During the operation of the car, the wing most often suffers, especially the front one. This happens during a small collision or unsuccessful parking. If the damage is severe, the wing needs to be replaced. It is worth remembering that such parts are not sold factory painted. In addition to the replacement itself, it is also required to paint it in a color as close as possible to the color of the car. And this is an additional blow to the budget if you contact a car service. If you have ever done minor car repairs, then if you have the necessary conditions and tools, you can do the painting yourself.
Painting the wing yourself will cost much less than in a car service
Selection of high-quality and inexpensive material
To paint the wing yourself, in addition to the paint itself, you will need the following:
- putty and primer;
- sandpaper / abrasive material;
- paper tape;
- car varnish;
- clean rags (without small lint);
- polyethylene, pieces of old newspaper;
- dense pieces of rubber (about the size of a palm);
- solvent.
The entire necessary list can be purchased at your nearest hardware store.
The last point deserves special attention. You will need 2 types of solvent. If the amount of work is small (painting one wing), you can purchase them in bulk, which will significantly help you save money.
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Materials
To paint, you will need to prepare the appropriate tools and find an equipped room. A garage is suitable, but it must be clean, spacious, ventilated, and well lit.
To paint the wing, you need to prepare:
The number of consumables for painting a wing yourself will depend on the condition of the body and the current requirements for the result. High quality consumables guarantee the durability of the decorative layer and its attractive appearance. Home craftsmen pay special attention to preparing the body for painting.
Required Tools
The first step in painting a car fender is to have the necessary tools.
Necessary tools for work
You will need the following set:
- spray gun;
- compressor;
- putty knife;
- planers for cleaning.
How to paint a bumper from a spray can yourself
If painting work is carried out only on the bumper, then no one has canceled the preliminary work; we are talking about cleaning the surface, puttying, priming, and sanding.
After cleaning, the surface should be treated with a solvent, thus removing traces of accumulated resins.
1. The old paint coating is removed with a sanding machine, and the corners are also cleaned. If work is carried out with sandpaper, then the grain size of the sandpaper used is gradually reduced.
All dents are smoothed out with putty. After the solution has dried, sanding and removing dust after it are carried out.
The final procedure is to degrease the surface .
2. One layer of putty is sometimes not enough; additional coating is often required.
3. The primer is applied after degreasing the bumper. Often special cans are used, which make all the work much easier.
The primer evenly covers the affected surface, the sandpaper is processed and as a result you should get a matte surface. If irregularities are found, it is worth repeating all the stages of preparatory work again.
Only after this can you begin to paint. The result of spray painting any part of the body depends 80% on the quality of the preparatory work carried out.
The procedure is very simple and is completed by cleaning with an antistatic cloth.
To avoid leaving fingerprints on the cleaned surface, you must wear gloves. Apply paint from bottom to top to avoid drips and lumps of paint.
After creating the first coat, wait until it dries before applying the second coat. Don’t try to use up all the ingredients in the can, because you can overdo it.
Having done all the work from start to finish once, you will already become a specialist, and eliminating small scratches will not be difficult.
A quick solution to the problem at minimal cost is painting using a spray can. You will appreciate the benefits of the method for yourself; it will help provide complete care for your vehicle at the highest level.
What should you consider when painting a wing yourself?
The biggest problem you can encounter when painting a wing is dust. It may not be noticeable to the naked eye, and the garage may seem clean, but when exposed to a spray gun, it rises out of nowhere, subsequently creating a sandpaper effect on the painted fender. Therefore, when painting a car fender with your own hands, you should pay special attention to cleaning the room - thoroughly vacuum and wash the floor.
We paint the new wing strictly in overalls, which should include rubberized gloves and a mask. This way you can minimize exposure to harmful substances when inhaling paint and working with solvents.
Instructions for spray painting a car
The dyeing process is divided into a certain number of stages. At the first stage, preparatory work is carried out, which includes cleaning the body, degreasing work, and the use of anti-silicone.
At the next stage, you need to decide on the shade. Having previously checked the body marking instructions, a specialized store will help you choose the required option.
To prevent an error, colorize the body. Specialized equipment and software will evaluate the level of color fading and other factors.
It is worth noting that you will have to spend a lot of money on the procedure. In addition, paint options such as “metallic” or “chameleon” cost much more, because these shades are the most popular.
If there is already rust on the body, then you need to get rid of it, in this case you will need sandpaper, which will turn the surface matte.
After degreasing, we begin the putty process. If the defects are more serious, then you should use putty with windshield washer.
Do not overdo it with a layer, because it may peel off. Layers are applied gradually until the surface is completely leveled.
