Before you begin painting your car, ensure the surface is thoroughly prepared. Automotive paint suppliers often include a spray-out card for testing the color match. Always test the paint on this card before applying it to your vehicle, as adjustments are impossible afterward. Use high-quality solvents to ensure optimal paint performance and carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding drying, sanding, and flash times.
**One-Part Acrylic Lacquer Primer:**
Acrylic lacquer primer is user-friendly. Before spraying, shake the primer well and stir with a paint stick. Strain the primer into the paint gun cup using a strainer. A 1.4 tip size is recommended. Apply thin, even coats, allowing each to build slowly. Once dry, wet sand with 600-grit sandpaper.
**Two-Part Urethane Primer:**
Urethane primer is a catalyzed automotive paint, so clean your paint gun immediately after use to prevent damage. This primer offers excellent adhesion. A 2.0 tip size is recommended. Mix the primer with the provided catalyst hardener in a separate plastic cup. Apply three coats, waiting 10 minutes between each. Allow the primer to dry overnight before wet sanding with 600-grit sandpaper.
**Urethane Base Coat:**
Before spraying the urethane base coat, shake well and stir with a paint stick. Strain the base coat into the paint gun cup. Apply two to three medium-wet coats until full coverage is achieved, allowing a flash time of 10-20 minutes between coats. A final mist coat can be applied for a more uniform metallic appearance. Avoid solvent cleaning or sanding between coats. Clear coat application is required within seven days.
**Acrylic Lacquer Clear Coat:**
Wait one hour after applying the base coat before applying the acrylic lacquer clear coat. Shake and stir the clear coat, then strain it into the paint gun cup. A 1.4 tip size is recommended. Apply four medium-wet coats with a flash time of 5-10 minutes between coats.
**Acrylic Urethane Clear Coat:**
Acrylic urethane clear coat offers the highest quality finish. As it is catalyzed, clean your paint gun immediately after use. Mix the clear coat with the provided hardener in a 4:1 ratio in a separate plastic cup. Apply two wet coats, allowing the first coat to flash for 5-10 minutes. If applying a third coat, increase the flash time to 10-15 minutes. The dust-free time is approximately 20 minutes. If buffing is needed, wet sand with 1500-grit sandpaper and polish after 24 hours, but within 48 hours of application.