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Posts Tagged ‘Paint’

Paint Protection Film, or PPF (sometimes referred to as Clear Bra), is a thermoplastic urethane film which is most often applied to the forward or leading painted surfaces of a vehicle. Originally, this type of protective film was designed for military use on helicopter rotors to protect them from sand particles, and over the years it has expanded to general aviation, racing, and finally consumer vehicles and even electronic devices such as mobile phones. Paint Protection Film has been in use on privately owned vehicles for several years now, and with good reason.

From a maintenance standpoint, PPF is an excellent investment for any vehicle. The clear coated urethane film helps preserve the paint finish while protecting surfaces vulnerable to stone chips, bug damage, abrasion, and weathering. Not only will your vehicle’s paint be preserved from these types of damages, the film will allow your paint to age naturally, and will not yellow from prolonged sun exposure. Additionally, you can clean and maintain your vehicle the same as before. The nearly invisible film can be washed and waxed just like the rest of the painted surfaces to retain that high gloss shine you expect.

These protective films are typically applied to the impact zones on vehicles parts, or otherwise vulnerable areas such as hoods, fenders, side mirrors, bumpers, grills, rocker panels, headlights covers, floodlights, car door protection, luggage areas, rear bumper decks, roof and A-pillars. Most vendors guarantee their product not to haze, yellow or peel and offer a warranty of anywhere from two to five years when properly installed. The film contains ultra-violet stabilizers to prevent discoloration or degradation of the product itself while still allowing the sun’s rays to pass through to the paint so if you do decide to remove the film your vehicle will not be two-toned, or “sunburned”. Unlike leather car bras or plastic shields, these clear protective films are practically invisible and do not substantially affect the overall appearance of your vehicle.

All things considered, a transparent protective film is a far more appealing solution to many consumers. Leather bras and bug shields do what they’re supposed to, but many who enjoy the appearance of their vehicle find that these protective items are not at all appealing. Since paint protection film is virtually invisible, the look of the vehicle is not altered in any significant way, and it performs just as good, if not better, than the alternative. It’s like a second, tougher skin for your vehicle.

Most paint protection films, once applied, are 100% safe to remove from the vehicle at any time without damage to the paint and finish underneath. It is also worth noting that no debris can get underneath the protective coat, since it adheres directly to the paint. It can be applied to any painted surface on the vehicle, and even some areas without paint, such as headlight and tail light covers. The value of the film is clear, and it’s actually cheaper in many cases to apply a protective film coat than to repaint all or a portion of your vehicle later on once it has been damaged and scratched.

Modern day paint booth manufacturers have a significant number of types of such booths. The reason for this is to cover the entire spectrum of customer requirements. You could want a booth to paint an automobile or an aircraft or a very tiny intricate part in large numbers. All of these different samples would need different types of booths. Because of this reason the various types of paint booths are:

Automotive paint booth

Truck spray booth and

Industrial spray booths

Truck and Industrial Spray Booths

The truck spray booths are further categorized into the full; side and the semi-down draft varieties besides the reverse and front flow types. Similarly the industrial spray booths are sub-divided into the airplane booths and the production tunnels.

Automotive Spray booths

The automotive paint booth could be sub-divided into the premier variant, the insulated variant and the full, semi and side down draft variants besides the reverse and front flow types.

The Premier Spray Booth

This spray booth has white powder coated panels that are double walled and fully insulated. This results in considerable saving in energy, ease of maintenance and increased durability. The panels are punched with precision and made of heavy gauge galvanized steel for protection against corrosion and long life.

The paint booth has uniform airflow due to the full ceiling air intake filters. The surplus spray is forced out of the vehicle by the central flow exhaust system.

The direct-fired heat system scores by 20% in efficiency terms over the indirect fired heating system. Recirculation of preheated air from the baking cycle effects greater energy savings.

Electronic monitoring of filters, energy saving motor drives and an auto shut down system all help in the further saving in running costs.

The lights are strategically located and have access from the inside. This means that the exterior is flush and clean. The lighting is well focused in order to eliminate shadows. The lights have also been selected with the saving of energy costs in mind.

The provision of tri-fold doors and a 2-meter pit under the central exhaust system further enhance the utilization of the automotive paint booth.

If you want to repaint your vehicle on your own and achieve that trendy look, then it is important to get all the information you can get about the paint that you will use. You will need to choose the tools to use wisely, select that part of the garage that is well ventilated i.e. where there is free passage of air.

All automotive paints are not the same but there are some few qualities that you need to ascertain before you buy the paint for your car. Any paint that you use should not be polished after application unless it is of poor quality. Paint should always be flexible without the use of flex additives. To improve paint coverage, use paint primer as an undercoating.

