Course Title: Automobile Body Spraying and Interior Detailing

Duration: 2 Weeks (Monday – Friday)

Target Audience: Aspiring auto painters, detailers, and auto body technicians seeking to upgrade skills, entrepreneurs in the automotive service industry.

Assumptions: Access to a suitable workshop environment with necessary tools (spray booth or designated spraying area, compressors, spray guns, sanders, polishing machines, detailing chemicals, extractors, steamers, PPE, etc.) and training vehicles/panels.

Week 1: Body Surface Preparation and Paint Application

• Day 1: Introduction, Safety, and Initial Preparation
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Course overview and objectives.
    • Safety First: Workshop safety, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for painting and chemical handling (respirators, gloves, suits, eye protection).
    • Understanding different paint types (single stage, basecoat/clearcoat) and materials (primers, fillers, thinners, hardeners).
    • Tools & Equipment Overview: Sanders (DA, block), spray guns (HVLP, conventional), compressors, air lines, masking materials.
    • Initial Vehicle Assessment: Identifying damage, surface contaminants.
    • Basic Washing and Degreasing Techniques.
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • PPE demonstration and usage practice.
    • Proper vehicle washing and degreasing procedures.
    • Tool familiarization: handling sanders, basic spray gun cleaning.
    • Masking practice on simple panels.
• Day 2: Minor Damage Repair and Filler Work
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Identifying minor dents, scratches, and surface imperfections.
    • Basic dent removal concepts (pulling, pushing – overview).
    • Types of Body Fillers: Selection and mixing ratios.
    • Filler Application Techniques: Spreading, shaping.
    • Sanding Fillers: Feather edging, block sanding, guide coats.
    • Understanding different sandpaper grits and their uses.
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Mixing and applying body filler to practice panels/minor dents.
    • Shaping and sanding filler using appropriate techniques and grits.
    • Applying and using guide coat effectively.
    • Advanced masking techniques for repair areas.
• Day 3: Priming and Surface Sealing
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Purpose of Primers: Adhesion, corrosion protection, filling imperfections.
    • Types of Primers: Etch primer, epoxy primer, filler primer/surfacer.
    • Spray Gun Setup for Primer: Nozzle size, air pressure.
    • Primer Application Techniques: Coats, flash times.
    • Sanding Primers: Wet vs. Dry sanding, block sanding for level surfaces.
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Final masking and preparation for priming.
    • Mixing and preparing primers.
    • Spray gun setup and practice (primer consistency).
    • Applying different types of primer coats.
    • Sanding cured primer using appropriate methods.
• Day 4: Paint Mixing, Color Matching, and Spray Gun Mastery
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Understanding Paint Codes and Color Formulas.
    • Paint Mixing Systems: Scales, mixing cups, software.
    • Mixing Ratios: Basecoat, clearcoat, activators, reducers.
    • Basic Color Matching Concepts: Variants, spray-out cards.
    • Advanced Spray Gun Control: Air pressure, fluid flow, fan pattern adjustment.
    • Troubleshooting common spray gun issues.
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Using a paint mixing system (demonstration and practice).
    • Creating spray-out cards for color verification.
    • Detailed spray gun setup, adjustment, and cleaning.
    • Practice spraying techniques (distance, speed, overlap) using water or thinners.
• Day 5: Basecoat and Clearcoat Application
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Final surface preparation before topcoat (cleaning, tack rags).
    • Applying Basecoat: Techniques for even coverage, flash times between coats.
    • Applying Clearcoat: Techniques for achieving gloss, avoiding runs and sags, number of coats.
    • Understanding environmental factors (temperature, humidity).
    • Identifying and preventing common paint defects (orange peel, fish eyes, runs, dry spray).
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Final preparation and cleaning of primed panels/vehicle sections.
    • Applying basecoat layers.
    • Applying clearcoat layers.
    • Initial defect identification practice.
    • Proper spray booth procedures (if applicable) and curing methods (air dry, baking).

Week 2: Paint Correction and Interior Detailing

• Day 6: Paint Defect Correction and Polishing
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Identifying cured paint defects (runs, dust nibs, orange peel, sanding marks).
    • Wet Sanding Techniques (Color Sanding): Grits, process.
    • Introduction to Buffing and Polishing: Rotary vs. Dual Action (DA) polishers.
    • Compounds, Polishes, and Pads: Selection based on defect severity and paint type.
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Wet sanding practice on cured clearcoat panels (removing minor defects).
    • Introduction to using rotary and DA polishers.
    • Compounding and polishing techniques on practice panels.
    • Cleaning and maintaining polishing pads.
• Day 7: Introduction to Interior Detailing & Basic Cleaning
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Scope of Interior Detailing: Cleaning, restoration, protection.
    • Safety: Handling interior cleaning chemicals (ventilation, PPE).
    • Tools & Equipment Overview: Vacuums (wet/dry), brushes (various stiffness), microfibre towels, compressed air, extractors, steamers.
    • Interior Assessment: Identifying materials (plastic, vinyl, leather, fabric), stains, odors, damage.
    • Basic Workflow: Trash removal, dry vacuuming, dusting.
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Tool familiarization and proper usage (vacuums, brushes).
    • Thorough interior vacuuming techniques (crevices, under seats).
    • Dusting and initial wipe-down of hard surfaces using microfibre towels and appropriate cleaners (e.g., All-Purpose Cleaner – APC).
• Day 8: Cleaning Hard Surfaces, Fabric & Carpets
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Cleaning Plastics, Vinyl, and Rubber: Appropriate cleaners, agitation methods (brushes, melamine sponges), protectants/dressings (UV protection).
    • Cleaning Fabric Upholstery and Carpets: Identifying fabric types, pre-treatment, spot/stain removal techniques.
    • Using Fabric Cleaners, Brushes, and Extractors.
    • Introduction to Steam Cleaning for sanitization and deep cleaning.

• • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Deep cleaning dashboards, door panels, consoles using APC and brushes.
    • Applying dressings/protectants to hard surfaces.
    • Spot cleaning practice on fabric samples/seats.
    • Using a carpet/upholstery extractor on floor mats or seats.
• Day 9: Leather, Glass, and Odor Elimination
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Identifying Leather Types: Coated (most common), aniline, etc.
    • Leather Cleaning: Safe cleaners, gentle agitation.
    • Leather Conditioning/Protection: Purpose and application.
    • Glass Cleaning: Techniques for streak-free results (inside and out), types of glass cleaners.
    • Headliner Cleaning: Gentle techniques for sensitive material.
    • Odor Identification and Elimination Strategies: Enzymatic cleaners, ozone generators (overview and safety precautions).
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Cleaning and conditioning leather seats/trim.
    • Proper interior and exterior glass cleaning techniques.
    • Gentle headliner spot cleaning practice.
• Day 10: Final Touches, Protection, and Course Review
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Final Inspection and Quality Control for both paint and interior.
    • Applying Long-Term Protectants: Paint sealants/waxes, fabric protectants (e.g., Scotchgard), leather sealants.
    • Introduction to Engine Bay Detailing (focus on safety and appropriate methods).
    • Wheel and Tire Cleaning/Dressing Basics.
    • Brief discussion on professionalism, customer service, and pricing strategies in Abuja market.
  • Afternoon (Integration & Assessment):
    • Final detailing touches on training vehicles (door jambs, vents, etc.).
    • Application of wax/sealant on polished panels.
    • Q&A session covering both weeks.
    • Practical assessment (e.g., prepare and prime a small panel, detail a specific interior section).
    • Course feedback