Home Auto Drop Coating Metallic Auto Body Paint

Drop Coating Metallic Auto Body Paint

by Lincoln Les

Drop coating is a vital skill that each auto body paint sprayer should desire to master. Drop jackets are administered over the past phase from the spraying process when metallic paints are utilized. When put on a car body panel properly, drop jackets offer color coverage, perfect metallic content distribution along with a better paint base that may accept lacquers effortlessly.

Applying Metallic Paint

Drop coating ought to be combined with all metallic auto paints. Many paint sprayers apply metallic base jackets utilizing the same methods that they apply solids, which is a typical error that compromises a normally perfect job. While horizontal arm movements are ideal for most solid color spray jobs, metallic auto body paint ought to be dropped to the panel when fundamental coverage continues to be achieved, which is just as vital that you mix coat the ultimate application in vertical and horizontal directions.

Making certain Uniform Paint Coverage

Before drop jackets does apply, the prepared vehicle panel should be adequately engrossed in metallic auto body paint to assist avoid primer transparency. When the color is activated, a complete wet coat of paint ought to be sprayed to the top of panel. It is necessary that each horizontal spraying movement blends in to the previous someone to guarantee uniform coverage and distribution (overlaps of 30% to 40% are great). When just one we coat continues to be applied, the car body paint should be left to dry for approximately ten minutes. Never spray another coat until the first has achieved a matte appearance.

Applying another Coat of Metallic Paint

Personally, I love to spray the following coat of paint inside a different direction towards the first, particularly when the panel continues to be removed the vehicle. Sometimes, this is not possible on vertical panels, for example fenders and doorways, if they’re still suited to the automobile so you shouldn’t be very worried if you’re more happy utilizing a typical horizontal spraying pattern. The 2nd application should be sprayed in the same way towards the first coat, but attempt to achieve 80% wetness as compared to the earlier application. Once again, the car body paint should be left to dry for approximately ten minutes until matte.

Using the Drop Coat

When the metallic paint continues to be transparent, yet another coat might be needed however this will not be necessary generally. To spray the particular drop coat, squeeze spray gun 18 to 24 inches from the top of panel and lower gun pressure by 20% to 30%. Spray the car body paint horizontally, moving the arm gradually over the panel therefore the metallic color drops (or falls) to the surface. Maintain uniform coverage before the spraying process is finished. Recoat the panel from the similar distance immediately, but swap the horizontal movements for any vertical direction therefore the subsequent coat crosses the very first. In addition to guaranteeing even paint coverage, crossing the drop coat offers uniform metal distribution along with a superior surface which will accept lacquer properly.

Tacking the Drop Coat

Permit the drop coat to dry before visually inspecting the metallic auto body paint. Look for patches where coverage may be sporadic and spray an additional drop coat if required. With solvent-based auto body paint, it is usually smart to operate a tack rag within the vehicle panel when the drop coat has dried. Specialist tack rags can be bought for water-based auto body paint, but it’s more suitable to waive the tacking process as high paint build-up can peel back the colour and this may lead to frustrating rework.

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