How To Fix A Bad Spray Paint Job On A Car

Spraying remains one of the best and fastest ways to coat a surface for more protection against possible paint scratches and damages or restore glossiness and shine. When it comes to cars, most auto detailing compounds are available as a spray, and that’ what many people prefer to use.

Sadly, spraying new paint on your car can go wrong, causing everything to appear messy. When such happens, you definitely won’t love the appearance of your car; thus, you’ll seek to know how to fix things up, and that’s what we’ve got here.

In today’s article, you’re going to learn how to fix a bad spray paint job on a car, even if you’ve never done it before.

Let’s get started!

How To Fix A Bad Spray Paint Job On A Car

As humans, it is almost normal to make mistakes, especially when in haste. A bad spray paint job is a common issue faced by most drivers who wish to repaint their cars by following some DIY guides. So, you’re not the first to experience this issue.

Also, just like every other challenge we do face daily, there’s a way to fix a bad spray paint job. This time, you’d have to be more attentive to every step you should take to achieve the fix because you definitely won’t love to make things worse.

It doesn’t matter if the paint had dried up completely or still wet on the car when you noticed the mistake; you can still fix things up.

1. General Damage

First, if the paint has dried up, use fine-grit sandpaper to properly sand the affected area. Afterward, pour out a rubbing compound to your buffer and buff the surface.

In contrast, if the painted surface is still wet, smoothen the drips using a camel hair paintbrush; this would help to some extent.

After the smoothening or sanding, reapply the spray paint lightly and not make sure you don’t spend more time on an area during the application; endure that your hand is constantly moving to avoid spraying more paint on an area than you sprayed on the rest of the surface; thus, incurring another bad spray paint issue.

2. Orange Peel

To cure uneven “orange peel” areas, you need to allow the paint to cure, then use a sander to sand the surface until it becomes smooth. Afterward, pick the spray can and re-coat the surface; this time, you should keep the sprayer closer.

When the sprayer or spray can is brought closer to the surface you’re coating/painting; it minimizes the possibility of “orange peel” texture to reappear on that surface.

Note: this step is for fixing the “orange peel” texture that results in a bad paint spray practice. Also, you must allow the paint to cure before working on the surface again.

3. Fisheye

Did you notice some “fisheyes” after spraying new paint on your car? Don’t worry, here’s how to fix fisheye dents that have appeared on your car’s body. This dent is typically caused due to dust, moisture, or dirt on the surface you repainted.

When you spray a new paint against moisture, rust, or dirt, it makes the area appear different from the rest. To fix this problem, you need to wet sand the affected area until you get to the primer layer or even the bare surface. Afterward, clean the sanded area thoroughly to ensure there’s no dirt or debris in there.

However, if the paint hadn’t dried up (still wet) when you noticed this fault, attempt to wash off that area and clean the surface after you have sanded the affected area or washed off the paint and subsequently clean the area, then you can reapply the paint.

Also, when reapplying paint to this surface, make sure that dirt or debris doesn’t find its way to the surface while the process is yet ongoing.

Again, you should always remember to thoroughly wash any surface you wish to paint before you start spraying. This will help prevent this type of damage from reoccurring.

4. Paint Drips and Runs

Paint drips and runs are among the commonest issue faced by many people that choose to use spray paints. Drips and runs occur when you apply too much paint on a surface or when your hands are not steady while spraying the paint.

Also, when you apply too much pressure (if you press the sprayer too hard), it could cause the paint to drip or run across the surface.

So how do you avoid this? Apply the same pressure and keep the sprayer at the same distance away from the surface when spraying paint on your car.

However, if the drips have already appeared on the painted surface, allow the paint to dry/cure, then use fine-grit sandpaper for sanding the area before reapplying. If the paint is still wet, use a paintbrush to even it across the surface.

5. Blob

To fix “blobs” after a spray paint job, you need to sand the area, clean it thoroughly, and then repaint. Blobs are caused due to existing uneven, clotted paints on the surface or due to dirty spray nozzles. So, even the surface by sanding it, and use the right spray nozzles for cars.

How To Avoid a Bad Spray Paint Job

• Wash the car thoroughly and focus more on the cracked or damaged areas
• Ensure that there’s no dirt on the surface to be painted
• Use the right spray paint
• Shake the spray paint and also read the guidelines provided by the manufacturer
• Apply the same level of pressure and maintain the same distance away from the surface when spraying
• Keep a paintbrush and sandpaper at proximity; just in case things go south

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article has explained how to fix a bad spray paint on a car. Also, we have provided handy tips on how to spray paint on your car.

However, in addition, you should also consider waxing your car after the repaint. That would help to protect the paint from lots of car paint damages.