With the spray gun being a painter’s primary tool, proper gun set up is critical to the final appearance of the material being applied. One important aspect of gun set up is fan pattern. Proper fan pattern can ensure an even film build of the sprayed material, correct drying and curing of the film, and proper adhesion from layer to layer.

You should always check your gun’s fan pattern prior to material application. Holding your gun 6-9” from a piece of masking paper or other flat surface, spray your paint to check for a uniform, elliptical pattern. Other fan patterns can indicate a problem and should be fixed.

While no painter wants to buff every job, oftentimes it is necessary to remove minor imperfections from a newly finished repair. While the buffing process can be a daunting task for some, the following tips can help make the job easier, more consistent and productive.
Clean between steps

• Cleaning between polishing steps is critical so as to not transfer polish to another step.
• Left over polish can fill in sand scratches making it appear as if your scratches have been removed.
• Cleaning with OneChoice® SX103 Multi-Prep™ surface cleaner or SWX350 H2O-So-Clean® waterborne pre-cleaner between polishing steps will let you clearly see if the sand scratches have been removed.

Keep the job area small to reduce cycle time

• De-nib to keep the area small and easy to manage, focusing on the small spot to be removed.
• Matching the OE texture is the goal. Avoid over polishing and sanding too flat.

Don’t overload

• You might think ‘more is better’ but excessive compound and polish can build up in layers, filling and masking sand scratches.
• Buffing pads are designed to work best with minimal compound. Apply a small amount of compound to the pad and polish until there is none left before adding any more.

Keep pads clean

• Don’t let your buff pads get caked with compound. At the end of each week, get into the habit of washing your buff pads in warm water, then leave them to dry over the weekend.
• Avoid contamination by keeping buffing pads and microfiber cloths for each step separate and in zip lock bags.

Work to a best-practice process

• While everyone may have their own tried and true buffing procedures, it’s always best to follow the compound or polish manufacturers’ recommendations.

If you’re looking to accelerate small jobs and maintain premium quality, consider bringing the SUA1080 UV Primer into your shop today!
Check out the OneChoice® Product Bulletin OC38 for more complete use and technical information!

Paint Pointers - Technical Tips from PPG
Fall has brought a change in weather, and this can often affect how your shop and paint behaves. So let’s review some waterborne best practices to keep your shop at its most productive.

• Confirm that you have clean, dry air being delivered to your spray gun. Less than 10% humidity is ideal.
• Inspect booth filters, eliminate any dead zones or poor airflow by changing filters. A good target is 70-75 CFM. Sufficient airflow is key to proper performance of waterborne basecoat.
• Use Adjuster and Modifier in every mix. This new technology has several benefits including the most robust film properties, a wider application window in humid conditions, and even improved metallic control.
• Temperature affects viscosity. With the change in season, validate your standard reductions are giving you a spray viscosity of 23-28 seconds in DIN #4 viscosity cup.
• Use vented spray cups to reduce pressure on the filter screen, which allows for a smooth constant flow of product (no spitting).
• Fully dehydrate each basecoat layer with airflow over the repair. Airflow ensures evaporation pulls water from the substrate out. Avoid trapping water with heat, which dries from the surface inward.

These Waterborne best practices will help you work smarter not harder!

This short video demonstrates key procedures for creating a blend repair using a solvent-based basecoat system. Includes such tips as:

• Melting the sealer edge for a smoother transition
• Creating a “wet bed” using a color blender
• Application tips
• And more

By covering the tried-and-true basics of performing spot repairs, this video provides an excellent orientation for the novice painter.

Paint Pointers - Technical Tips from PPG
A painter uses many tools to produce a quality paint job, and one of the most important is the spray booth. Just like you keep your paint gun clean and well maintained, your spay booth should be given equal attention. Establishing a regular cleaning and preventative maintenance schedule is not only key to prolonging the life of your investment, but keeping your booth efficient and production costs low.
Consider the following to keep your booth performing its best:

• Follow booth manufacturer’s filter change schedule to keep air flow at its best
• Use a manometer to keep track of air movement in the booth
• Keep the booth clean by sweeping, power washing or blowing it out regularly
• Paint the booth walls or use a removable booth coating to protect it from overspray and maintain booth cleanliness
• Clean the glass on the lights and replace burned out bulbs to ensure optimal lighting
• Clean the exhaust stack and exhaust fan annually

Sanding and polishing can be reduced, or even eliminated, by taking the time to clean and maintain your paint booth regularly.

Paint Pointers - Technical Tips from PPG
The use of plastic parts has increased tremendously in modern vehicles. In some shops, more than 50% of repairs include a bumper cover. Repairing and repainting these parts requires special attention.

Plastic parts that come from the manufacturer pre-primed should always be tested before painting. Painting on top of “unknown” primers can lead to performance concerns such as adhesion between the primer and plastic, compatibility with your topcoats, lifting, and even poor flexibility.

To test the primer, use a clean towel with solvent and rub the part in an inconspicuous area to see if the primer will wipe off. If the primer comes off, remove all of the primer from the plastic part and follow your bare plastic painting process. It’s good practice to remove these sensitive coatings to avoid any potential headaches. With “unknown” primers, it is impossible to know how they may hold up down the road.