To make the putty dry faster, there is a secret - you should add a large amount of hardener to the putty. But in this case, you should not overdo it, because you can turn the putty into a crumbling element.
Stages of work execution
Painting work includes several stages, which must be performed strictly in the order in which they are indicated. Before you paint a car fender with your own hands, you need to properly prepare it. The surface must be perfectly clean and smooth, without any visible defects.
Before painting the wing, it is necessary to properly prepare it
It is worth not forgetting about workplace equipment. It is impossible to carry out work in poor conditions; the room must be clean and well ventilated. Dust is the main enemy of fresh paint.
Depending on the damage to the fender (scratches, dents or corrosion), the list of work may vary, but there is still one constant rule - the car must first be washed and dried. If the design of the car allows you to remove the wing, then it is easier to unscrew it and paint it separately.
A universal list of painting steps is given below.
Preparing and polishing the wing
Before restoring and painting the wing, it is necessary to carefully sand the damaged areas or the entire part as a whole.
How to grind correctly? You need to start from the places where the filler was previously applied. The abrasive wheel P80 – P180 is designed for them. Next, they move on to medium-grain sandpaper (up to P320) and treatment of the entire surface to smooth out the marks of primary sanding. At the completion stage, proceed to sanding with fine sandpaper. If necessary, stripping is carried out down to metal.
When sanding by hand, you need to apply proper pressure to the surface. Movements should be linear, not circular. Otherwise, large scratches will remain on the surface of the wing.
Sanding the wing before painting
Prime and putty the surface
After sanding, the wing must be puttied, after which the resulting smooth surface with a minimum number of open pores will be obtained. During the puttying process, the wing must also be sanded. To achieve an ideal result, more difficult areas must be sanded by hand.
You can do this as follows:
- Degrease the surface of the wing and apply universal putty.
- After drying, go over the surface with a block or machine with sandpaper from P100 to P320 (depending on the situation).
- Repeat the process until completely leveled.
After puttying, it is necessary to apply the primer with a spray gun in 2-3 layers at a working pressure within 3-4 atmospheres. Adjust the torch so that it resembles the shape of an elongated oval. Before priming, be sure to do a test on a test surface.
Apply layers with a break of 5-10 minutes (until one layer dries). The first layer should be thin, and the second should be denser.
Leave for 24 hours, then sand the top with P500 – P600 sandpaper if the part will be painted metallic.
Puttying the wing before painting
Painting
The painting process itself is much easier than the preparatory stages. Before you start painting, you need to decide how much paint you will need. On average, it takes 150-200 g to paint one wing, if we take test paints into account.
How to paint a car fender:
- Degrease the surface to be painted and wipe dry. If it is not possible to remove the wing, then insulate the surface of the car with newspapers and paper tape.
- Apply the sprayer in 2-3 layers, you must work with it wearing a mask and keep it at a distance of at least 30 cm. You need to wait 10-15 minutes between each layer. Apply until the paint covers all glimpses of the primer.
- Let the paint dry.
Typically, drying times vary depending on the paint used. It is usually indicated on the packaging. For example, acrylic paint dries in about 10 minutes.
Varnishing
The last step in painting the wing is varnishing. The varnish is applied after all layers of paint have dried. It will turn the coating into gloss and protect the paint from rapid abrasion and fading.
The varnishing process depends entirely on the type of varnish used. In addition, weather conditions are taken into account. If varnishing is carried out in winter, the holding time increases significantly.
The process of painting a car wing will not take much time.
If the wing defect is small, then it must be painted and varnished in sections. To avoid the difference between the old coating and the fresh varnish, use a transition solvent, which is filled with a spray bottle and lightly sprayed onto the transition boundaries. This is done if the side edges of the wing are damaged. If the damage is in the center, it is recommended to do a local touch-up and completely varnish the wing, rather than fill all the edges with solvent.
After the varnish has dried, a visual inspection of the wing is carried out. If there are minor defects, the varnish is polished by machine using abrasive pastes. To avoid deviations, it is recommended to strictly follow the painting plan.
Paint selection
The next important step is the choice of paint and varnish substance. You can paint the car fender with auto enamels. They contain pigments and additives that protect the car surface from water, fire, corrosion, etc. Main types:
- Melamine-alkyd one-component enamel. Pros: dense structure due to nitrocellulose in the composition, wear resistance, not afraid of gasoline; applied in three layers, does not spread; provides shine. Cons: takes a long time to dry, doesn't polish well.
- Acrylic two-component enamel. Advantages: high-quality protection against corrosion, atmospheric influences, air temperature changes, precipitation; easy to use, dries quickly; polishes well; durable. Disadvantages: relatively high cost.
