How to Paint Yout 4x4

131 1106 How To Paint Your 4X4 By Sherwin Williams Newly Painted Jeep Parts

The paint and finish on the Jeep parts we hauled to the Sherwin-Williams school far exceeded our expectations. The parts are now better than factory-new. With this superior paintjob we are almost afraid to bolt them on the Jeep.

The paint and finish on the Jeep parts we hauled to the Sherwin-Williams school far exceed

There are aspects of automotive technology that are undoubtedly intimidating and take years of practice to master. Without question, painting has always been considered an art, and laying down a quality paintjob on any vehicle is no exception. There are literally hundreds of factors and steps that go into a good paintjob, but their complicated and intricate details can be eased with a little education and care. Although our 4x4s may be scratched and creased by trees and cactus, dented and gouged by rocks and dirt walls, there’s no reason we can’t have them looking pretty at the trail head or learn a new skill set!

Being the lucky chaps that we are, we recently had the opportunity to hang out at the Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Training Center in Reno, Nevada. Sherwin-Williams has a number of schools in the U.S. that train and certify professional painters and the occasional enthusiast bent on honing his or her painting skills. We ducked in the facility for a few days between classes and received some one-on-one schooling by Clint Baker, the training center manager, and Robert Dinkel, the school’s training center specialist.

We were exceedingly impressed with the school, its equipment, the high caliber of training, and the knowledge they had to offer. The school was remodeled the week before we arrived, and we found it more sanitary than some hospitals and superior to our usual home garage spray booths. This brings up two cornerstone principles of a great paintjob : A clean and sanitary setting drastically reduces flaws, and careful surface preparation is key to paint adhesion. We doubt most home painters will get their garages as clean as the Sherwin-Williams school, but a little cleaning, washing, proper ventilation, and masking off walls and ceilings with plastic will dramatically improve any paintjob.

Equipment is another important part of the equation. In the past we have shown you how to paint with cheap spray guns and cut costs with bargain tools. Those tips will definitely get color on your rig, but with an inferior paintjob. However, if you’re trying to impress your sweetheart and trail buddies, or if you need to sharpen your painting skills, then invest in quality painting tools.

We hauled some Jeep body parts to the school in Reno and set off on a two-day marathon of bodywork, priming, and painting. We decided on a Martin Senour brand of paint that’s manufactured by Sherwin-Williams. The great part of the Martin Senour line is that it’s quality paint and it can be purchased or ordered from any NAPA Auto Parts store in a number of colors.

We also chose one of the new lines of waterborne paints, which are limited in availability in certain areas but also required in some areas because of VOC (volatile organic chemical/compound) regulations.

Waterborne paint is the latest paint technology and was in part created to meet regulations to lower the VOC content of paint. By 2020 all states will be mandated to use waterborne paints. Waterborne doesn’t mean water-based; water is used as a reducer that’s a replacement for petroleum-based fillers and thinners, which lowers the VOC content of the paint. A waterborne basecoat reduces with a co-solvent, which makes it far more durable than water-based paints. The benefits of waterborne paint are that it gives off a less offensive odor, is excellent for color matching, lays down easier, provides quicker coverage, and has a cleaner appearance.

Prepping any part for paint can be a lot of work depending on the quality you are looking for. Having used cheap bodywork tools for so many years, we were impressed by the time we saved and the caliber of work we got after switching to high-end equipment. The saying You get what you pay for rings true. Safety should always be considered when painting. A respirator, safety goggles, and gloves are priority one.
Prepping any part for paint can be a lot of work depending on the quality you are looking
The corrosion-resistant coating on new parts needs to be sanded down for good paint adhesion. The coating doesn’t need to be entirely stripped, but most of these parts come from China and quality care isn’t taken when the coating is applied. Any imperfections in it will show through on the final coat of paint.
The corrosion-resistant coating on new parts needs to be sanded down for good paint adhesi
A good quality glaze and body filler should be used to fill pinholes, dents, dings, and uneven surfaces. Checking for panel straightness should be completed in good lighting, keeping in mind that darker colors will show more imperfections.
A good quality glaze and body filler should be used to fill pinholes, dents, dings, and un

