What To Know About Painting An Old Car
If you're buying a starter car for your teen, you probably want to choose an older model. That way repairs will cost less if your teen is involved in a fender bender, and your insurance rates will be lower too. Plus, there may be less temptation to drive recklessly if your teen is driving a clunker as opposed to a sporty car. An inexpensive old car is likely to be showing wear and tear, though. If the price is good, you may be tempted to buy it and have it painted to restore its looks. Here are some things to know about painting an old clunker.
The First Step Is Rust Removal
Rust can't be painted over, so if the car is covered in rust, it may be more trouble than it is worth to try to improve its appearance. The rust has to be removed. This could entail cutting out part of the metal and welding new metal in its place. If a door or trunk lid is eaten away by rust, you may be able to buy a replacement at an auto salvage yard at a reasonable cost and replace it yourself before you take it to the body shop to be painted.
Sanding Is Required Before Painting
One of the most important parts of an auto paint job is prepping the metal with a block sander. This is part skill and art, and it is difficult to try and do yourself. A block sander is required so the surface will be completely smooth. Other methods of sanding may leave grooves or ridges behind that show through the paint. When you get a quote for a paint job, that usually includes sanding too.
Cost Is Based On Paint Quality
When you take your car to be painted, you can choose from different qualities of paint. Higher quality paint costs more, but it also lasts a lot longer. If you want a paint job on a budget, choose the lowest-quality paint. The car will still look glossy when the job is finished, but the shine will gradually fade in a few years. This may be sufficient for a starter car that will probably be traded in for a newer model in a couple of years anyway. An inexpensive paint job doesn't mean the work will be sloppy if you go to a reputable body shop. It just means the paint is not high-quality paint. The auto professional still tapes off the car and applies the paint with perfection, so the job looks perfect when finished. However, if you plan to keep the car for several years to pass down to more of your kids, then investing in a paint job that will hold up for a longer time may be worth the investment.
To get the best advice on how to proceed with painting an old car, take it to a body shop for an estimate of the cost and an explanation of the steps needed to get the car in shape. There may be repairs you can do yourself that will lower the cost and make painting an old car worth the investment. Remember, painting the car will greatly enhance its appearance, and that alone will increase the value of the car. You may be able to get your money back or even make a tiny profit if you sell the car or trade it in when your teen is ready for a newer car.
For more information, check out websites like http://www.autobodyomaha.com.