Automotive Spray Painting Course

Lesson 1 • Shop Safety and Hazard Awareness

Identifies chemical, fire, and physical hazards common in spray environments. Safety knowledge is prerequisite to all subsequent hands-on activities.

Lesson 2 • Regulatory Compliance and Environmental Basics

Covers environmental regulations governing VOC emissions and waste disposal. Learners understand compliance obligations before handling coatings.

Lesson 3 • Shop Layout and Equipment Overview

Introduces spray booth design, ventilation systems, and basic equipment categories. Familiarity with the workspace supports safe and efficient practice.

Lesson 1 • Coating System Types

Distinguishes primers, sealers, basecoats, and clearcoats within a full coating system. Learners learn how each layer contributes to adhesion, colour, and protection.

Lesson 2 • Specialty and Effect Coatings

Covers metallic, pearl, and specialty finishes that require unique application techniques. Builds awareness of advanced materials before technique chapters.

Lesson 3 • Thinners, Reducers, and Additives

Explains how reducers, retarders, and flow additives modify application properties. Correct additive use prevents defects introduced in later technique chapters.

Lesson 4 • Material Storage and Handling

Addresses proper storage conditions, shelf life, and safe handling of coatings. Prevents material degradation and safety incidents in the shop.

Lesson 1 • Primer Application and Blocking

Guides learners through primer selection, application, and block sanding to achieve a flat surface. A properly blocked primer ensures a defect-free topcoat.

Lesson 2 • Substrate Assessment and Inspection

Teaches systematic inspection of metal, plastic, and composite substrates for defects. Accurate assessment directs the correct preparation sequence.

Lesson 3 • Chemical Cleaning and Degreasing

Explains solvent and waterborne cleaning agents used to remove contamination before coating. Contamination removal is critical to preventing adhesion failures.

Lesson 4 • Sanding Fundamentals and Abrasives

Covers abrasive grades, backing types, and sanding sequences for each substrate. Proper sanding creates the profile needed for coating adhesion.

Lesson 1 • Spray Gun Cleaning and Maintenance

Details solvent flushing, disassembly, and inspection routines for spray guns. Regular maintenance extends gun life and ensures consistent performance.

Lesson 2 • Spray Gun Components and Assembly

Identifies fluid tips, air caps, needles, and trigger mechanisms and their functions. Correct assembly prevents leaks, spitting, and uneven spray patterns.

Lesson 3 • Air Supply System Setup

Covers compressor sizing, air lines, regulators, and moisture separators for clean air delivery. Consistent air pressure is essential for repeatable spray results.

Lesson 4 • Gun Adjustment and Test Spraying

Teaches fluid, fan, and air pressure adjustments verified through test spray patterns. Proper setup before production spraying prevents costly rework.

Lesson 1 • Spray Technique Fundamentals

Establishes correct gun distance, angle, speed, and overlap as the foundation of spray technique. Consistent fundamentals prevent uneven film build and defects.

Lesson 2 • Applying Primer and Sealer Coats

Applies primer and sealer using correct film build and flash times between coats. Controlled application at this stage prevents lifting and solvent pop.

Lesson 3 • Applying Basecoat Colour

Guides learners through single-stage and basecoat application for full panels and spot repairs. Achieving uniform colour and hiding power requires controlled technique.

Lesson 4 • Triggering and Stroke Patterns

Covers trigger timing, stroke direction, and pattern sequencing for full panels. Proper triggering eliminates heavy edges and dry overspray.

Lesson 1 • Colour Theory for Refinishers

Explains hue, value, chroma, and metamerism as they apply to automotive colour matching. A solid theory foundation prevents systematic tinting errors.

Lesson 2 • Tinting and Formula Adjustment

Guides learners through systematic tinting to correct hue, value, and chroma deviations. Controlled tinting produces a match without over-correction.

Lesson 3 • Spectrophotometer and Colour Tools

Teaches spectrophotometer operation and interpretation of colour measurement data. Instrument-based measurement reduces reliance on subjective visual judgment.

Lesson 4 • Spray-Out Cards and Visual Evaluation

Covers spray-out card preparation and multi-angle visual comparison under controlled lighting. Visual evaluation confirms the match before production application.

Lesson 1 • Defect Classification and Root Causes

Categorises defects by origin: surface preparation, application, material, or environment. Classification guides efficient diagnosis before correction begins.

Lesson 2 • Common Application Defects

Covers runs, sags, dry spray, orange peel texture, and solvent pop with causes and corrections. Recognising these defects early reduces the cost of correction.

Lesson 3 • Compounding, Polishing, and Finishing

Teaches machine and hand correction using compounds, polishes, and finishing glazes. Polishing restores gloss and removes surface defects after curing.

Lesson 4 • Colour and Appearance Defects

Addresses mottling, striping, cloudiness, and colour mismatch in metallic and solid colours. Appearance defects require both technical and visual correction skills.

Lesson 1 • Spot and Blend Repair Workflow

Guides learners through a complete spot repair including prep, prime, colour, blend, and clear. Blending technique is critical for invisible repairs on adjacent panels.

Lesson 2 • Full Panel Refinish Workflow

Covers the complete workflow for refinishing a single panel to factory appearance standards. Panel refinish integrates all preparation, application, and colour skills.

Lesson 3 • Full Vehicle Refinish Workflow

Addresses sequencing, masking strategy, and spray order for complete vehicle refinishing. Managing a full vehicle job requires planning and time management skills.

Lesson 4 • Quality Control and Customer Delivery

Establishes final inspection criteria, defect correction, and vehicle preparation for delivery. Professional delivery standards build customer trust and shop reputation.