DIY AEROSOL PAINTING TIPS

Painting successfully with rattle cans is as skilled as using a spray gun and there are several pitfalls.

There are different sorts of paints – cellulose and acrylic are the two most common. The paint used in BMW cans and those supplied by Halfords are not compatible, with Halfords paint/lacquer reacting with BMW paint.

Aerosol paint has a very high thinners content to enable it to flow under light pressure. The thinners evaporates, leaving a thin coat of paint that will sink into any filler. Your repair work must be 100% and the primer silky smooth.

Paint must be left for a minimum of two days before polishing. T-cut in particular will soak into the new paint if it’s not fully cured.

Light metallics? Forget it. Silver is impossible to blend in successfully and light metallic greens, blues and golds are a nightmare. Get it done professionally.

While Halfords’ clear lacquer goes on nicely, the stuff in BMW cans is thick and blotchy. If using BMW lacquer, heat up the can in warm water, spray it on evenly and be prepared to flat and polish it when it has hardened fully. Don’t use Halfords lacquer on a BMW base coat.

Preparation is everything. Aim to rub paint down at least six inches on either side of a repair to avoid edges of paint rings. Use 800-grit and plenty of water.

Don’t paint edge-to-edge. If the new paint ends on a rubbed-down section of paintwork, you will always have a dry edge unless you use lacquer on top. Instead, compound the paint right up to the edge of the repair and lay new paint down so that it flows onto a polished section – it won’t flake off and you’ll have a seamless blend.