7 Ways to Paint Your Car For Less

You always need to leave at least a little room in your budget, and while you don’t really want to cut corners anywhere, if there’s a way you can go a bit cheaper in one area or another without cutting quality, you should certainly do it. Painting your car yourself is an area that can certainly help you save. Here are seven ways to paint your car for less money. 

1. Make sure you completely strip the car. In some cases, there are compatibility questions about yesterday’s lacquers and today’s urethane enamels, and if you totally strip the car, you won’t have any problems that mean an expensive repaint. Keep in mind that if you’re talking about a ‘60s muscle car, you’re definitely talking acrylic lacquer, but GM used the paint through the ‘80s, too, so get rid of all of it to keep problems away. If you’re sure the paint you’re dealing with is an enamel, you can probably get away with stripping just three layers of paint, but it’s usually better to be safe than sorry.

2. Tackle the reconstruction carefully. One of the most expensive parts of car painting is finding a spot you didn’t realize existed beforehand, and repairing those dents and waves at the outset can really save you some cash and a bit of time. In most cases, better tools can help you do a better job. Basic bodyworking tools, like the ones Eastwood offers, should do the trick, so if you don’t already have a set, make certain you invest in one. This can mean less body-filler in the long run, and a much smaller budget.

3. Understand the paint-mixing ratios so you don’t ruin the whole batch. Most companies will specify the right ratio directly on the can of car paint. Here’s a quick example. If you have an epoxy primer catalyst that says 1:1, you know you need to mix equal parts of primer and catalyst to get a good result. If you’re not sure about the mix ratio, ask someone at your auto paint supplier or get on a discussion board to learn more about exactly what you should do.

4. Single stage paint is almost always a good idea, and it can save you quite a bit of time and money in the long run. It dries to a glossy finish, so you’re not going to need the added clear coat at the end.

5. Block-sanding the primer can take some serious time, and the worst part is that you can’t always see those dents and dings, which can mean some repainting and other problems in the end. To make it easier, and cheaper, grab a spray bottle with some water, and mist it on. You’ll want to work that panel until it is smooth. The water helps to reflect the imperfections, which means you find the dents and dings much faster.

6. Renting a spray booth can actually save you money. If you build a temporary spray booth in your garage, you’re going to save a little cash initially, but it’s not going to be worth it. The paint is going to invade your garage, and you’re probably going to find dust particles, hair, and all sorts of other problems in your paint. Before you make a choice, make certain you discuss the details so there aren’t any misunderstandings down the line about cost. You may also want to understand the shop’s specific rules, because things like painting on the walls of the booth can mean higher costs than you expected at the outset.

7. As soon as you notice a problem, STOP! You can’t do anything about a bubble or a fish-eye while the paint is wet, so just stop painting the area, and go on to another one. You’re going to have to fix it anyway, so don’t bother wasting the extra paint until you do.

It’s possible to save some cash as you get ready to paint your car, but you’re going to have to make a diligent effort to do it. 

Posted in: car paints, Cars