The ideal temperature for spraying car enamel should be between 20 and 25°C, and it is desirable that the humidity does not exceed 50%.

Before applying the auto paint to the car body part - check the color match, make a test coat with the help of a test card.

Preparation of the surface for painting

Thoroughly prepare the area to be refinished before beginning the refinishing process. Degrease the surface using an automotive anti-silicone solvent and special wipes.

Allow the surface to dry. Make sure there are no traces of wax, oil or other contaminants on the surface.

Sand the surface
Extend the boundaries of the damage 2-3 cm in each direction and sand away rust, scratches or severe damage using water and P120/P180 grit paper.

If there are pockets of corrosion in the repair area, pre-treat the surface with P240 grit paper. Then apply acid primer and wait for it to remove the corrosion residue (2-3 hours). Repeat the process if necessary.
If there are dents and other body irregularities in the repair area - use automotive filler for the appropriate type of surface. For plastic parts - plastic putty, for metal parts - universal putty.
After the putty has dried, sand the surface again with P240/P320/P400 grade waterproof sandpaper and plenty of water.

Rinse the surface thoroughly with water and allow to dry. It is a good idea to degrease the surface again and remove dust with an anti-static cloth.

Masking the surface

It is necessary to mask the adjacent surface to be painted to prevent overspray. Use:

  • automotive painter's tape,
  • masking paper,
  • automotive masking tape to cover a large surface.

Surface Priming

Using automotive primer in aerosol apply it to the sanded metal or plastic. Primer may be omitted if the area of damage is less than 3-4 square centimeters. The primer will fill the scratches left by sanding the surface with P180-400 grit sandpaper. Several colors of primer are available for better paint coverage.

Apply the primer in 3 or more coats, allowing 5-10 minutes drying time between coats. The drying time of the primer is about one hour, at a temperature of 20°C. The lower the temperature, the longer the drying time.

Sand the primer after 30 minutes with wet sandpaper of grit P600. Use water to clean the sanding dust and dry the surface. Afterward, replace the dust contaminated painter's tape and paper. Do not use dissecting solvent over fresh primer. Use a sticky wipe to pick up lint and dust particles.

Applying Auto Enamel
Before applying the auto enamel from the can, stir the contents of the can. Shake the can thoroughly for at least 3-4 minutes. Such manipulations will ensure uniformity of color and prevent clogging of the sprayer. During use it is recommended to shake the can periodically.

Applying Automotive Enamel from a Can

First apply the base automotive paint to the test card, and when dry, cover with a clear coat to compare color and coating match. Acrylic car enamels do not require varnish. It is desirable to make several test coats, it will help you determine the necessary number of coats, as well as allow you to practice applying auto enamel.

The can should be held vertically. Spray the paint in a thin layer from a distance of 20-25 cm from the surface. To maximize the effect, it is recommended to apply several thin coats. Each layer should be even and dry. You can carefully use an adhesive cloth between each dry layer of base coat. After applying each coat of car paint from the can, you need a short break to dry - 5-10 minutes at an ambient temperature of 20°C.

Car refinish application

For base coats (metallic, pearlescent, xeralic) it is necessary to apply acrylic aerosol paint 20-30 minutes after applying the paint. This will give the paint the desired "gloss level" and provide the necessary protective layer for the paint.

Shake the aerosol well before use. The paint should be applied in two and a half coats, and do not forget to observe the drying time between coats - 2-3 minutes. Make sure that each coat is dry to the touch, but not sticky, before moving on to the next coat. Do not touch the freshly painted surface, you can touch the tape to check. 

Final step

  • 60-90 minutes after painting, remove the painter's tape and the film that covered the surface.
  • Wait at least one day before polishing. If the paint has an "orange peel" effect, light texture or dust, sand with P1500 wet grit paper. Then polish to a high gloss with polishing compounds.
  • We do not recommend applying wax within 30 days of painting with a spray can.

Additional recommendations

It is necessary to paint not only the place of damage, but also to make a transition to the surrounding paint. This will maximally hide the difference in color (often it is due to burnt out paint or different factory colors). It is desirable to paint to the nearest edge, especially for base coats, this method allows you to maximally hide the place of transition.
If the paint in the bottle has not been completely used up, so that you can use this product again in the future, you need to clean the valve through which the paint enters the spray head. To do this, turn the can upside down and spray until the spray is discolored. Otherwise, the paint in the valve will dry out, and the can will be unusable.

When painting with three coats, it is necessary to use two aerosol cans of paint, allowing for drying between coats.
Hot weather will shorten the drying time, while cold weather or thicker coats will increase the drying time. The drying time of each coat depends on the ambient temperature and should not exceed 7 hours, otherwise there is a possibility of adhesion failure. Failure to allow sufficient drying time may result in color inconsistency, severe "orange peel" or loss of gloss.