When dealing with a minor repair or even a full restoration, preparation is absolutely necessary. Clean the surface that you are using. There are two types of contaminants that will need to be cleaned, these are Water based contaminants, such as dirt, dust and bird droppings. These can be removed easily with a good car washing soap and hot water. And then there are Solvent based contaminants that include wax, plastic resin, oil and tar grease. These require the use of grease remover. In order to know that the area is clean, flush it with water. The water should not stick on this surface, if it does you will need to add more grease remover.

Before applying the automotive paint that you desire, you can remove the old paint using solvent based color removers, making a smooth base on your car body. You are now ready to use a primer on these surface. Use a top quality spray gun, applying sweeping horizontal strokes back and forth. Let the coat dry before sanding it again and applying a fresh coat.

If you want to repaint your vehicle on your own and achieve that trendy look, then it is important to get all the information you can get about the paint that you will use. You will need to choose the tools to use wisely, select that part of the garage that is well ventilated i.e. where there is free passage of air.

All automotive paints are not the same but there are some few qualities that you need to ascertain before you buy the paint for your car. Any paint that you use should not be polished after application unless it is of poor quality. Paint should always be flexible without the use of flex additives. To improve paint coverage, use paint primer as an undercoating.

When dealing with a minor repair or even a full restoration, preparation is absolutely necessary. Clean the surface that you are using. There are two types of contaminants that will need to be cleaned, these are Water based contaminants, such as dirt, dust and bird droppings. These can be removed easily with a good car washing soap and hot water. And then there are Solvent based contaminants that include wax, plastic resin, oil and tar grease. These require the use of grease remover. In order to know that the area is clean, flush it with water. The water should not stick on this surface, if it does you will need to add more grease remover.

Before applying the automotive paint that you desire, you can remove the old paint using solvent based color removers, making a smooth base on your car body. You are now ready to use a primer on these surface. Use a top quality spray gun, applying sweeping horizontal strokes back and forth. Let the coat dry before sanding it again and applying a fresh coat.

Of all the information out there and of all the products being sold to the public to preserve and protect your vehicle’s finish, little or nothing is said about a simple product used in the Automotive Detailing and Paint Repair industry.

Some detailers don’t really understand the benefits of using this product in the way I am going to talk about, and how it is beneficial to their customers and why it should be done on a somewhat regular basis!

Well what is this product?

It is called a Clay Bar.

This is not a new product or a secret product. However, it is not a well know product. Its use even by manufacturers is not well explained or understood.

We have some insight that is unique and not well understood by detailers or body shops because of the range of automotive appearance restoration we specialize in. Since many of the vehicles we work on have already been detailed we have to leave the vehicles “front line ready” when we are finished.

Unlike a body shop whose job does not include any kind of ‘detailing” we have to leave the vehicles we work on “front line ready”. Also, unlike a detail shop we have paint restoration experience.

Why does this matter to you, and how can our experience and knowledge benefit you?

First of all let me explain a basic rule to paint preparation when preparing for refinishing. The surface being worked on has to be completely “sterile” and properly scuffed in order for new paint to adhere well to the area being refinished.

Let me illustrate it this way. If I paint something that has a decal on it and I paint over that decal what happens if that decal’s glue looses its adhesive quality? That area will certainly peel off sooner or later. You would not paint over a pin stripe or decal but on a larger scale if you have removed all surface contaminates you will have great adhesion and a long lasting paint job!

One of the biggest things that makes a paint job a quality paint job is how well the surface has been “prepped’! I cannot stress this point enough!

Have you ever priced a paint job? Have you wondered why some body shops can do a paint job for $400 and others will tell you $3000?!

Did you know the factory paint job on your vehicle can be valued somewhere between $3000 to $6000 depending of the make and model? Any paint work that is not done to the factory standard can devalue your vehicle the amount of your factory paint job.

The prep work done for a paint job when done properly can be the difference between a factory quality paint job and disaster!

So you have this $3000-$6000 paint job on your car, how do you protect it?

First of all do not neglect it by not removing damaging surface contaminates such as tar, sap, bugs, industrial fallout etc. Sap can actually boil in the sun and burn off the finish under the sap, ruining the panel where the sap is.

Second, make sure your waxes or sealants used to protect your paint job are of good quality and prepare the finish for proper adhesion of your wax or sealant.

Should you “prep” the finish for wax or sealants? Absolutely! However, most people think they are prepping for wax but they are not. So how do you “prep” the finish for wax?

