Born again finisher
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Whats up Forum? Names Adam, I am 29, and started in the paint department at 18. I worked for several shops, and became all around handy in the shop. At 21 I left the body shop to work for a family member. I got back into a shop in 2004, and worked there for about a year before family illness caused me to relocate, and start college. Sept 09 I got a job at a local shop prepping. I was doing 4-6 cars a day, washing each car twice, and priming the next days work. That was a great shop, with a few bad apples out of the 15-20 guys. Well that didn’t last, and it was for the better to get out of there.
Now I am in a small shop, working in the paint department prepping and painting with another person. This facility already adapted waterborne, and no one there including me have any real training. Seems like the owner does not want to pay for school for any of us, and I can’t wait to turn this shop around. This is the first place I could think of to come to ask for some guidance from waterborne guru.
I like to learn from people who actually know what they are talking about. If anyone could offer some time, I would appreciate it.
Well Can you atleast tell us what system you are using? Im sure we would be glad to give advice.
Welcome to the site,this is a great place to come and exchange info,learn,and have a little fun.There are many people here in the industry with a great deal of knowledge.I have been painting in a shop since the late 80’s,and using sikkens autowave since april of 2009.What paint brand are you using?Not all waterbornes are the same and application is different as well,let us know what your questions are.Also talk to your rep/traveling salesman about certification,most times the paint company will pay,it is in there best interest so you will be using there products the way they were meant to be.The sikkens 2 day application course was a big help for our shop,so talk your boss into it,it will make the shop more profitable and save him costly mistakes.Good luck :cheers
:welc hope you enjoy!
I am spraying Dupont CroMax, and using mostly Nasons production clear in a positive pressure cross draft that peaks at 100f when baking. The owners don’t want to send anyone to school, they are way to cheap. They are charging a customer to repaint a bumper that they shot a year ago. It’s a raw lexus bumper that the old painter used only a adhesion promoter for the base. It took me 2 mins max to blow of the entire bumper. The shop is second to most, and the managers know nothing. I have been asked a few times to buff out some scratches that are down to the metal/plastic, and they keep trying to use just waterborne base as a touch up paint.
A quality rating to the work that I see has left the shop is 2-3 most. We don’t even have all the proper reducers for clear, to spray at the current conditions. 60% humidity, and 90 plus degrees. Almost everything we shot this past week got solvent pop, and they only let us re-shoot to mirrors.
I spoke with the rep, he said I’ll come shoot something with you. That was last month, and it still has yet to manifest.
My main concern is shooting the base, 1.5 wet coats with no flash I get it, but that could translate a millions ways. When I lay down a wet coat, it looks like crap, but dries out nice. Which is what the rep said to do, the other painter there, puts it on like it looks and does not adhere to the 1.5 wet coats rule. Basically shoots it like solvent. I am so lost, with no master to guide me. I just want to do it right, and not just so is does not come back, but because I like to take pride in my work.
P.S. thanks for the replies, and warm welcome!
Do a search for cromax here,there is a painter on the site(ryanbrown999) who used cromax for a couple of years and knows that product inside and out.He will have some insight for you,I have never sprayed cromax so I’m not familiar with it.
hey welcome, have you tried viewing any of the dupont vids on you tube? they might answer some of your questions. here’s a link to one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PrU5yFt6uE
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