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Painting

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Painting your VW can be enjoyable or a major pain in the rear!

"What is the best way to paint my VW? Good question! You have to ask yourself some questions first before I answer this question. Those questions are on the Body Work page. There are four ways: quick, cheap, easy or right!

Quick: use a spray can of paint.

Cheap: use a spray can of paint.

Easy: take it to a paint and body shop.

RIGHT: Take it to a paint and body shop or there is another way!

So you want to do it yourself, COOL! Sounds good to me. The right way to paint is time, money and space consuming.

First, you must decide on what paint scheme. Do you want a custom paint job, something like a mural or just a factory standard paint job.

Second. Do you have dents or body damage? If you do then read our Body Work page first.

Third: Have the right equipment. "Well, what is that?" The equipment you will need to do a paint job is the following:

	Best: Air compressor, paint gun, air hoses, high quality paint, primer, thinner, and clear coat. Orbital sander. sponges, bucket of water
	Good: Block sander, bucket of water, sponges, spray cans of paint and primer.

So you now have a straight body, prepping the surface is very important and must be done. It is a very bad idea to just paint over the old paint. Painting over old paint will cause cracking and peeling of the new paint and probably rusting too.

	Start prepping by sanding down the body with sandpaper or an orbital sander.
	Get the sandpaper wet and keep it wet or at least damp. You will need a bucket of water to do this with.
	Remove all paint down to bare metal.
	Only do a small area at a time.
	Once you are down to bare metal then make sure the surface is smooth, clean, dry, free of debris and free of contaminates.

Now to painting.

	Start by spraying on a thin light layer of primer (gray for light colors and red from dark colors, USUALLY)
	After applying the first coat of primer, allow it to dry for about 2 hours.
	Once the first coat of primer is dry then lightly sand the surface until smooth.
	Repeat priming and sanding at least three times.
	Before applying the first coat of paint, lightly sand the primered surface until smooth to the touch and again free of debris.
	Spray on the first coat of paint lightly and evenly.
	Allow first coat to dry for at least 1 hour, depending on the paint (read the can)
	After the paint has dried, lightly sand the surface until smooth.
	Repeat painting and sanding at least 4 times for a total of 5 coats.
	After final coat make sure the surface is smooth.
	Then apply the first coat of clear acrylic enamel.
	Allow the clear coat to dry
	Apply a final cost of clear acrylic enamel.

Page last updated: Sunday, 06 January 2008 20:56:42 -0600

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