paint question, need help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 123
Likes: 3
From: hico tx
paint question, need help
i have been painting a few cars to try to get good enough to paint the vette, i painted a pickup saturday and everthing went well except i got a lot of orange peel, so was i spaying to wet of coat of paint or was : i holding the gun to close , or was it the humidity that got me . im open for all help. 
oops, i messed up
oops, i messed up
Last edited by GDaina; Aug 11, 2004 at 10:14 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
I'm not a painter but orange peel is always a problem, even new cars have orange peel. I just spray the best I can to get a good coverage and then wet sand and buff for a perfect finish.
Wet sanding and buffing can make even a poor paint job look good.
Orange peel is the result of paint not flowing out, Thin it more and you could get runs, even harder, allot harder to sand out.
Wet sanding does not mean a hose running over the car while sanding. I use a spray bottle with water and a touch of dishwater soap and mist the area every now and again. The same wet solution can be used while buffing the paint, Never let it dry out.
Wet sanding and buffing can make even a poor paint job look good.
Orange peel is the result of paint not flowing out, Thin it more and you could get runs, even harder, allot harder to sand out.
Wet sanding does not mean a hose running over the car while sanding. I use a spray bottle with water and a touch of dishwater soap and mist the area every now and again. The same wet solution can be used while buffing the paint, Never let it dry out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,065
Likes: 1,395
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Are you doing base/clear ??
If so, I had that problem several years ago. I tried all the suggested fixes.
Finally called Devilbiss (manufacture of my gun) and explained the problem and attempted fixes.
He asked what Cap I was using. It was what came with the gun.
He replied that on a Devilviss gun and using base/clear you need the 9000 cap.
I bought a 9000 cap and it solved the orange peel problem. Actually it really made a huge improvement in applying the clear coat. Uses less clear to do the same coverage.
The point is, make sure your gun is right for the job. If not, you'll be chasing all sorts of "fixes".
Barry
If so, I had that problem several years ago. I tried all the suggested fixes.
Finally called Devilbiss (manufacture of my gun) and explained the problem and attempted fixes.
He asked what Cap I was using. It was what came with the gun.
He replied that on a Devilviss gun and using base/clear you need the 9000 cap.
I bought a 9000 cap and it solved the orange peel problem. Actually it really made a huge improvement in applying the clear coat. Uses less clear to do the same coverage.
The point is, make sure your gun is right for the job. If not, you'll be chasing all sorts of "fixes".
Barry
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Orange peel
Sorry guys but Orange peel is caused by a combination of the wrong thinner and air temp. Thinner is the seceret to a perfect paint job. The thinner you use is very important.
Orange peel is caused by the speed the thinner drys. If it dry's too fast the paint will not flow out smooth and that is what causes orange peel.
The rule of thumb is the more expensive the thinner the slower it drys and therefor it will let the paint flow out and not cause orange peel.
If the temp is 75 deg then you can get away with a faster (cheaper) thinner but if it is near 95 to 100 outside then you will need a higher quality or Slower drying thinner so that it has time to flow out.
Always deal with a profesonal paint supply house and ask the guy behind the counter just what thinner he recomends. They are a wealth of information. It is best to deal with someone that sells it to the local body shops.
Good luck.
Pantera
Former owner of
Corvette World Autobody
now Retired
Orange peel is caused by the speed the thinner drys. If it dry's too fast the paint will not flow out smooth and that is what causes orange peel.
The rule of thumb is the more expensive the thinner the slower it drys and therefor it will let the paint flow out and not cause orange peel.
If the temp is 75 deg then you can get away with a faster (cheaper) thinner but if it is near 95 to 100 outside then you will need a higher quality or Slower drying thinner so that it has time to flow out.
Always deal with a profesonal paint supply house and ask the guy behind the counter just what thinner he recomends. They are a wealth of information. It is best to deal with someone that sells it to the local body shops.
Good luck.
Pantera
Former owner of
Corvette World Autobody
now Retired