After the body filler and glaze has dried, sanding can be done by hand or with pneumatic tools. We have sanded filler by hand for years and have it down to a science, but carefully using pneumatic tools cut the sanding time more than in half. Body filler requires patience since many coats may be required followed by more sanding.
After the body filler and glaze has dried, sanding can be done by hand or with pneumatic t
Surface preparation is key to paint adhesion. Simply blowing the parts off with air doesn’t cut it; the parts must be wiped down with a quality prepaint solvent. Only afterwards should the parts be blown off with an air system using a good water filtration system.
Surface preparation is key to paint adhesion. Simply blowing the parts off with air doesn’
After the bodywork has been completed on the parts, an etching primer is applied. The primer increases surface adhesion and protects the parts from corrosion. Acid in the primer etches the bare metal and allows adhesion to steel, aluminum, and galvanized metal, and restores O.E. adhesion and rust resistance. No sanding is required after etching primer has been applied.
After the bodywork has been completed on the parts, an etching primer is applied. The prim

After the etching primer, the parts are shot with a primer surfacer. The surfacer fills imperfections and can be sanded after application. Paint can be applied over the primer surfacer once it has been sanded with 600-grit paper. A coat of sealer is sprayed over the primer surfacer, which will fill in minor scratches. The surfacer helps eliminate stone chips by providing a coat of paint that acts like a cushion (stone shock absorbers) and absorbs the shock from stone impact. The surfacer is a premium two-coat urethane coating.
After the etching primer, the parts are shot with a primer surfacer. The surfacer fills im
We learned a thing or two from watching these guys paint. They move the spray gun quickly and evenly from left to right, laying down an even and thin coat. We had a tendency to move a tad slower, which is a recipe for puddles, drips, and runs. Also, releasing the trigger after each pass helps save some paint and stops runs.
We learned a thing or two from watching these guys paint. They move the spray gun quickly
The waterborne basecoat (color) goes on easy and, with careful application, doesn’t run as easily as we thought it would due to its slightly thinner viscosity. We were impressed by how it provided total coverage while using less paint than a conventional urethane. For the parts, we chose a charcoal CX color from Ford ’02 models. The color will make it easier to fix and match after hardcore trail runs.
The waterborne basecoat (color) goes on easy and, with careful application, doesn’t run as

Topping the waterborne paint, Baker and Dinkel used a premium Martin Senour clearcoat that’s top of the line.
Topping the waterborne paint, Baker and Dinkel used a premium Martin Senour clearcoat that
The clearcoat isn’t cheap, but we feel it’s well worth the extra cost because of its durability and the long life it gives our high-end paintjob. Two coats of clearcoat were used to finish the parts and gave an incredible shine and will make maintenance virtually nonexistent other than some washing.
The clearcoat isn’t cheap, but we feel it’s well worth the extra cost because of its durab
Paint guns are common in design, but there are performance differences between guns. Then once you get used to them you will find even more personal preferences. A gravity gun’s general anatomy is as follows: (1) paint cup; (2) fan control, which makes the spray pattern larger or smaller; (3) fluid control, to adjust the fluid delivery; (4) air intake; (5) air cap; (6) nozzle.
Paint guns are common in design, but there are performance differences between guns. Then

SOURCES
NAPA Auto Parts 2999 Circle 75 Parkway Atlanta GA 30339 770-956-2200 www.napaonline.com	Sherwin-Williams Automotive Cleveland OH 800-798-5872 www.sherwinautomotive.com
Martin Senour Automotive Paints 4440 Warrensville Center Road Warrensville Heights OH 44128 800-526-6704 www.martinsenour-autopaint.com/