How to Fix Uneven Spray Paint (Blotchy) – Quick Steps

It’s not uncommon for mistakes to occur while spray painting, especially if you’re not experienced in that area. However, this doesn’t have to discourage you and get you down.

If you’re looking for ways to fix uneven spray paint then you’ve come to the right place.

Here’s what you can expect to learn from this extensive guide:

• How to fix uneven spray paint
• The right way to spray paint
• A few tricks and tips on spray painting

You don’t have to be an experienced painter to be able to fix blotchy spray paint and achieve great results. As long as you have the right supplies and follow our detailed instructions, this will be an easy home improvement task and you’ll be able to achieve excellent results.

Let’s jump right in!

How to Fix Uneven Paint (Blotchy)

If you’re reading this guide, chances are you’ve already made some mistakes when spray painting. You’re now looking for ways to fix them and make your paint job look spotless.

Let’s see what you can do to fix uneven spray paint.

Simple Solution for Fixing Blotchy Spray Paint

If your paint job looks blotchy or is uneven, this might mean that you didn’t apply enough layers of paint which led to some parts of the old paint to still show through the new coats of paint.

The solution to this problem is quite simple. All you have to do is apply one or a few extra coats of paint until you no longer see any patchy areas. Wait for each coat to dry completely before you follow up with a new coat of paint.

Does the surface look even and polished now? If so, that means you’ve done a great job covering the patchy parts and you’ve saved the paint job you thought was ruined.

However, things aren’t always that straightforward and simple. Some instances will require a lot more work than simply applying a fresh coat of paint.

In those cases, you’ll need to follow our step-by-step guide from prep to finish so you can get the results you envisioned.

Fixing Uneven Spray Paint: A Step-by-Step Guide

Before we go onto the actual steps, let’s take a look at the main supplies and tools you’ll need to fix an uneven spray paint job:

• Bucket of water
• Dish soap
• Microfiber wash mop or brush, or a standard sponge and cloth
• Wire brush
• 1000 grit sandpaper or a compressed air pump sander for better results
• 3-7 cans of spray cans or a spray gun and paint (use latex paint for easier repair jobs and a stronger finish for more demanding projects)
• Face mask and face goggles
• Cardboard
• Alcohol
• Trisodium phosphate (TSP)

You can find these supplies at your local home improvement store or order them online.

If you don’t want to invest in a spray gun, which can range anywhere from $50 to a few thousand dollars, you can simply buy a few cans of spray paint – enough to finish your current project.

Once you get all your supplies and tools ready, it’s time to get to work.

Prep Work

The most important step of any painting project is the surface preparation.

Here are the main steps you need to follow to get the surface prepped properly so you can head onto the next part of the process knowing that the surface is ready for painting.

For Metal Surfaces

• Use a sponge, a moist rag, or microfiber cloth to clean out any dust and debris off the surface
• Use a wire brush to get rid of any rust or tougher debris that’s harder to get rid of
• Take down any loose and chipping paint using sandpaper or a compressed air pump sander
• Wipe down the surface again to remove residual dust from the sanding process

For Wood Surfaces

• Remove any residual paint from previous coats using trisodium phosphate (TSP)
• Smooth out the surface using a fine-grit sandpaper

For Plastic Surfaces

• Use a sponge, a moist rag, or a microfiber cloth to clean out any dust and debris off the surface
• Smooth out the surface using a fine-grit sandpaper
• Wipe down the surface again to remove residual dust from the sanding process

Testing and Making Adjustments

Before you start painting, you will need to adjust the pressure setting on your spray gun, that is if you decided to invest in a spray gun or if you have one at home. Use the low-pressure setting to test out the gun on a part of the surface.

To get smoother results always start with the lowest setting and adjust it accordingly by increasing the pressure slowly. If you start seeing gaps while you’re spray painting increase the pressure a bit more.

Finding the Right Distance and Positioning Yourself Properly

You’ll need to adjust your position depending on the spray gun you’ll be using. If you’re going with an HVLP gun, you’ll need to keep around 8 inches from the surface, around 8-10 inches for standard spray guns, and 10-12 inches for air-assisted airless spray guns.

Position yourself perpendicular to the surface and to the height of the surface you’re painting so you can get better coverage and get the job done faster.

Painting

Once all of the previous steps have been completed, you can start painting the surface directly. Start by spraying off the side of the surface and move towards the surface itself to get smoother results.

Don’t stop spraying until you’ve passed the other edge of the surface so you can avoid paint buildup at the edge of the surface and eliminate any start and stop marks.

Apply thin coats of paint and allow each coat to dry off completely before you spray on the next one.

Dry times vary from half an hour to two hours, so make sure you wait for the paint to dry off completely before you continue applying the next coat. Always read the application instructions on the can of paint to see how much time it takes to dry off completely. Keep in mind that weather conditions and humidity can play a role in the drying time.

To achieve a smoother finish, consider using a primer before applying the first coat of paint.

Follow the instructions on the can and don’t forget to shake it properly before use. Shake the can often during your project to prevent clogging and drips so you can achieve a smoother finish.

No matter if you’re applying a primer, top coat or a clear coat, always use a steady, even motion, moving your whole arm horizontally instead of just mowing the wrist.

Slightly overlap the previous pass to get an even coat. While spraying, keep the can in motion to prevent the buildup of paint in certain spots.

Final Touch Ups and Clean up

Inspect the entire surface and check for wrinkling paint, drips, or other imperfections, sand those areas down and apply a fresh coat of paint on top.

Once you’re done, clean up your spray gun and the rest of the supplies and you’re good to go.

Conclusion

Fixing uneven or blotchy spray paint isn’t a difficult process. All you need to do is follow our step-by-step instructions and you’ll be able to achieve results that you can be proud of.