3 Paint Refinishing Tips for Students in Auto Body Training

Not only does a vehicle’s paint coat influence its resale value, but it plays a crucial role in the protection of internal mechanical parts. It’s in the best interest of the everyday driver to take good care of their car’s paint coat, and as a future auto body technician, this is one of the key objectives of your work. In addition to hammering out dents, repairing and replacing parts, and providing collision repair estimates, paint refinishing is an important competency to master before getting out on the job. If you’re considering auto body training, read on to learn three tips for paint refinishing.

1. Prioritize Thorough Washing After Auto Body Training 

Rust is an obstacle to paint refinishing that can have damaging long-term effects. Thorough cleaning is one of the best preventative defences against rust, as dirt traps moisture beneath it, which causes corrosion over time.  In addition to reducing the chances of rust appearing, starting each paint refinishing job with a good wash also prevents surface scratches.

There’s a method to employ when washing a vehicle in order to prepare it for paint refinishing. After deconstructing the vehicle’s body and removing all the non-paintable parts, start with a thorough rinse. This will help you avoid scrubbing dirt into the vehicle’s surface and causing further damage. After that, use a car cleaner that’s safe for automotive paint to wash the vehicle. Finally, use a gentle microfiber cloth to wipe the vehicle dry. Always prioritize cleaning after auto body training to ensure the perfect canvas for your work. 

2. Make Use of a Guide Coat Before Applying Paint 

After cleaning and before the final stages of sanding and primer surfacing, many auto body technicians use something called a guide coat as a visual aid that highlights imperfections that need to be corrected before the paint can be applied. It should be the opposite colour of a car’s primer and be applied in a very thin layer. A dry guide coat is perfect for highlighting low spots and imperfections that aren’t visible to the naked eye or touch quickly, as it requires no dry time. After auto body school, this tool will be a time saver and boost results.

3. Use a Blending Solvent for Small Imperfections 

Finishing touches like blending significantly improve your final results. Solvents are used to melt the edges of last-minute paint repairs into the rest of the surface coat so that they’re invisible. To use blending solvent, create a solution out of 50% surface paint and 50% blending solvent. Apply the mixture over small imperfections that have been properly sanded. Remember that blending solvent is not recommended for paint jobs less than 24 hours old. If you’re working with a fresh coat of paint, opt for a thinner instead to correct minor surface imperfections. 

At CATI, you will gain all the skills and knowledge you’ll need to perfect any paint refinishing job that comes your way. 

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