Automotive painters often have to mix paint to match the original color of the vehicle. To prepare a car for painting, automotive painters and their helpers begin by removing rust and the original paint. Usually they use power sanders and sandpaper for this job. Next, they fill small dents and scratches with body filler. They remove or mask parts they do not want painted, such as chrome trim.
Automotive painters use spray guns to apply several coats of primer.
To speed drying, they may place the newly painted vehicle under heat lamps. After each coat of primer dries, they sand the surface to remove any bumps and improve how the next coat sticks. Finally a sealer is applied followed by the topcoat of paint. Production Painters and Finishers is in the Manufacturing and Processing Career Cluster.