when it comes to car body painting.

Get to the Painting

The painting step is the most vital when it comes to the success of your DIY car painting project. Car body painting is one such place in which you should not strive to save money. Purchase the finest paint you can get your hands on and apply many coats. If you get trapped with the idea of trying to save money by using less, the finish will be compromised in terms of depth. Moreover, it will not last as long. You can save money in other ways, including building your own vehicle paint booth out of PVC plastic and poles.

Practice operating a spray gun well in advance before you start spraying. It is important you become an expert in it. This way you will be more confident when you go into the job.

If you have been worried about a car that needs a re-paint, you can also take the hassle-free route and take the professional way out. A vast majority of individuals, on the other hand, are on a tight budget and must save money. That is why they accomplish it with DIY car body painting.

Conclusion

Overall, it is quite easy to get started on your car painting experience with these helpful tips. There are many DIY supplies promoted by automobile brands that offer all kinds of materials for you to enhance this experience. If it is your first time doing so, be sure to go by the book and refer to helpful videos and tutorials. Remember to be careful at each step so you don’t end up increasing your work.

Choosing the Right Paint Finish Job For Your Car

September 20, 2021

With several multiple kinds of automotive paint in the industry, deciding which one to use to give your automobile a transformation can be difficult. It’s just as difficult to decide whether you want matte or glossy paint. Should you consider changing to metallic or pearlescent?

It all boils down to the required impact when picking various sorts of colors or polishes for your car’s remodel. Metallic and pearlescent car paints reflect sunlight and produce levels of color and glitter. A matte texture does have a low gloss and is striking. An elevated finish can be achieved by lacquering a conventional vehicle paint job.

Read more here about choosing the right automotive paint color for your car, where we talk about the psychology of the colors.

Let’s have a look at the many sorts of vehicle paint finishes:

Metallic

Metallic car paint is similar to normal automobile color and may be used in the same way, with the exception that it contains small particles of powdered metal and aluminum that give the car a lot of glimmer and luster. The silvery look is determined by the size and kind of metals added to the paint, which varies by the supplier, but the metallic pigment is typically composed of 1 unit of metal powder to 50 units of paint.

Pros:

Metallic automobile paint is more durable than regular paint. It prevents fading and yellowing quicker than a conventional polish and keeps a beautiful shine for longer.

The valuation of a car with a metallic paint job is better than that of an automobile with a basic finish. This is due to the fact that metallic vehicle paint is still considered a high-end finish.

Cons:

Metallic vehicle paint is slightly more expensive than regular paint finishes, so it’s not a good choice if you’re on a tight budget.

Metallic vehicle paints have a considerably limited color palette than conventional finishes, therefore you might not be able to get your desired tone with a metal frame.

Pearlescent

Pearlescent color is similar to metallic vehicle paint in appearance, but rather than metal powder, tiny ceramic additives are added. Because light is divided into several distinct hues, cars with a pearlescent coating dazzle with rich and varied color tones that change depending on your field of view, rather than a glinty glitter. In direct sunshine, a pearlescent paint coating is a point-of-view to see, with delicate color changes around the contours of the car body.

Pros:

Pearlescent vehicle paint, especially like metallic paint, hides tiny flaws compared with conventional finishes. Should your car have minor dents or dings, possibilities are high that you probably won’t notice them.

A pearlescent finish, like such a metallic finish, is likely to be perceived as more precious by a potential buyer.

Cons:

It’s not cheap. Pearlescent vehicle paint becomes even more expensive than metallic paint, making it difficult to obtain such a stunning finish while painting your automobile on a budget.

It’s difficult to come by. Even licensed dealerships and paint retailers don’t always have the same hues in stock, making repairing or repainting a pearlescent finish a tremendous nuisance.

Matte

Although the matte automotive finish isn’t always a common pick for painting cars, it’s steadily rising in popularity, and along with it comes an increased economy.

Matte auto painting has a “smooth” appearance, as it is not glossy and has a muted, almost “somber” shine. This can be accomplished by utilizing a preparation with a high epoxy percentage, directly introducing a high PVC substance to the auto paint, or adding a smoothing agent to the ultimate lacquer finish.

Pros:

Matte car paint has a high-end appearance. This appearance being bold comes at a cost. Unsurprisingly, it can be, like most of the other specialized vehicle paints. It looks great and is a popular suggestion for automobiles that are grey or black in color.

Cons:

Because flaws or errors cannot be rubbed out, a matte automotive finish was difficult to achieve.

A matte vehicle finish is difficult to retouch, and it can’t be shined with a regular harsh polisher since you’ll wind up with shiny spots all over the car.

Conclusion

When it comes to finding the perfect paint job for your car, there is no easy route. At the end of the day, it is all about the feel and maintenance that you feel most comfortable with. Don’t forget to do your research and choose a paint job that will last you long.

Important Things to Know about Auto Painting

November 15, 2018

Important Things To Know About Auto Painting

by Blog Joseph
DIY Car Painting Tips

There is never a better time than now to start undertaking do-it-yourself DIY car painting projects, especially ones that you have never had the time to try before! If you are a car, truck, or motorcycle enthusiast, like the many other vehicle lovers out there, maybe one of the things you can do is to give your ride a fresh look. If that sounds like something you would be interested in doing, stay tuned because we have some important things you ought to know about auto painting before you begin.