The best way to “prep” your vehicles finish for wax or paint sealants is the use of a clay bar! Before you wax and after you have washed your vehicle use a clay bar at least once a year or every six months for the best protection of that expensive paint job.

A clay bar will remove any surface contaminates that washing did not. It can even remove hard water stains on the paint if they are not too bad. This is also the only way to remove paint over spray. A Clay Bar can also be used on the glass and on the headlights which should be part of your wax or sealer routine espeacially if you have restored your headlight lenses.

How do you use a clay bar?

A clay bar has to be used with a lubricant. It is a simple process really. In fact you can even use water as a lubricant. However, it is better to use a spray way that will both lubricate the panels you are clay barring and can be used to clean up clay residue as you go.

Simply spray the area you are clay barring…a 12″ X 12″ area is best and rub the surface with the clay bar back and forth in a side to side motion. You will hear the clay bar picking up light contaminates and as the surface is cleaned you will stop hearing the movement of the clay bar.

You can also feel the surface. If it feels rough like tiny pieces of sand after you have washed it, it needs to be clay barred. Use the same method above and listen and feel the area you are working on after you dry it off.

So work your small area wipe it dry when you think it is finished and check the surface with the inside of your hand rubbing lightly feeling and listening for rough areas. Once you have completed a section you can move on the next.

A word of caution, it has been said, although I gave never experienced this, that a clay bar can rub the paint off eventually if not kept lubricated while using. Use common sense and you should be fine.

Well there it is, this is the best way to prep for waxing your vehicle and a great way to be sure you are getting the best results from your wax.

Enjoy and I hope this article helps!

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Article by David Ciglar

Being a car owner you will completely agree with the fact that owning a car is much easier than maintaining one. Maintenance of your beloved car primarily requires preventing it from rusting. Rust is one of the constant worries that dwell in one’s mind when it comes to keeping that lovable four wheeler intact.Rust can have detrimental effects on your car. Rust can cause the iron parts to get stuck that are meant to slide over one another. It could have dangerous consequences like making holes in the sheet metal of the car. Other than this, rust also spoils the appearance of your adorable four wheeler by discoloring the metal and making it rough and weak. So the importance of checking your car for rust can’t be ruled out.Dealing with rust prevention problems can be quite a tedious task. There are many products available in the market that will offer a solution to the problem. However most of these products offer only a temporary solution leaving you in a situation of re application after some time of their use. There is nothing to worry about when using rust bullet’s Automotive Paint with proper application it will outlast all the industry leaders for rust related problems.Rust bullet’s automotive paint is a Rust Prevention Product, which is a sure shot way to deal with rust and eliminating all worries for a very long time. It not only prevents your vehicle from rusting it also acts as a rust repair product. Rust Bullets Automotive paint is a great solution to all rust problems as it has been scientifically tested and retested to offer the best protection from rust.Rust Bullet’s automotive paint provides you with more than just one benefit. Its ease of application a one-step two coat process ensures that you will not be confronted with an otherwise tedious task. Automotive paint can be applied to any kind of surface-clean or rusty. Being UV resistant it does not require any top coat primer after application. Besides preventing your vehicle from rusting it enhances the adhesive properties of any topcoat you may wish to use. Automotive paint offers excellent abrasion resistance and offers resistance to acid splash and harsh chemical solvents or acids. It is cost effective and can serve you for over 10 years. So Stop Rust with Rust Bullet.

About the Author

David is a well known author who writes on topics related to car rust protection, Rust Prevention Products and Rust Corrosion Prevention products

At Ditchek and Sons Auto Body Supply we use the PPG Variant Deck System as well as the NEXA Autocolor Color Box System as a couple of our methods for matching automotive color. We are proud to say that we give top of the line service to all our customers and because of this, we have been able to grow our business over the past 62 years. We thought we’d take some time to let you in a little on the whole process behind auto body paint and the color matching system. We thought we’d start by talking about what ingredients are in automotive paint.

There are three basic ingredients in automotive paint:

1.     Resin

2.     Pigment

3.     Solvent

The resin holds together the pigment in suspension, provides adhesion to the surface applied, and determines the quality and paint durability.

The pigment comes in a powder form similar to concrete. The average aftermarket automotive paint mixing system includes about 100 colors or toners to be able to mix formulas including metallic and pearl paint colors.

Lastly, the solvent provides the transferability. The solvent is needed to thin the paint’s viscosity in order to transfer from container to container.

For all your auto color matching needs, head to Ditchek and Sons Auto Body Supply. We are famous for being the best in the industry for matching your paint color. And now we are part of the PPG Platinum Distributer Network. We are located in the New York area, so if you’re nearby and in need of any automotive supplies come check us out!