i plan on getting my car painted this april but i would like to cut down the cost by doing the prep myself. how would i go about sanding it? can i use the black primer in the spray cans at pep boys? and how many coats? i am also shaving my emblems and my antenna...how would i do all this stuff? i did a search and i couldnt find all the info i needed...any help could be great!

 

anyone???

 

if you are thinkin about doing the sanding get ready to do some work. you gotta wet sand. i dont remember the exact grit but i helped my dad a few times in preping his cars for a new paint job. wasnt that much fun. he got a new paint job at least once a year. (he is crazy when it comes to his cars). you gotta sand.....then feel the surface. makin sure you sand evenly is the hardest part. if you really are gonna do this yourself i can call my dad and ask him about all the detials. just wanna stress that it is lots of work!

you got to take off all the moldings, lihgts, etc etc.......are you gonna mask the car too? make sure you take your time on that if you are. if you want your car to come out lookin good that is the main rule to follow. just take your time.

 

thanks man....me and my friend are doing it in his garage...its alot of work but its alwayz worth it to see it in the end...what do you mean by mask?

 

I was at my local library in the automotive section and they had two books on painting cars. One was "How To Custom Paint Your Car" or something like that. I read them, and voila!!!, I basically know how to paint cars. Nevermind the fact that I've never done it, but I know the procedure. Check out your library though, they may have something.


[Modified by ZCTURBO, 9:33 AM 3/17/2002]

 

in your garage fool!
your not keeping your car there for that long!

 

1) Wash car and use whatever you can to remove wax and residue.
2) Using masking tape, mask off areas you don't want scratched by sanding. (ie, trim, head and tail lamps, etc)
3)Invite some buds over (tell them to bring and wet sand that **** with very fine wet sand paper. (I think 400+ grit is okay, but check with an wutobody shop)
4) Use LOTS of fresh sandpaper, don't use the same piece to long or it will take you forever.
5) Sand each area untill there is no more glass and it is a dull matt finish. (Any shiny parts mean you need to sand more)
6) Drink one beer. (If its warm, put in the freezer, don't forget to take out)

Shaving:

Fill in the holes. Use a high quality filler such as the fine fiber glass filler. I used it and it is great. Try to stay away from bondo. Dont put to much on top of the holes or you will create a bump. (Thats ok, cause you could just sand it away)

Once the holes are filled and dry, drink another beer, then use a coarser grit sand paper (perhaps 350, I forget) and sand the filler down untill its flush with the body of the car. You may encounter some bare metal. If so, use some cheapo spray primer from wal mart and SPARINGLY spray a few thin layers on the area you filled. Break out the wet sand paper and sand that area you sprayed so it blends in smooth with the rest of the car. Keep useing the THIN coats untill the finsish is smooth. The key here with the spray is to fill in any pours and pin-holes from the filler.

Once all holes have been filled and the car is entirely wet sanded, use a tack cloth and wipe the car down GOOD! You should use a damp cloth with water first, then once it dries use the tack cloth. You have to get all overspray and deposits away from your car. Use you hand to feel for smoothness.

Drink a beer.

Once the car is butt ugly, then its ready for paint.

I have restored an entire 1985 ford thunder bird that had HELLA RUST! I had to weld new body panels on...so shaving is easy **** compared to this. I also had that car re-painted and I did all the prep work myself. Let me know how it goes...