- Nitroenamel is not a universal product and is only suitable for eliminating minor defects. Cons: does not give the surface a glossy shine, applies unevenly, requires a large number of layers (up to 10 sprays), takes a long time to dry, is flammable, fades quickly.
- Enamels with a metallic effect are distinguished between single-layer, two-layer and three-layer compositions. The latter give the surface a “chameleon” effect. The compositions dry fairly quickly (no more than an hour). The metallic coating looks much more impressive, besides, it prevents overheating due to light reflection, and also has greater durability. Cons: high price.
Melamine-alkyd one-component enamel
Acrylic two-component auto enamel
Automotive nitroenamel
Acrylic enamel with a metallic effect Please note: How to properly paint a car body using a roller: step-by-step painting instructions
Necessary tool
The labor-intensive process of restoring the appearance of a car requires the use of improvised tools, auxiliary materials, etc. You will need:
- paper, newspapers, masking tape;
- abrasive agents (sandpaper, plane);
- degreaser (white spirit, kerosene, special solvents);
- spatula, putty, primer;
- spray gun, compressor, paint or aerosol can;
- rags, varnish, polishing paste and napkin;
- gloves, respirator, work clothes.
To complete the task, you need to prepare all the necessary means at hand in advance before starting repair work.
Sandpaper
Spray gun
Recommendations from experts
Do-it-yourself painting of a new wing is done using a sprayer at a distance of at least 30 cm strictly perpendicular to the surface, otherwise the result may be a non-uniform shade.
If painting is done in warm weather, allow each coat of paint to dry for at least 20 minutes before applying another. As a rule, the manufacturer writes detailed instructions for the paint, which you must read before starting work.
Each layer of paint should lie extremely evenly, without smudges. Gaps are allowed only when applying the first layer.
According to the recommendations of experts, to obtain an ideal result after finishing the fender painting work, it is recommended to polish the entire car. This way, the car will look like new, and the freshly painted wing will not be conspicuous by its shine.
Advantages and disadvantages of the method
If the paintwork is only slightly damaged, many people try to avoid an expensive painting procedure.
In addition, this procedure can be carried out on your own by purchasing the appropriate cans of paint. It is important to carry out the procedure in the appropriate room and in compliance with all technologies.
Before that, you can evaluate all the advantages of this method:
- To carry out such painting, no special skills or preparation are required;
- using a spray can you can carry out high-quality repairs;
- any surfaces are covered, hard-to-reach places and bends are much easier to paint; no additional components in the form of a roller, spray gun, etc. are required during the work;
- if you have no experience in painting, you will be able to apply an even layer of paint;
- to apply an even layer you do not need to work with a roller or brushes;
- Spray painting will cost less than other means; this service is available to many motorists.
However, it is necessary to realize that all painting methods have their own nuances and disadvantages.
Spray painting is no exception to this issue, so be prepared for the following disadvantages:
- there are no detailed instructions on the rams for painting;
- Sometimes you come across cylinders of poor quality, so before applying to a car, test on another surface;
- Sometimes the declared shade and the real one may differ, so you should immediately purchase the required amount.
Select the color scheme in accordance with the labeling, but if you are still not sure of your choice, then you should consult with the experts in their field.
He will be able to carry out tinting using special equipment.
If the depth of the chip or scratch is insignificant, then it is not necessary to resort to painting; you can polish it.
If primer or metal is visible in the damaged area, then the work will be more serious and eliminating the defect will take longer, as will painting the damaged part of the body.
Spray painting a car is a step-by-step procedure that is ideal for doing it yourself, which allows you to save money at the same time.
This method is suitable for working with a small area of damage, but if the problems are serious, then contacting a service station cannot be avoided. All work will be carried out there in a special box.
Cost of painting a wing at a car service center
The most popular choice is two types of paint - acrylic enamel and metallic. In the first case, purchasing consumables costs around 2000 rubles, and in the second – 2400-3000 rubles.
If you resort to the services of a car service, then painting a car wing costs 2000-2500 rubles. more expensive if you add this cost to the main consumables. This is the case if the damage is not serious. In other cases, painting the wing will cost a tidy sum (about 10,000 rubles). If you've ever had to deal with car repairs and have your hands in the right place, then painting your car fender yourself will significantly save your budget.
Wing varnishing
Coating a car fender with varnish is similar to the painting process. The only difference is that two sprays from the can are sufficient, maintaining an interval of twenty minutes between applications. After the varnish layer has dried, professionals advise lightly cleaning the surface. Next, remove dust particles using a rag. Finally, apply polishing paste using a special cloth.
Wing varnishing
