Fixed Operations
Your Body Shop: Paint Work You Can Be Proud Of
Dave Dunn
We spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on our paint shops today and yet most dealers still complain about the quality of paint work. Customers are particularly concerned about the paint job on their new cars.
Years ago, paint match was the issue. Paint technology at the manufacturing level was so different from what the body shop had available to them that getting an exact match was next to impossible. Thankfully, paint match technology is so good today that virtually any dealer shop should be able to guarantee a perfect match every time. Customers respond well to a paint match guarantee. We recommend that guaranteed paint match be used as a selling proposition when closing deals.
Clean Paint Jobs
The real challenge today is getting the paint job clean. With the clear coat finishes we have on today's cars every little piece of particulate in a finish really stands out. Generally the painter resorts to machine buffing to level out the finish. Buffing is bad because it ultimately damages the new finish by leaving swirl marks. It also effectively reduces the protective clear coat resin on top of the finish. Unfortunately too many body shop managers are unaware that a clean paint job can be attained without harmful buffing. Think about it: we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to equip properly, with items such as air take-up systems and downdraft paint booths, only to accept a flawed product. Generally painters blame the equipment, filters or ambient conditions. We rarely find that the problem has much to do with mechanical deficiencies but rather procedural issues. While I cannot explore every situation I would like to give you a few procedural reminders. I strongly recommend that you insist your body shop manager enforces these procedures.
Masters School of Autobody Steps to Paint Job Protection
- 1: Blow out car: This refers to using a high-pressure blowgun and a shop rag to blow directly on door jams, trunk and hood jams, wheel wells, cowl panels, mouldings, lights or any area that may hold dust. It is not always necessary to wash entire car.
- 2: Mask car tightly: Back tape hood and trunk jams or any area the paint gun will eventually be blowing on.
- 3: De-grease car while in booth: Even though you have already used a grease and wax remover you will want to do this step again. This step helps you discover potential dirty areas on the finish.
- 4: Blow and tack again: Using a high-pressure blowgun and a coated tack cloth, blow the entire car again (not just the area to be painted). Blow in all areas that have a crack or a crevice. This step takes a minimum of 15 minutes. If you're not spending 15 minutes at this stage, you will probably get dust in your finish.
- 5: Stop using tack cloth: Back off the blowgun to a moderate pressure of 40psi and continue to blow off car. Be careful of floor and walls of booth. Do not blow dirt from adjacent areas onto your car surface.
- 6: Tack surface from top to bottom: Work from top to bottom in a downdraft booth. Blow off self with blowgun.
- 7: Apply sealer: Spray seal coat as paint manufacturer recommends. Tack between coats.
- 8: Spray color, tacking between coats: As you are spraying on the color watch for particulate. Tack between coats. Nib sand any dirt or imperfections you see between coats. Do not apply additional material to finish if you already see an imperfection. Fix it as you go. Allow color to flash off per manufacturer instructions.
- 9: Re-mask window areas: This is a magic bullet. Quickly apply new masking paper over any area that has a build of over-spray. This is a million dollar step! Tack off car and masking paper again.
- 10: Repeat tacking and blowing: Continue low pressure blowing and tacking until you are certain no dust remains on the surface or adjacent areas. Then apply the clear coat finish.
These 10 steps are important. However, they will not work unless the painter believes that a clean, no-buff paint job can be attained. The painter cannot shortcut a single step. When we teach painters in our technical facility, the first day is spent working on their perceptions, beliefs and attitudes. Most people want a magic wand. I have discovered that the magic wand is in their heads.
Keep Score
As always, I recommend that you keep score of how you are doing. We recommend that you keep a simple log of "No-Buff" paint jobs. This emphasizes the positive rather than the negative. A painter enjoys writing down his name on a success log. No one wants to write his name on a screw-up sheet.
Finally, remember that your equipment is rarely at fault. In almost all cases the problem is either procedural or attitudinal. Follow this advice and you will have paint jobs you will be proud of.
Dave Dunn is the owner of Dave's Auto Body in Galesburg, Ill., and the founder of Masters School of Autobody Management in Santa Barbara, Calif. ddunn@dealeronline.com
