Most car owners don't know that paintwork is a critical part of smash repairs. Notably, the best panel beating service must be matched by an excellent paint job. It matters little how much time you spend panel beating a car's body if you cannot guarantee quality paint job. The best way to ensure show-room quality paintwork is through adequate and proper body surface preparation. This article highlights tips for quality paint job during smash repairs.
Remember to Dry Sand
Once a dent is attended to, any stubborn depressions or holes are filled with putty filler. It is a fast-drying mixture that hardens inside a dent or hole, and it must be sanded down to the level of a car's body. In most cases, a putty filler is levelled through wet sanding since the technique protects the surrounding areas from excessive scratching. However, damp sanding leaves behind an overly smooth surface, which undermines the effectiveness of a paint job. It is better to dry-sand putty filled sports once you are through with wet sanding. The procedure creates a textured surface that allows the first paint coat to adhere effectively. Consequently, it becomes easy to spray paint subsequent coats to achieve the desired gloss.
Allow Panel to Cool
Professional auto-shops use a rotary sander to smoothen a car's body during smash repairs. It is a fast sanding technique that smoothens putty filler and leaves a clean surface. However, rotary sanders can generate enough heat to distort a car's panel. If you start painting a car's body immediately after sanding it, the panel will contract as it cools, thereby affecting the quality of your paint job. Therefore, give a panel enough time to cool after sanding before commencing the paintwork.
Apply a Quality Epoxy Primer
A reputable smash repair auto shop should deliver showroom-quality paint job. It can be achieved by applying quality epoxy primer over bare metal once you have cleaned it thoroughly. Unfortunately, this is not standard practice in most auto-shops since service providers prefer other types of primers. However, conventional primers have some porosity which allows moisture through before a paint job begins. It is especially the case in auto shops that do not begin paintwork immediately after applying a primer. Epoxy primers, on the other hand, create a water-tight barrier that prevents moisture from making its way to the bare metal below. Therefore, always demand epoxy primers for quality paintwork during smash repairs
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