Saturday, July 10, 2010

Painting your car can cost only $ 75

Painting your car is a DIY project some will readily undertake, but others keep away from due to the perceived cost and difficulty of the work. A spray gun, the right air compressor, clear coat, the right kind of primer, buffing compound, rust converter and more are all things that significant car paint enthusiasts take into account. But have you considered the alternative? A less costly alternative? A technique that depends upon thriftiness?

Source for this article: Painting your car the thrifty way – for only $ 75 by Car Deal Expert

Painting your car for just $ 75 is a reality

Styluss at Instructables Workshop points to “The Poor Man’s Paint Job as a means of painting your car for less. The price of only $ 75 is a real standout. Rustoleum paint and high-density foam brushes are the key elements of the budget technique. Sanding is kept to a minimum. Although it is cheap and relatively easy, just keep in mind that there are things that can go wrong if you aren’t careful, but recovery is possible. You will find no guarantees here, so proceed at your own risk. However, the results for Styluss were highly satisfactory; take a look at the photos at the Instructables Workshop link below for proof.

Get this together

Here are estimates for the necessary items. Your requirements may vary. Styluss painted an average-sized sedan, but if you are working on an SUV or large truck, you’ll likely need more.

3 quarts of Rustoleum high gloss white paint = $23.61
3 quarts of odorless mineral spirits = $17.97
1 can of primer spray paint = $4.99
4-inch high-density foam brushes (7) = $5.67
2-inch high-density foam brushes (7) = $3.95
Paint trays (3) = $3.21
2 packs of sandpaper designed for wet use (600- and 800-grit) = $9.50
1 roll of painter’s tape = $5.84
Total: $74.74

Making preparations

Find a large, clean area to do the job. Washing the car is the next step. Remove all attachments that you don’t want to paint. Now you are ready to sand the car. If you will find spots where the old paint has chipped off, hit it with the spray primer. Sand well, because a smooth surface is needed for an even paint job. Mask off non-painted areas with the painter’s tape and paper.

It’s time for painting your car

Mix up the paint and mineral spirits in a 50-50 dilution. It should look like milk. Styluss recommends applying each coat of paint in the exact same order so that you’ll be sure not to overdo areas or miss anything. Start high and work down. Make it uniform, as going back to dry area to paint alongside will create ugly paint lines.

Go slow and paint the right way

Pick a direction, pour some mix within the tray and start your painting voyage. Big brushes are great for big parts, and also the smaller ones are ideal for little segments. Lay the paint on thick in an area, and then spread it around to cover and create a base. Brush with slow strokes that never vary in direction. Be sure to view for drips and sags. If they’re minor, just brush over them. Major issues will require a re-sanding and restart. Three coats, each allowed to dry for six to 12 hours, should be enough. Undiluted Rustoleum is advertised as a 24-hour dry. With the mineral spirits, cut that time in half.

Sanding and coating some more

After the primer coats are finished drying, wet-sand the car with the 600-grit sandpaper to smooth the way for the final coats. Spray off any sanded away residue, then buff it to a shine. If painting your car went perfectly, you may not need the additional sanding. Next, apply at least a couple more coats for a nice, rich look. Allow the final coats (2-3) to dry, then sand with 800-grit or higher.

You’re done! How does it look?

Before washing and waxing the car, wait at least one full day. You may see brush strokes, but don’t worry if you were meticulous. For $ 75, “The Poor Man’s Paint Job” is more than worth it, considering how exciting your car looks. Yes, the paint may strip in a year, but your cash outlay was not tremendous. If you need to spend more money, strip the Rustoleum off and go to a professional. But you may not need it; “The Poor Man’s Paint Job” will save you money and can produce quite enough results.

More data available at these sites:

Instructables.com

instructables.com/id/The-Poor-Mans-Paint-Job-or…-How-to-paint-your-c/



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