Thinking about a car paint repair project while your spouse is away because you live by the “Tis easier to ask for forgiveness tomorrow, than it is to beg for permission today” motto? You are not alone as many DIY live-free die-hard husbands can attest to. That said, here are some important considerations to make before tackling a DIY car paint project in your home.
Follow us today...
Bad Husband Projects
If I had to admit to any of my numerous failings, it would be that I have waaaaaay too many projects. Some are car related and several are other interests of which I have been accumulating parts, supplies and tools for several years now.
One example is a stash of bedframe angle iron to build my own ham radio DIY tower in my backyard. Angle iron is not cheap, but when it’s part of an old bedframe you can often find it for free when someone is moving out of their house.
I have a habit of repurposing junk, so my wife is not onto me…yet.
My point is that I have been toying with the idea of wanting to spray paint a car or truck myself to save money (stop laughing please) and make a project 100% “I did it all by myself” bragging rights worthy.
The biggest obstacle is space. The garage is already filled with projects and it’s not a clean enough dust-free environment for semi-professional spray painting a car. But wait a minute---what about one of those plastic DIY spray booths I’ve been inundated with by internet bots with ads from Amazon when I started researching the possibilities?! A plan---misguided as it might be---is beginning to formulate.
DIY Painting a Car
What got me thinking about this as an article was a recent 100PercentJake YouTube video where Jake assembles a freebie plastic garage/shelter that could possibly be used for spray painting car parts if not an entire vehicle.
In the video, Jake does a demo of the build that helps provide an idea of what these types of DIY garages are like and what it takes to put one together. But more importantly, it provides some useful info for a person to process when planning out something like a DIY paint job for a car---especially for those wanting to spruce up a used car for sale that is a big step up from rattle can repairs.
As an added value of this video, be sure to follow the comments where some readers post useful recommendations from having assembled and used these types of DIY garages.
But Wait, There’s More…
As a supplement to the 100PercentJake DIY garage assembly video, posted below it is a second video that highlights some of the common first-time spray painting mistakes DIY individuals discover the hard way.
The video is a good demonstration of what it’s like to take on just a limited car parts painting project before deciding to tackle a full body paint job during the restoration of a 1985 Pontiac Fiero 2M4.
In the video posted by the Ronald Finger YouTube channel, you will learn:
• Why you should always use any product on a test piece first
• Why planning ahead will save you time, money and headaches
• Why you should stop at the first sign of trouble and rethink what is happening before going any further
• The importance of consulting with your paint reps on pretreatment and recommendations
I built a BUILDING for $350! (Is it good, though?)
Learning to Paint Like a Pro | Saturday Projects
And finally…
Will I succumb to the temptation of a DIY car paint job? Maybe not…we’ll have to wait and see. I’ve just finished discovering the limitations of doing DIY powder coating of auto parts for the first time---with mixed results---and I’m a little leery of what it takes to get the kind of results I really want in a current restoration.
For additional articles about car repairs, here are two for your consideration:
• Consumer Reports Used Car Fixes: DIY Fix for a Dented Bumper
• Increase the Selling Price of Your Used Car with This DIY Tip
COMING UP NEXT: Used Luxury Cars That Are the Worst in Repair Costs and Reliability
Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.
Image Source: Unsplash
Follow us today...