A car with an excellent paint job is one of life’s true joys. It’s like being the kid with the best bike in the neighbourhood or the biggest piece of birthday cake. Whether you drive a ‘47 Eldorado, a ‘66 Beetle or an ‘07 fortwo, a great paint job will take your vehicle from ho-hum to headturner.

Actually creating a great automotive paint job takes skill and finesse. Automotive painting is one of the most arduous and painstaking tasks in crafting an automobile. It can also be one of the most costly. If you are on a budget, there are options for you. Some paint shops can deliver a good paint job for a fair price. Your other option is to take on the task yourself. If the paint job is a success, you’ll have even more to brag about: a hot set of wheels AND a "do it yourself" tale to tell. Achieving a great paint job is a step-by-step process. You simply can’t rush automotive painting. Follow the basic steps of preparation, primer application, blocking, final paint coat and detail application. This can seem like a daunting task for any beginner, but the entire job can be completed in just a few days.

Prepare Before you begin, check with local bylaws and regulations regarding the use of spray paint in homes and enclosed areas. The last thing you need is a legal holdup delaying your painting job.

Cleaning the car is your next crucial step. The car must be spotlessly clean and free of dirt. Use detergents to clean the car top to bottom, and then follow up with grease removers. After the car has been cleaned, it’s time to begin sanding. An air sander (preferably a dual-action sander) should be used to remove the old paint from the car. This kind of sander will not cause body damage because it removes paint without digging like other sanders and grinders. Every trace of paint must be removed to create a perfect palette for your new paint job. Automotive detailing tape or even duct tape can be used to cover and protect other parts of the car, including plastic moldings and windows. In addition to removing the old paint, all traces of rust have to be sanded off. Rust will spread if ignored or untreated, and the last thing you want is body rot happening beneath your spiffy new paint. You can repair minor body flaws on the car’s surface using fillers. Shape the compound with care using a sanding board, then follow up with a glazing compound. This step will help to ensure a smooth-as-glass finish on your ride.

Mask After the whole car has been initially cleaned, then sanded, a final cleaning takes place and the vehicle is ready to be masked. In this step, every part of the car that shouldn’t be touched by paint is covered and protected. Remember, you will be using high-grade automotive paint that doesn’t wash off with water. Cover your windows, every light and reflector, all window rubbers, all chrome, tires, wheels, door handles, wipers.. take a good look and what needs to be masked. If you don’t want even the tiniest bit of over spray on it, cover it up! The tools and materials needed for masking are available at automotive supply warehouses and hardware stores.

Prime Priming is an essential step to providing a good foundation for your new paint. A flawless prime coat will help you to achieve a perfect paint job. Valspar epoxy is a good primer choice, combining dependable filling capabilities with minimal shrinking. After the primer has been applied, a second coat in a contrasting colour should be applied on top of the first layer. This will serve as a sanding guide. The primer should be sanded to a smooth finish, but don’t sand too vigorously or you could actually damage the body of the car. When the priming is complete, a sealer is applied and a final sanding takes place.

Finishing off In finishing off the automotive painting, it is essential to achieve uniform colour. The spray gun should be held ten to twelve inches away from the body to avoid streaks and runs. This is necessary when applying the basecoat, final coat and clear coat.

Regardless of the type of car you drive, a new paint job can turn it into a real showstopper. Automotive painting can be a time consuming task, but you can do it if you take it step by step. The creative energy will be good for your soul, and the compliments you receive will be great for your confidence.

Have you ever tried out an ATV? These 4 wheelers with turbo charged engines can give you high adrenaline rush. They can be used by adults as well as teens. Do you know which the latest 4 wheelers models in the market are? If not, then it is time you got online or traveled to your nearest Yamaha dealer to get a quick glace of them.

The present ATV’s aren’t the same as the ones that were present during our childhood. The new types of 4 wheelers are in whole different league. You have an option of various sizes and motor specifications to choose from, so that you can choose the one that appeals to you the most. You have to test drive one of the 4 wheelers today, if you don’t you will be left in the past.

When I was about 14 years old, I remember that my father had lately purchased a second-hand 3 wheeler.

I was astonished to see it; my father had totally disassembled the engine, removed all the dirt, and then put it back flawlessly and then this engine was ready to roar. You may find this automotive site useful http://www.hubcapreport.com. When I saw it new bright red paint job, it made me want to take the ATV into the cornfield for a test drive. Yes I did mean cornfield. We lived in Iowa, and there was a lot of space that needed to be treaded as the fields had been combined.

