CHAPTER TWO
GETTING STARTED
This chapter answers the following questions:
- What kit do I need to paint my own car (all the materials, equipment and supporting products required for the job, beginning to end)?
- How do I build a spray booth (all the requirements for building somewhere suitable for paint finishing)?
- Do I need to repaint my whole car (localized paint work vs. full car)?
- Do I need to plan the job (how to write and order a comprehensive job sheet, and stick to it)?
There are literally thousands of different options of materials and products to choose from. Make sure you make the right decision for your workspace. And prepare to be surprised – even a humble garage can be transformed into a paint booth.
GETTING STARTED
As with any specialist job, even understanding the impenetrable language of the tools required is a bit of a challenge, and if you get the wrong kit it will seriously impede your progress, or the quality of the finished product. They can also be fiendishly expensive, and if you are only planning to paint one or two cars, it might be a more economically viable option to rent some of the larger equipment. However, some supporting products like the paint gun itself are worth splashing out on – even in the same product line, there are very slight variations that mean you have to ‘learn’ individual products’ idiosyncrasies. We will talk in more detail about guns in later chapters, but first you have to prepare your work space.
HOW TO TURN YOUR WORKSPACE INTO A PAINT BOOTH
Regardless of where you live or what resources fall to hand, you can paint your car yourself. But to make the best of the job there are a few rules of engagement.
First – space. You do not need much, but you do need some. Make sure you can manoeuvre your vehicle so there is at least three metres of room around every panel at all times: you will need to keep your paint gun at between fifteen and twenty centimetres from whatever you are painting at all times, and be able to move yourself up and down easily at all times with your elbow bent, so this is a good safe minimum.
Even small spaces can be transformed into a workable paint shop, but there are some minimal requirements.
What you do not remove will have to be carefully stored.
Second – surfaces. Dust and dirt particles are the enemy here, so dirt and gravel floors are out. You will also need a flat bench on which to mix your paint, and none of it can intrude on your painting area.
Third – ventilation. As long as you can leave the door through which you have brought your vehicle open, you should be fine.
Finally – power. You are going to need to run a fresh-air respirator compressor, air compressor, a large fan and lots of lights, so you must have good access to a mains plug.
If your place fits the bill, you can now start work on m
