Im getting my civic painted at MAACO within the next couple weeks, Im doing the prep work myself. I know everyone's going to say dont get it painted there but im not goint to pay 1500 for a paintjob on a car that is worth maybe 2000 plus im going into the Air Force after summer so I wont have it for too much longer. My question is, I'll be doing sanding and stuff but I do not have a spray gun so I cant prime. Is it really necessary to prime?

Right Now:




Color I Want:

 

Yes, you have to prime it. Wetsand, and polish your headlights.

 

Do they have primer in aerosol cans? Because I have no gun nor a air comp anymore at the moment. So your saying primer is ABSOLUTELY necessary, ive never had my car painted before

 

keep the car and get it painted the right way, basic training will cover the paint job. you'll need a car when you get out of basic anyways. sure the car is worth more then 2000

 

Do it right or don't do it at all.

 

^I agree with them but if you are set on doing it I would advise going against a color change. Since your going to MAACO I doubt you will be painting your door jams/under the hood/under the trunk. This is going to make your car look ghetto and like complete sh*t every time you get in or out of it.

 

Do it right or don't do it at all. If you're going into the air force why not wait until you get back when you might change your mind and sell the car or keep it and than paint it the right way.

 

If you plan on prepping it yourself. do it right! if your body is clean without dents then all you have to do is scuff with [600 grit wet] then [800 grit wet] and you should be ready to rock.


If you have dents and exposed metal then you must prime. For the primer to adhere properly you must scuff with


[320 grit dry] --> then primer


do NOT buy primer from the can since it is lacquer based and which if you paint over it, it will bubble due to the moisture trying to escape.

buy a hi build primer. ie u-tech 2k primer it's like 40-80$ a gallon



if you got good coverage with the primer
*lightly [320 dry] -> [600 wet] -> [800 wet] -> paint
If you happen to burn through go back and re-prime. don't cut corners! you will end up with rust or bubbled paint

and above all when you are sanding use a cross hatch pattern and you will keep a flat surface.
good luck

 

Regardless, I am getting it painted I hate the color and cant take it anymore. But like I said I have no gun or compressor so buying a gallon of primer would be pointless..There is only one little dent that I will seal with bondo...now is it really necessary for priming my whole car because of that one little dent maybe the size of a quarter

 

The paint will only come out as good as the prep work done underneath. If you hate the color your car is now you will hate it even more after maaco paints it. If you don't put a sealer on spots will show through the top coat and the color will look uneven. If you don't have the tools the get it done why wouldn't you pay them however much extra it is for them to do the prep work?

Also a quality paint job will ALWAYS increase the value of the car. good luck.

 

Ok so I got a Primer Sealer, but not a Primer...Is it ok if I just spray it on the parts where Ive put bondo? Because Im doing it in my garage and dont want to have people suffocating when they step out there due to the fumes.

 

I like the dark green color, and the paint looks in great condition.

Sell me your car and you can go buy a blue one

I'll give you 2k cash!

 

Oh and does anyone know what color that is? Is it Fiji Blue?

 

As stated before u do need primer especially for body work. You can get away With not priming the whole car but then you will the body work though the paint by the color being uneven. What I have learned is that if the car is kept the same color primer is not necessary if there is a color change primer ur needed.

That color look like electric blue pearl (Si blue)