Painting your car is a great and simple way to make your vehicle feel brand new. But, before you decide to do this DIY project at home, you may find yourself wondering, “What supplies do you need to paint your car?” You’ll need to stock up on all the essential supplies to prep, paint, and finish your vehicle. With all the best equipment and knowledge, your car paint job will look incredible.
Safety Supplies
Before painting your car, make sure you have safety gear, such as gloves, masks, and eyewear. Inhaling paint is dangerous and could also cause damage if vapors get in your eyes. Additionally, wear gloves to protect your skin from old paint as you sand the vehicle, as well as the new coat when you use the sprayer.
Preparation Supplies
Once you’ve geared up with your safety supplies, you can begin the pre-painting process. For this, you’ll need 80 to 220 grit sandpaper to remove the original paint from the vehicle. Also, you may want to use a body filler to repair any dents on the car during this process. National Autobody Wholesalers sells the wet-dry automotive sandpaper you need to prepare your vehicle for painting.
As you get your car ready for painting, you’ll need masking tape and paper to cover any areas you don’t want the paint to get on. Finally, you’ll need a spray gun, primer, and primer thinner. Using the spray gun, you must evenly apply the primer to your vehicle’s body. This is important, as it helps the paint stick to your car. Experts recommend you use at least one coat of primer, but it may take several to ensure an even paint job.
Painting Essentials
When you first asked yourself, “What supplies do you need to paint your car?” you may not have thought of all the safety and preparation supplies needed. So, let’s get into what most people think of first—automotive paint!
Many DIYers use waterborne paint because it’s easy to apply, but professionals typically use solvent-borne paint, so use what’s within your skill level. In addition to this, you should keep a paint thinner on hand to clean up any overspray.
Finishing Supplies
Finally, you’ll need to lock in all that color with a lacquer. After the lacquer cures, you should inspect the vehicle for areas of uneven paint. If you come across any, sand them down with your sandpaper and reapply your paint to that spot. Once everything looks perfect, and the lacquer has had time to cure, you can buff out and wax your vehicle to make it look perfect.