If you want to paint your vehicle on your own, it can be a really fun process. However, you also need to make sure that you are careful, as painting your vehicle can be dangerous if you are not careful. When you paint your vehicle, you want to make sure that you put your safety first.
#1 Work in a Ventilated Space
The paints and solvents that you work with when you paint your vehicle let out volatile organic compounds, or VOC. These are released into the air when you open up a paint can. These vapors do not just disperse; they can stay in the area where they were released for a couple of days, which is why you want to work in a ventilated space. A ventilated space will help air out the space that you are working in and will hopefully help the VOC disappear at a faster pace. You should never work in an enclosed space, as that can be very dangerous.
#2 Use a Respirator
When you work with paint, you need to make sure that you protect your lungs. A simple face mask is not adequate protection from the paint fumes. Pick up a ventilator face mask from your local auto supply store or form a construction store. You want to make sure that you protect your breathing. If you do a lot of painting, you are going to want to change the cartridge-based filters on the respirator. This is a smart investment to make that will protect your health. In fact, in professional auto-body shops, workers are required to wear a respirator that has been tested and fitted to them.
#3 Cover Up Your Skin
Next, you are going to want to cover up your skin. That is why you see professional auto-body painters cover up their body with a full-body paint suit. Not only do you not want to get the chemicals into your lungs that come out of the paints and solvents you are going to have to use to paint your vehicle, you also don't want to get those chemicals on your skin as well, as they can be absorbed into your body.
That is why you should purchase a paint suit or wear clothing that will cover your arms and legs completely, as well gloves to cover up your hands. These should be clothing that you don't mind getting paint on, as paint sprays tend to carry and will get on your body.
When you paint your own vehicle, make sure that you work in a well-ventilated area, use a respirator, and cover up all of your skin. This is the best way to protect your body while working. For more information, contact local professionals like those found at Dependable Auto Body.
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