Directions for Custom Mixed Aerosol Paint

**Ideal temperature for spraying is 70-80F. Ideal humidity should be 50% or less.**

Surface Prep

Thoroughly clean area to be repaired with dish soap and water. Then dry completely. The use of prep solvent and a clean lint-free towel assures the best clean surface free of wax, grease, and other oil-based surface contaminates. For better results do not apply in direct sunlight.

If sanding is needed: Use 180 grit sandpaper to remove rust or bad surface damage. Then use 320 grit sandpaper to remove 180 grit scratches.

Basic Sanding

Sand out rust, scratches, or bad surface damage with 180-320 grit sandpaper. Primer will cover over 180-320 grit sand scratches. Use 600 wet sandpaper to sand the area you will use the base coat. Wet sand the blend panel (the area that might get some base coat and will get clear-coated) with 1000-1500 grit wet sandpaper. The entire area to be painted should be dull and smooth.

For new plastic parts lightly scuff the area with a grey fine scuff pad. For new metal parts, you may lightly use a red medium scuff pad for top coating with solid colors or a grey fine scuff pad for metallic and pearls.

Masking Off Adjacent Panels

Mask off adjacent panels to prevent overspray. Use 3M automotive-grade 3/4" masking tape and masking paper or pre-taped film. Never tape off mid-panel or you will see a tape line. Make a line with tape first, then tape paper to your existing tape line. Doubling up newspaper will work fine but the paint has a possibility of bleeding through with excessive heavy coats. Use 1 1/2" or 2" masking tape for small areas like tail lights and reflectors. In the case of painting in an enclosed area mask the entire car with plastic sheeting to prevent overspray.

Primer Application

Use plastic parts adhesion promoter over bare plastic. Spray 2 light coats over lightly scuffed plastic.

Shake primer well. Apply aerosol primer spray paint over clean sanded metal or plastic treated with plastic parts adhesion promoter. Primer will fill 180-320 grit wet sandpaper scratches. Apply 3 or more coats waiting 5-10 minutes dry time in-between coats. Sand the primer in 30 minutes with 600 grit wet sandpaper. Use water to clean off sanding dust and dry the area and then replace the dust-contaminated masking tape and paper. Do not use prep solvent over the fresh primer. Use a tack cloth to pick up any lint or dust particles.

Spray Paint Application

Shake custom mixed aerosol well. Spray a test panel with basecoat and clear coat first to compare color match and coverage. Apply as many medium coats as necessary to cover the area waiting 5-10 minutes between each coat. Each coat should appear uniform and dry between each coat. You may gently use a tack cloth between each dry coat of base coat. Spray light dust coats if a metallic or pearl color looks too dark. Wait 10 minutes before using clearcoat.

Tri-Coat Application

If you ordered one color but received two aerosols labeled "Step 1" and "Step 2" then your color is a tri-coat. So just use Step 1 first until the area is well covered, then use Step 2 on top of that until you achieve the pearl effect of the factory color.

Clearcoat Application

Shake aerosol clear coat well. Allow 30 minutes after base coat color has been applied to apply the clear coat. Apply 4-5 wet (but not dripping) coats waiting 10+ minutes in between coats. Each coat should be dry to the touch (not tacky) before moving on to the next. *Do not touch the freshly painted panel to test, you can touch the tapeline.* Hot weather will shorten the dry time, cold weather and/or thicker film build will extend the dry time. Skipping the dry time may result in a color mismatch, heavy orange peel texture, and/or a loss of gloss. Wait one day to use rubbing compound. You may wet sand out orange peel and light texture, or dust embedded in the clear coat film with 1500 wet sandpaper and then use rubbing compound to bring out the gloss.

*Do not wax the fresh paint for one month.*