I took this 3 wheeler all across god’s green earth. I even visited the woods in the process. But that is where I had a slight mishap. As I was motoring down the hill at a speed of about 35 miles per hour, I bumped into a rather large rock. This caused my steering to shift and in turn tossed the 3 wheeler over. Luckily I didn’t sustain any injuries.

The ATV just flung over me and the thing that caused the problem was the single wheel. This is the danger factor in 3 wheelers and where 4 wheelers fares much better. You have to remember that there are no issues regarding imbalance when it comes to 4 wheelers. Later we did in fact got rid of that dangerous 3 wheeler and got us a 4 wheeler. From then on we had no such problems.

You may consider getting online if you want to look through for 4 wheelers, you can find a large array of options available. There are great ranges to choose from, which are provided by brand like Yamaha and Honda. The versatility of the ATVs like the 4 wheelers is the best thing that you can get. You can use them in the rain, hail or snow. They can be used in all sessions of weather, they are the best of outdoor activities, or just if you want to take them for a joy ride. So the best thing to do is to go online and check the newest 4 wheelers today.

Since 2002 paid subscribers have been enjoying the many in-depth car restoration articles published by Second Chance Garage. Now, the subscription-based Website is open to all visitors without a paid subscription.

Second Chance Garage’s staff of writers have collectively over 50 years experience in restoring classic cars, and have personally restored over 20 cars. They have done everything from complete engine rebuilds and painting to chrome plating and upholstery. Its Editor-In-Chief, Les Jackson, is a renowned automotive writer and mechanical engineer.

The Website features over 600 pages of in-depth, easy-to-read articles on all aspects of the car restoration hobby. Departments include Auto-Theory, which describes how things are supposed to work. If you don’t know how it works, you can’t fix it.

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(NC)-The winter months can play havoc on one of your most important investments — your car. Whether you drive a brand new sports car or a reliable family vehicle, regularly cleaning and protecting the car from harsh elements will help maximize the vehicle’s value and longevity. The automotive experts at Canadian Tire have these tips to help give your car a fresh start heading into spring and summer.

Wash and dry

• Rinse entire vehicle before washing to remove loose debris.
• Do not use dish or laundry soap as they strip away protective wax and natural oils in paint. For best results, use specially formulated car wash soaps like Simoniz Car Wash.
• Always use a clean soft wash mitt, brush or chenille pad, rinsing frequently to remove harmful debris. The Simoniz Details Accessory Kit, available at Canadian Tire, has everything you need to safely and efficiently clean your car without harming the paint.
• Use two buckets - one for your car wash and use a separate bucket for rinsing the wash mitt.
• Start drying immediately after washing and rinsing to prevent water spots using a soft microfibre or cotton towel, chamois, PVA towel, or a silicone squeegee.
• Don’t forget to dry doorjambs and under the trunk lid.

Wax and polish

• Automotive waxes create a protective shield for the car’s paint against harmful elements like acid rain, UV rays, bugs, tar and tree sap.
• For best results, wax in warm dry weather in a shaded area. Do not wax the vehicle in direct sunlight.
• Always apply wax with a clean, fresh applicator and buff with a terry towel or diaper cloth.
• For a truly superior shine, clean your paint prior to waxing with a clay bar from Meguiars or Mothers.
• To help reduce time and effort, use an electric polisher. For an effective and more consistent application, try any of the Simoniz Random Orbit Polishers. They use less wax than working by hand and avoid causing paint damage from overbuffing

Interior & Exterior Cleaning

• Tire dressings restore the glossy black look of tires. Michelin’s Tire Care replaces ingredients in your tires that are depleted over time.
• Use only ammonia-free glass cleaner on your car’s windows, as ammonia will damage window tinting.
• Protectants help to nourish the vinyl and rubber on your car and protect it from UV ray damage. Try using protectant on the car’s weather-stripping, it will help protect it from the elements and prolong its life.
• Keep the air inside your car clean and fresh with an air purifier specially designed for drivers. The 12 Volt Air Purifier / Ionizer neutralizes unpleasant odors, smoke and other pollutants and plugs directly into the 12V cigarette lighter socket.

Source: News Canada

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