Painting With Water Base Paint Using a Compressor & a Spray Paint Gun

Automotive Paints

• The automotive paint industry offers hundreds of different paints with different benefits and characteristics. They have varying qualities, such as excellent permanence and non-fading under sunlight. Some brands, like Auto Air Colours, can be blended to create customized colors and color effects. Most water-based paints do not require the addition of other elements and produce fine finishes when used in conjunction with clear finishing elements. Some also require a thinning additive.

Materials and Preparation

• The following materials are needed for painting with water-based paints: an air compressor delivering three cubic feet per minute or higher; an airbrush; a spray gun (for larger areas); heat gun or lamp; scrubbing pad; paint filters; clear coats; degreaser; respirator, and high-grit sandpaper.

  Prior to painting, the surface should be devoid of foreign matter such as wax, dirt or grease. Sand or scuff the surface, and strip down if required. If the surface needs to be stripped down, then a primer needs to be applied first since water-based paints cause corrosion in bare metal. Fill out imperfections like dents and scratches.

Application

• Since the paint is water-based, thorough shaking and mixing must be done to the paint to ensure uniformity of the hue. Application of the paint should be thinly done to facilitate evaporation and easy adherence to the surface. Successive paint coatings may be applied, immediately after the underlying pigment has dried. Clear coating can be applied soon after the pigment has completely dried.

Heat Curing and Other Considerations

• Water based coloring agents require heat curing through the use of a heated or infrared lamp, spray booth or a hot air gun. Heat curing should be done prior to any consecutive color applications and clear coating. Working on the painting job in particularly cold and damp surrounding conditions require a greater amount of heat curing, since the ambient excess moisture can retard the evaporation process necessary for water-based pigments to adhere to the substrate. Appropriate light coating and curing will ensure that the color stays.