CarCrafters Singapore

A Top Quality Car Paint Primer 

All good quality car paints used in reputable painting workshops have several distinguishing qualities:

• A high colour density so that no previous layers or colours show through
• Resists scratches
• Withstands stone impact without excessive chipping
• Will not discolour over time, or be affected by UV rays.

But with the wide range of paints to choose from, which automotive paint system will achieve the best quality spray paint results? Before you contact CarCrafters Singapore about spray painting your car, understand the 3 key features of the top quality spray paints that we use.

Top quality paint primers are the foundation for the final spray paint finishing coats. At Car Crafters we prepare the surface to be painted using a quality automotive spray paint primer designed to promote the best adhesion between the metal and the subsequent layers of paint.

On bare metal body panels we use a high quality self-etch paint primer because, unlike a filler primer, it won't flake. This is accomplished through an acid in the primer which etches it's way into whatever it's being sprayed onto, and is ideal for steel, aluminium or even glass reinforced plastic. However it can burrow under and lift existing paint or sealant, so it needs to be used carefully during repairs.

If there’s no bare metal to be covered, or after applying the self etch primer to bare metal, we apply a high solid content “build” primer in a relatively thick layer. This is then sanded down to remove any inclusions or imperfections, before we apply the colour coats.

At CarCrafters only the best 2-pack or epoxy high build primers are used to achieve a finish that sets us apart from other car spray paint shops. These primers leave a thicker and smoother coat than cellulose primers, and do not sag.

A Top Notch Spray Paint

Only the best urethane automotive spray paint - that is the secret to an oustanding paint finish. The colour coat is only applied once the highly skilled car spray painter at Car Crafters is satisfied with the surface preparation. This is fundamental to achieving a long lasting paint finish with a rich, highly reflective appearance.

We use urethane automotive spray paint for the colour coat because the high gloss finish we achieve with this car spray paint is extremely durable and chip resistant. Unlike lacquer automotive spray paint that some lesser car body shops use, urethane is much more durable, more chip resistant and holds its shine far better than the cheaper lacquer paints.

The Right Automotive Paint Type

Choosing the right automotive spray paint for the car and job type is absolutely essential. CarCrafters Singapore uses either one- or two-part urethane car spray paint formulas, also referred to as 1K or 2K paint: The two part means that the paint requires an activator to cure. While 1K car spray paint is mostly used to touch up or repair small areas of the car body, the 2k product is usually used for a complete car respray.

Although many good automotive spray paint finishes only need the colour coat to be buffed, or rubbed down and then polished to achieve a sparkling shine, there are a group of car spray paints that require a final clear coat. Automotive spray paints such as Base/Clear, and special auto body paints, such as metallics, also require this additional clear coat to give them that liquid finish which allows the metallic flakes to sparkle in the base coat.

At Car Crafters Singapore our skilled technicians and paint specialists use only the best automotive spray paint and equipment to give your car a premium paint finish that will restore its original appearance and meet or even surpass factory paint standards.

Step 1: Strip Her

The first step in car spray painting is to carefully strip the car of all parts that are not to be spray painted. This disassembly (and later reassembly) is carried out by highly trained technicians so that nothing is damaged in the process. This is particularly important in a complete car respray, where the entire interior needs to be removed.

We also remove hang-on parts, such as the bumpers, and paint them separately to make sure every part gets the right paint and coverage.

Step 2: Prep Her

You can’t get quality results without expertly preparing the surface of the car you’re about to spray paint: Unlike house paint, auto refinish paint hides nothing. If anything, the high gloss car spray painting system magnifies any imperfections.

Paint won’t adhere to a greasy surface so all the areas to be painted are washed with mild soap and water, and everything is cleaned with a wax, oil and grease remover. Great care is taken to ensure that any area that may have come into contact with silicone is thoroughly cleaned before we move onto sanding. 

Next, we use a specialty filler to fill any imperfections in the car paintwork. Once hardened, the filler is carefully sanded down to blend perfectly with the car's bodywork. Sanding down is an important step in the car spray painting process because it removes any flaking material and improves adhesion for the subsequent coats of paint.

The final step in this preparation phase is to thoroughly mask all areas that are to remain unpainted. We do this to protect windscreens, wheels and tyres, as well as panels that are already painted, from overspray. This in itself is an art form as the masking tape has to be applied in such a way that a soft edge is created so that a good colour match is achieved by flowing the fresh paint into the existing colour.

Step 3: Prime Her

During step 3 we apply the best available urethane primer to prepare the automobile surfaces for painting. 

For bare steel, aluminium, or galvanized surfaces, we use a self-etch primer to ensure that successive coats of primer and colour paint form a permanent bond. Once the bare steel areas have been covered we carefully apply 2 to 3 coats of the best hi-build urethane car spray paint primer, before letting this dry in our purpose built drying oven. 

Once dry we’ll sand down the body panels until we get a smooth defect-free surface before continuing with spray painting of the colour coats. This process continues until the spray painter has a flawless surface on which to spray the colour coats.

Step 4: Mix & Match

CarCrafters’ highly skilled technicians now mix the high gloss urethane car spray paint to achieve the closest possible match to the desired colour.

Matching new paint to older existing paint is not easy, as any two cars of the same model will display slight variations in their colour tone, even if they are spray painted the same colour on the same production line at the same time!

Once on the road, the paintwork starts to fade and further change in colour tone as it is exposed to the sun's UV light. We therefore exercise the utmost care to match the new coat to the existing paint colour on your car. 

Step 5: Spray Her

The real art of car spray painting is now revealed as our highly skilled spray painters start to apply the colour coats.

Correct technique for car spray painting requires that the spray gun be maintained at exactly the right distance from the car's body, even as the surface’s shape changes. A steady hand is not the only vital technique; The speed at which the spray gun moves across the surface determines the paint thickness. Too slow and the paint will sag and run; too fast and the paint film will end up too thin, exposing the primer beneath the surface.

If the car spray painting is for a base coat / clear coat combination, this base colour coat changes from wet and glossy to a matte finish as it dries. A well ventilated tunnel oven ensures controlled curing of the 2K urethane car spray paint coats in a dust free environment.

If needed the colour coat will be lightly sanded before receiving subsequent applications by our craftsmen.

Step 6: Protect Her

The spray painter completes his masterpiece with a final series of clear coats that bring out a high gloss and enhances the durability of the paint finish. 

Clear coats are also required for certain special effect paints such as metallics where the clear coat is necessary to bring out the sparkle of the metallic flakes in the base coat. 

Isn't She Gorgeous?

To achieve a show worthy paint finish on every car, CarCrafters Singapore has a team of skilled and well-trained professionals that use high grade automotive finishing materials and state of the art equipment.

Why entrust your car to anyone but the most respected spray paint and bodyworks specialist in Singapore?