Re-painting your vehicle will enhance its appearance, cover up any small blemishes you may have accumulated, and have it looking brand new in no time. However, if you are new to the auto-painting process, there are a number of important things you need to know before you can start. You can either conduct your own research, talk to your local car enthusiast group, ask for the help of a painting professional, or wing it. Regardless of which method you choose, knowing some key pieces of information about the painting process will go a long way in preventing mistakes, getting clean lines, and creating a vehicle that you can be proud of.

All of this knowledge will help you from ruining the hours of time you spent meticulously laboring over your vehicle, which can make your sparkling beauty into a disheveled beast. So without further ado, let’s gloss over some important things you’ll want to know about auto painting!

The Paint

Knowing what paint to buy is crucial in getting the outcome you want when attempting to change your vehicle’s color. While there are numerous types of auto paint that have come and gone throughout the years, most car enthusiasts and paint professionals today prefer urethane or the two-step acrylic enamel paints over the over paint type variations.

Urethane and acrylic enamel have higher viscosity when compared to lacquer paint styles, even when applied in the same method. Usually, a mixture of 1 part primer to 1 or 1/2 part thinner is already enough to give you that beautiful color you were aiming for. As a result, you will need fewer coats of paint to complete your project when using urethane or acrylic enamel styles of paint instead a lacquer style of paint. Lacquer paints can often require 20 or more coats of paint to get a similar outcome. Most of the time, two or three coatings of base color and three topcoats of clear will do the job. If you still have serious doubts about your paint choice, you can ask the help of a professional in your community to give you some pointers.

It’s also important to mention that color at this point as well. You don’t want to spend all your time painting just to find out at the end that you don’t like the color you chose. Make sure to get an automotive finish color chip chart so you know how your paint will look like in person rather than trying to interpret the true color over your phone or computer screen.

The Spray Gun

Just like lacquer paints, siphon spray guns are already things of the past. These high-pressure lines are no longer used mostly because of what they can contribute to the problem of pollution. Lawmakers have even banned their commercial use in many states.

Now, high-volume, low-pressure, or HVLP spray guns are being used in painting cars. These spray guns feature tanks located at the top of the mechanism. Gravity feeds the paint into the gun instead of siphoning it from the bottle found underneath the spray gun system as with the case of the old siphon spray guns.

Although the location of the paint tank of the newer HVLP spray guns might seem inconvenient for the user, they are known to be more efficient compared to the old spray gun models. They are known to deliver 80 percent of the paint to your car’s surface while only needing a line pressure of 10psi for its operation. This is definitely low compared to the 45 to 70psi needed by the siphon guns, which deliver a lowly 40 percent efficiency.

Safety and Preparation

In painting your car, you also need to be concerned about your safety at all times. Because of this, you need to prepare not just the materials you need in making your car look brand new. You also have to prepare the things that will keep you safe during the entire painting process.

You need to buy yourself a complete paint suit to protect your clothing as well as your entire bodily system from the paint and other toxic materials you might be using. There are a number of cheap brands you can find in the market. You should also don on a respirator equipped with two air filters while you are painting. Pairing all these with gloves, goggles and some type of covering for your head will further keep you safe.

Your work area should also be kept clean at all times. You will achieve better efficiency with your endeavor if dirt and dust are kept away from your work. Just think how frustrating it can be if you will find just one small mistake in what could have been a perfect panel.

It is imperative to note that before you start painting your car, especially with the use of a spray gun, you should practice first. Using test panels and making sure that your spray gun is kept clean at all times will help ensure the success of your painting endeavor.

Final Thoughts On Some Important Things To Know About Auto Painting

Now that you know some of the key important things to know about auto painting, you can now get started on your project with the confidence you need in order to do a good job.

If you would like to know more about auto-painting, check out our other blog articles and don’t forget to take a look at our website for any and all of your auto painting needs.

By adminIn Auto Paint, How To

9 Crucial Tips to Remember in Painting Your Car

November 15, 2018

Crucial Tips for Painting Your Car

If your antique car is showing signs of needing a new paint job, you’ll need to know all the important steps for a beautiful paint application that you’ll be proud of!

Painting a car can be a great experience for the DIY car painting enthusiast, but to do a good job you will need to pay attention to important tips that could help you do the job properly. Read more here in our article about DIY Car Painting Tips.

Here are 9 important tips for painting your car safely:

Crucial Tips to Remember for Painting Your Car

1. Always wear protective gear while painting a car

Don’t overlook this one!

It is not just your clothes that need protection during a paint job, but also your health. Paint and the other materials you will use in giving your car a new coat of paint may have toxic materials that could enter your system.

So for your safety, you should get yourself a paint suit, a respirator, goggles, and gloves. At Paint For Cars, we have everything you need for painting your car, including protective gear to keep you safe.

2. Make sure your paint booth is well-lighted, clean, and has the right temperature

Next, you should keep your spray booth or the area where you will be painting your car clean from dust and dirt at all times. It should also be well-lighted so you can see what you are doing clearly. It is imperative to check on the temperature of your work area as well.

