Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Nonflexible Panel Repair System

Basecoat - Lacquer or Enamel

1. Wash with a mild detergent and water to remove any water soluble contaminates, then clean with wax and grease removing solvent to remove any tar, silicone or other road film not removed with the detergent wash.

2. Repair and featheredge damaged area(s) as required.

3. If substrate is metal, treat surface with a metal conditioner and conversion coating according to label directions. Allow to dry thoroughly and apply primer-surfacer to repair area. Allow to dry 20-30 minutes before sanding.

4. Using wet or dry #400 grit sandpaper or finer, sand entire area(s) to be refinished with the basecoat color. Areas to be clear coated only, should be wet sanded with #600 or finer sandpaper or hand compound (follow manufactures recommendations).

5. Reclean panel(s) with wax and grease removing solvent and then tack wipe.
6. Apply one or two coats of adhesion promoter within moldings and/or breaklines of the panel section(s) to be refinished. When making paint repairs to areas such as quarter panels where the repair is not confined within moldings or breaklines, apply adhesion promoter a minimum of 4-6" onto adjacent panel. Adhesion promoter must extend beyond the area to be covered by the clear coat when not confined by moldings. Allow to flash a minimum of 30 minutes before applying base color coat. Some enamel basecoat may not require adhesion promoter. Follow manufacturer's recommendations.

7A. Polyurethane Enamel Basecoat

CAUTION: There are a number of paint systems available for service use: however, many require additives containing isocyanates. It is essential that all recommendations and warnings listed on the container label for materials selected be followed.

It is mandatory that adequate respiratory protection be worn. Examples of such protection are: 3M models #6984 and #6986 disposable respirators.

Such protection should be worn during the entire painting process. Persons with respiratory problems, or those allergic to isocyanates must not be exposed to isocyanate vapors or spray mist.

a. Following paint manufacturer's label directions, activitate the Polyurethane Enamel material. Mix material thoroughly. Pot life of activated mixture is approximately eight (8) hours.

b. Reduce basecoat per label directions. Some activated Polyurethane Enamel materials are ready to spray as packaged under normal conditions. As conditions vary, to enhance flow out and leveling up to 10% more than the specified enamel reducer may be added to the activated mixture. Check the viscosity of the activated mixture with a Zahn #2 Paint Viscosity Cup or its equivalent. Follow the paint manufacturer's labeled recommendations for paint viscosity cup reading, c. Using manufactures specified air pressure at the gun, spray two medium-wet coats of enamel mixture to achieve full hiding. Allow first coat to set-up for 15-20 minutes before applying the second final coat. Unless manufacturer recommends otherwise allow to cure overnight.
7B. Lacquer Basecoat

a. Reduce base color 150-200% with an extra-slow drying lacquer solvent. The viscosity of the reduced base color is very important in order to match the OEM (original equipment manufacturers) finish. The best way of checking the viscosity of a reduced paint material is the a Zahn #2 paint viscosity cup or equivalent. If a cold can of paint is brought into an average temperature room (65-70 degrees), it will be thicker and more viscous. Adding solvent to make the paint sprayable is not the best action. The paint should be allowed to reach workable, or average room temperatures. Follow manufacturer's recommended paint viscosity cup reading for their material.

b. Spray base color at 35-45 lbs air pressure at gun or as specified by the paint supplier. Apply only the number of coats needed to get full hiding. This will require two or three mediumwet coats. Allow each coat to flash approximately five minutes and spray each coat slightly wider than the previously applied coat. A premixed mist coat of clear acrylic paint material may be used if desired to melt overspray into the base color. Allow to dry for 20 minutes before applying clear coat. Do not sand base color coat unless it is necessary.

8. If basecoat must be sanded, proceed as follows:

a. Allow base color to dry.

b. Sand with ultra-fine wet-or-dry sandpaper to remove the imperfection(s).

c. Reclean and tack wipe the repair area(s).

d. Apply an additional coat of base color.

e. Allow to dry thoroughly before applying the clear coat.

9A. Polyurethane Enamel Clearcoat

Because of the better durability of polyurethane enamel clear coats as compared to lacquer, it is preferred if shop conditions allow.

CAUTION: There are a number of paint systems available for service use: however, many require additives containing isocyanates. It is essential that all recommendations and warnings listed on the container label for materials selected be followed.

It is mandatory that adequate respiratory protection be worn.
Examples of such protection area: 3M models #6984 and #6986 disposable respirators.
Such protection should be worn during the entire painting process. Persons with respiratory problems, or those allergic to isocyanates must not be exposed to isocyanate vapors or spray mist.

a. Following paint manufacturer's label directions, activitate the Polyurethane Enamel Clearcoat material. Mix material thoroughly. Pot life of activated mixture is approximately eight (8) hours.

b. Reduce clearcoat per label directions. Some activated Polyurethane Enamel Clearcoat materials are ready to spray as packaged when used under normal conditions. As conditions vary, to enhance flow out and leveling, up to 10% more than the specified enamel reducer may be added to the activated clearcoat mixture. Check the viscosity of the activated mixture with a Zahn #2 Paint Viscosity Cup or its equivalent. Follow the paint manufacturer's labeled recommendations for paint viscosity cup reading.

c. Using 50 lbs air pressure at the gun, spray two medium-wet coats of enamel clear coat mixture. Allow first coat to set-up for 15-20 minutes before applying the second final coat. Clear coat should be applied over the entire panel wherever possible. When no breaklines are present blend all spray applications within the adhesion promoter boundary.

Clean spray painting equipment with lacquer thinner immediately after use.

Clearcoat

9B. Lacquer Clearcoat

a. Reduce clearcoat 125-150% with an extra-slow drying lacquer thinner to the recommended paint viscosity cup reading of the manufacturer who's paint product you are using.

b. Spray two medium-wet coats of reduced clear at 35-45 lbs air pressure at the gun. Allow first coat to flash completely before applying the second coat. At least two coats must be used. Additional coats may be applied if desired. If additional leveling is desired a final coat of premixed mist-coat material (clear acrylic and thinner) can be sprayed at 20 lbs air pressure at the gun. When no breaklines are present, blend all spray applications within the adhesion promoter. Allow the repair to dry overnight, then rub out with a light-cutting hand or machine polishing compound.