[ANSWERED] Has Corvette/GM considered improving the paint finishing process?
#21
Pro
This entire post is hilarious, let alone T's response; always playing the "best we could" card.
The orange peel is unacceptable, plain and simple. I mean it doesn't really get more "to the point" than that. Those of us that have or want a C7 are told to hurry up and wait. Boy, where I have I heard that before
Bottom line is you guys need to realize your paint process is absolute *****, and actually admit it, rather than skirting around "what we'll do in the future."
The orange peel is unacceptable, plain and simple. I mean it doesn't really get more "to the point" than that. Those of us that have or want a C7 are told to hurry up and wait. Boy, where I have I heard that before
Bottom line is you guys need to realize your paint process is absolute *****, and actually admit it, rather than skirting around "what we'll do in the future."
#22
Corvette Enthusiast
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: Troy & Dearborn, Michigan
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I hope when everyone compared paint jobs you look at cars with similar materials to Corvette.
I'm not one to defend Tadge, as is well known, but here he actually speaks the truth.
The fiberglass composite is extremely hard to paint. Harder than carbon fiber even. So when you compare paint you can't look at or even expect results you would get on a steel or even aluminum bodied car.
That BMW i8 has bad paint for the same reason, it's Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic, nearly the same thing as fiberglass.
Aluminum cars have worse paint than steel typically as well, this is one of the reasons aluminum hasn't been adopted as quickly (the others are joint repair and body "welding") for body panels.
The problem you have is most exotic material bodied cars are basically hand built. We have a unique body, and are mass produced. Not a lot of knowledge out there on the process as Corvette basically has to invent new ways to paint the car.
I'm not one to defend Tadge, as is well known, but here he actually speaks the truth.
The fiberglass composite is extremely hard to paint. Harder than carbon fiber even. So when you compare paint you can't look at or even expect results you would get on a steel or even aluminum bodied car.
That BMW i8 has bad paint for the same reason, it's Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic, nearly the same thing as fiberglass.
Aluminum cars have worse paint than steel typically as well, this is one of the reasons aluminum hasn't been adopted as quickly (the others are joint repair and body "welding") for body panels.
The problem you have is most exotic material bodied cars are basically hand built. We have a unique body, and are mass produced. Not a lot of knowledge out there on the process as Corvette basically has to invent new ways to paint the car.
#23
Heel & Toe
What good is my C7's paint if the garbage panel tolerances cause my paint to crack/chip off?
I'd love it if orange peel was the only the paint problem I was having.
And yes, orange peel is on many cars, including perceived higher end cars. I could give a chit about orange peel. I'm just worried about keeping the paint on my car.
I'd love it if orange peel was the only the paint problem I was having.
And yes, orange peel is on many cars, including perceived higher end cars. I could give a chit about orange peel. I'm just worried about keeping the paint on my car.
#24
Pro
Original question is here.
#25
Le Mans Master
Tadge noted they "developed a new process for painting our Silver that produces a bright harmonious finish that accentuates the Corvette’s crisp lines". I wonder why this new process is only used on silver and not all colors?
I for one really appreciate Tadge's insight to the Corvette paint processes.
It's true best way to get paint on a body panel is to use an electrostatic charge. We as customers really don't understand how difficult composites are to paint and how hard it is with today's water based paints to get it to flow like the old oil based paints. I was surprised to learn they hand sand at many points in the process.
It will be interesting to see how the new paint shop can overcome these challenges.
I for one really appreciate Tadge's insight to the Corvette paint processes.
It's true best way to get paint on a body panel is to use an electrostatic charge. We as customers really don't understand how difficult composites are to paint and how hard it is with today's water based paints to get it to flow like the old oil based paints. I was surprised to learn they hand sand at many points in the process.
It will be interesting to see how the new paint shop can overcome these challenges.
Last edited by Maxie2U; 03-22-2017 at 07:59 PM.
#26
Le Mans Master