This will affect not just the amount of paint and thinner you should use, but also the time it takes for the paint to dry between coats as well as the ultimate results.

3. Prep all your car panels

Cleanliness is a very important in any painting endeavor. You should clean your vehicle or all your car panels with soap and water as well as wax and grease remover to get rid of any debris, dust or dirt that could block your spray gun or mar your new paint.

You can also use a tack rag to wipe the surface of your panels or your car. Compressed air is needed to clean out complex car parts like the deck lid though. This is the only way you can get every last speck of dirt and drop of water.

You also need to prime and block-sand your vehicle or car panels with the use of a 600-grit paper before you can start painting them.

4. Get ready with all the car painting materials

You will need a specialized table to hold the car parts in place during the painting process. It is best if you will cover this table with masking paper so that it won’t get a layer of paint that it doesn’t need.

You can also get such things as plugs to ensure that threaded inserts are kept clean while you are painting. These plugs will also make sure that these inserts won’t get any primer or paint in them.

5. Stir up the paint

When you are already in the process of DIY painting your car, never forget to stir up the paint. Remember that as time passes, a lot of the product you are using will get to the bottom of the spray gun’s tank.

So, to make sure that your paint’s viscosity is maintained, stir it up often and thoroughly.

6. Don’t forget the paint filters!

You should also see to it that the paint is filtered as it goes into the reservoir of your paint gun. Although paint filters are standardized, you should take note of the type of gun you are using for your paint job.

It is preferred that you use a high-volume, low-pressure spray gun though for higher efficiency.

7. Ask a paint professional which nozzle you should use

The inner fittings of the nozzles of spray guns are adjustable. They are changed according to the type of paint you are using for a project. To ensure that you are using the right kind, ask your paint supplier or a paint professional which is the right one suited for the paint you prefer.

Check out all our car paint supplies here to find the correct items for your car painting project.

8. Maintain proper distance between vehicle and your spray gun

Make sure that your spray gun is as far as 18 inches or farther from your vehicle or your car panel while you are painting. You can test the distance between your panel or your vehicle and your gun before you start painting to make sure that everything is what you wanted.

As soon as you notice your spray gun spitting, you should stop immediately. Clean your gun’s nozzle with acetone before you start painting again. You should also make sure never to touch your gun to your freshly painted vehicle or panel.

Failure to do so will require for you to go through the tedious process of letting the wet paint dry and sanding out the marred area before you can repair it.

Read More: Auto Paint Application Methods

9. If in doubt about painting your car, always ask questions!

Remember that asking questions is never bad. If you are not sure about something that has got to do with your paint job, you should consult with paint professionals. At Paint for Cars, we are happy to assist you with choosing the right paint finish for your car, proper paint application, and more.

This will prevent you from making mistakes with your paint job and will save you the time and money in possibly doing things all over again.

Our Paint Products

Paint For Cars is proud to provide a wide range of colors and types of car paint. In fact, we have over 39 colors available in the following styles: Acrylic Enamel Auto Paint – Starfire Gallons, Acrylic Urethane Auto Paint – Starfire Gallons, Acrylic Urethane Paint Basecoat – Starfire Gallons (auto paint gallons); and single stage Acrylic Enamel Auto Paint Kits – Starfire, Acrylic Urethane Auto Paint Kits – Starfire, Acrylic Urethane Auto Paint Kits – Flat or Satin Finish, and Acrylic Urethane Auto Paint Kits – High Gloss – Xtreme.

Our two-stage paint products include our Acrylic Urethane Basecoat + TCI Clearcoat (good), Acrylic Urethane Basecoat + Starfire Clear (better), and Acrylic Urethane Basecoat + TCI Clearcoat (premium).

Contact Us for Car Painting Tips!

We’ve been providing our customers with auto paint gallons, single stage kits, two stage kits, and auto paint supplies since we first opened in 1998. Contact Paint for Cars for more information and helpful tips for how to paint a car and how to care for your car following a paint job.

1. Peeling

2. Cracking

3. Bubbling

4. Fading or dulling

5. Orange Peeling

6. Chipping off

Summing Up

Related Articles:

Try ‘Do It Yourself’

Prepare in Advance

The Primer Talk

Get to the Painting

Conclusion

Further Reading:

Metallic

Pros:

Cons:

Pearlescent

Pros:

Cons:

Matte

Pros:

Cons:

Conclusion

Further Reading:

Important Things To Know About Auto Painting

The Paint

The Spray Gun

Safety and Preparation

Final Thoughts On Some Important Things To Know About Auto Painting

Crucial Tips for Painting Your Car

1. Always wear protective gear while painting a car

2. Make sure your paint booth is well-lighted, clean, and has the right temperature

3. Prep all your car panels

4. Get ready with all the car painting materials

5. Stir up the paint

6. Don’t forget the paint filters!

7. Ask a paint professional which nozzle you should use

8. Maintain proper distance between vehicle and your spray gun

9. If in doubt about painting your car, always ask questions!

Our Paint Products

Contact Us for Car Painting Tips!

Further Reading: