Recently a few readers asked how to paint a car with a spray can. Obviously, they know how to use an aerosol can, and they wanted to know if there were tricks and tips that professional automotive specialists knew that would make it possible to paint a vehicle using spray cans and get a nice-looking finish.
I have to admit I was intrigued by the idea and we set out to talk to every paint and body shop around our area to find the answers. We wanted to make sure that we gave our readers the most useful information possible so we asked the car pros to tell us how to paint a car step by step using aerosol cans instead of the more expensive equipment they have in their shops.
I am always astounded and the willingness of experts to share their learned knowledge with us so our readers can benefit. The experts gave us excellent advice, told us what to avoid at all costs, and even let us try out some of their advice in their shops on vehicles they had in for repair. I admit they let us try our skills out on the hoods and fenders that had been damaged before they let us get started on car panels that were intact. That leads me to the first hint or tip that we learned.
You Have to Practice Before You Start
The pros told us that even though they have been painting for years they still set up a practice spray area where they try out the paint they are using, the tip they have chosen, or the spray can they are using.
They suggest that you get some old cardboard and try spraying the paint. Your goal is to:
- Learn to make complete runs across the cardboard with no drips or spatters.
- Learn when to release the nozzle button so you get the complete section and do not stop short.
- Learn to hold your spray can at the exact 10” to 12” distance.
- Learn to hold the can without letting your arm wobble.
- Learn how to make an overlap that is going to dry to be smooth.
Believe it or not, we went through several practice cans before we got the hang of handling the can properly and keeping the right pressure and distance.
The experts told us the secret of how to spray paint a car professionally was preparing the vehicle for the paint, and making sure that the environment we were painting in was suitable.
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Step-by-Step Tips to Paint a Car With a Spray Can
Where You Paint is Important
To paint a vehicle, you need a place that is dry and well-ventilated but also closed off so that bugs and particles in the air cannot float in and stick in the wet paint. You can actually build a painting area out of plastic sheeting, two-by-four frames work, a large fan pointed so that it blows out, and plenty of lighting.
You can paint in your garage but you must understand that the paint is going to overspray at times and it is going to get on surfaces you might now want to paint on. If you use your garage it is still recommended that you hang up plastic and build a secure area for the car.
Clean Your Area
The area you are going to paint needs to be clean. I mean like the operating room clean. Dust and particulates float and those particulates can make contact with wet paint and totally ruin hours’ worth of hard work. Clean the area from floor to ceiling.
Prepare The Metal
The next most important thing the experts told us was the proper preparation of the metal. You cannot simply take a can of spray paint and start spraying it onto a car. A car has a clear coat finish over the paint that will not let the paint adhere properly. To paint a car you have to get that clear coat removed and get the metal ready to accept paint.
You need a sander. You are going to spend a lot of time sanding the old car and getting the clear coat roughened up enough that it will allow the new paint to stick. You do not have to go all of the way down to the bare metal, but every inch that you plan to paint must first be sanded.
Once all of the sandings are done you have to get rid of all of the dust created by the sander. Every inch of the car must be dusted, not washed. You have compromised the protective barrier of your car and you do not want to introduce moisture because that would be an introduction of rust and corrosion.
Once the car is completely dusted you have to make sure the area you are working in is free of dust. The smallest amount of dust or pollen can make a blemish in the paint that cannot be overlooked.
Before you move on to priming the car make certain you check it over to see if there are any dents or damages you want to repair before you paint. You can use Bondo or similar fillers to fill in larger dents and imperfections. When the filler dries you sand the area smoothly.
Remove The Hardware
Now you want to remove all of the hardware that you can if you have not already done so. Remove the aerial, take off exhaust pipes that extend past the body of the car, remove the bumpers so they do not get painted, and remove trim or cover the trim with quality painter’s tape that will stop the paint from getting on it.
Anything that cannot be removed, and you do not want to be painted, needs to be covered with painters’ tape or newspaper tape. Cover all windows, and make sure the headlights are either removed or covered. Do the same thing with the tail light assembly.
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Priming Car for Spray Painting
You HAVE to apply a primer to the metal. Primers do a lot of things for you. Such as:
- Primers create a smooth finish and help to hide minor scratches, dents, and blemishes
- Primers create a uniform color and help to stop the old color or stains on the body from bleeding through the new paint
- Primers have rust inhibitors that can stop rust and corrosion and prolong the life of the car
- Primers allow you to paint the car using less of the more expensive color coat
Cans of Spray Paint
Before you paint you have to purchase the right substance. It must be oil-based and capable of being applied to metal. They do make aerosol cans of paint that have automotive quality paint inside them and the experts highly recommend that you purchase those kinds of paints. The quality of your paint is going to influence the outcome of the job.
The paint must dry to a full cure before you can proceed any further. Do not start putting things back on and try not to touch the vehicle until the paint has time to fully cure.
Clear Coats
After you have sprayed the colored paint on the car, and you have gotten it to a uniform coverage that you are pleased with it is time to apply a clear coat over the entire car.
The clear coat will protect the paint and make it last much longer. It also makes the car look shinier and fresh off the lot. Do not skip the clear coat.
FAQs
Can you Paint a Whole Car With Spray Cans?
You can paint your whole car with spray cans of paint if you buy automotive paint in a spray can. Standard spray paint is not made to give you the durability and protection that automotive paint provides.
How do You Touch Up Car Paint with a Spray Can?
You have to sand around the edges of the spot that needs to be touched up. Then wipe the dust away and use a premium touch-up paint that has a primer mixed in it to coat the surface. Try not to overspray onto the parts of the car that do not need the paint.
How Much Paint is Actually in a Spray Can?
There are normally about twelve ounces of paint in a typical spray can. The paint is different thicknesses so one can cover 12 square feet and another brand of paint may cover 25 square feet. You have to read the labels and see how much coverage the manufacturer says the can is capable of.
Final Thoughts
Painting your own car using spray cans is possible. It is much cheaper than hiring a professional, but it is a time-consuming activity and your car will not be drivable for several days or weeks while you are painting it.
