FAQ professional
The ColorMatic 2K clear coat / 2K primer filler / 2K pre-fill top coat does not harden all the way through.
Cause:
- The pin at the bottom of the can was not pulled out all the way and then turned a full 360°. As a result, the hardener in the cartridge did not mix with the paint component. Complete chemical drying is therefore not possible
- The 2K can was not shaken long enough after activation (min. 2 minutes).
- The ambient temperature during painting is too cold and the paint therefore requires much more time to harden. The optimal coating temperature is +20 °C. The spray can should also have a temperature of approx. +20 °C to +25 °C
Paint drops / splatters in the paint coat.
Cause:
- The spray nozzle was not pushed all the way down
- The spray nozzle was pushed down too much in the forward third; as a result, the spray jet touches the edge of the spray can and drops form which will be splashed on the paint coat as they accumulate.
- The spray can was held too much in a horizontal position; as a result the internal rising tube sucks in more propellant than paint and this causes paint splatters / irregular spray jets.
- The spray can is too cold; optimal spray diffusion occurs only when the spray can is approx. +20 °C.
- The spray nozzle is contaminated with dried-on paint residue. Always turn the spray can upside-down after spraying and spray the nozzle clean.
The paint from the spray can does provide good coverage / the shade does not match.
Cause:
- The spray can was not shaken long enough. Shake for at least two minutes from when you can hear the mixing balls rattle.
- The paint coat was applied too thin
The spray can is not working.Cause:
- The spray can was not shaken long enough. Shake for at least two minutes from when you can hear the mixing balls rattle.
- The spray nozzle is contaminated with dried-on paint residue. Always turn the spray can upside-down after spraying and spray the nozzle clean.
- Replace the spray nozzle.
Paint coat wrinkles, pulls up.
Cause:
- Filler is not compatible with substrate or with the base coat / clear coat.
- Filler is possibly not suitable for water-based paint.
- Filler was sprayed too thick in one coating pass.
- The previous paint coat did not yet dry fully and the substrate was dissolved again through the effect of the reapplication of the solvent. Note: If a part of the vehicle is painted again after deficient painting, the previously applied paint must have fully hardened. Either allow several days if dried in the air or approx. 2 hours at 60 °C.
Paint runs in the 2K clear coat / top coat.
Cause:
- Coat applied too thick
- Spray can too cold or room temperature too cool (under 18 °C).
- Sprayed too close to the object.
- Irregular motions / spraying distance of spray can.
- Spray can moved too slowly
Remedy: - Allow paint runs to dry fully.
- Carefully sand down with a small sanding block and P1500 - P2000 sanding paper.
- Dry sanded area with an infrared drier and after it has cooled again, polish to a high gloss.
- Repainting is necessary if the run is very large or if you sanded through when attempting to sand off the run.
- Clean with silicon remover after hardening, sand wet with P800 and apply a new coat.
Blushing
Cause:
- Irregular motion / spray distance when applying base coat.
Remedy:
- Observe the uniform spray distance and uniform speed when moving the spray can.
- Clean with silicon remover after hardening, sand wet with P800 and apply a new coat.
Orange peel effect
Cause:
- Sheet metal / substrate too cold
- Working temperature too high (above + 25°C)
- Flash off time not observed between spray passes
- Uneven paint application
- Spray can too cold and spray diffusion therefore not fine enough.
Remedy:
- Observe optimal spray temperature of +20°C - +25°C.
- Spray evenly
- Observe flash off times
- If the thickness of the coat is sufficient, drying can be followed by sanding the orange peel skin of the clear coat
- With P2000 sanding paper followed by polishing with lustre to a high gloss.
- Sand smooth with P800- P2000 and apply clear coat once more.
After drying there is a matt spot in the clear coat in the area were smoothing was done.
Cause:
- The smoothing compound was sanded wet
- Wrong mixing ratio of smoothing compound / hardener
Remedy:
- Polish to a high gloss.
- Polyester smoothing compound is hygroscopic and must always be sanded dry.
- The correct mixing ratio of smoothing compound to hardener must be observed (normally 2 - 4% addition of hardener)
- Clean with silicon remover, sand wet with P800 and apply a new coat.
2K clear coat not flowing smoothly (finish not glossy).
Cause:
- The clear coat was applied too thin
- The spray can was moved too quickly (no flow)
- Spray can too cold and spray diffusion therefore not fine enough.
Remedy:
- Observe room temperature (approx. 20°C) .
- Apply clear coat in 2 full spray passes (with 5 min. flash off time in between) until a high gloss flow appears.
- If the coat is thick enough, the clear coat can be sanded with P2000 sanding paper after if has fully dried and then polished to a high gloss.
- Sand smooth with P800 - P2000 and apply clear coat once more.
Slumping (loss of glossiness after drying with clear coat / top coat).
Cause:
- The filler coat did not sufficiently dry after wet sanding.
- Drying temperature too high (above +80°C).
Remedy:
- Polish the defect area to a high gloss.
- Clean with silicon remover after fully dry and sand wet with P800 and apply a new coat.
When carrying out spot repair, a rim has formed (tearing edge) after polishing the transition zone.
Cause:
- The paint coat did not dry long enough (at least 25 min. with infrared drying, followed by cooling off.)
- Not sanded far enough with the sanding pad (P2000/P4000) in the defogging zone.
- The clear coat was not applied far enough over the base coat.
- Sanded too far into the spot blender zone when sanding away dust particles.
- Polished too long or too hot.
The paint coat contains a lot of dust after painting.
Cause:
- Dusty floor
- Draft in the room
- Clothing shedding lint
- Surface to be painted not carefully cleaned.
- Several people in the vicinity of spray painting (dust stirred up)
- Rubbed too long back and forth when using silicon remover on painted plastic parts. The plastic becomes electrostatically charged from rubbing and attracts dust.
Remedy:
- Moisten the floor, close doors and windows, position extraction system close to the spray painting area.
- Wash vehicle prior to spray painting. Do not allow other people in the area of spray painting.
- Do not rub too hard on painted plastic parts (electrostatic charging), use ColorMatic antistatic plastic cleaner.
- Sand away dust inclusions with P2000 sanding paper and polish to a high gloss.
Dots (silicon) in the paint coat.
Cause:
- Silicon-containing products (e.g. cockpit spray, plastic care, etc.) are processed in the vicinity.
- Vehicle was freshly polished.
- Not sufficiently cleaned with silicon remover; the paper towel must be turned over and replaced more frequently.
- A skin lotion containing silicon was used previously on the hands.
- A hair-care product containing silicon has been used.
Remedy:
- Degrease the part to be painted thoroughly and generously with silicon remover.
- Apply the spray passes (base coat) preferably in several thin layers.
- Apply the first clear coat pass thinly followed only then by the second clear coat pass on the flow after 5 minutes of flash off time.
- Do not work near the spray area with products containing silicon; use only silicon-free hand lotion.
- Silicon inclusions cannot be worked out afterwards. Sand out after fully hardened and repaint.
Cratering (small burst bubbles in the clear coat / top coat).
Cause:
- Paint coat applied too thick
- Flash off time (5 min.) not observed with infrared drying.
- Infrared dryer too close to the object (over +80 °C).
Remedy:
- Allow the affected paint area to fully dry and use P800 for wet sanding (manual sanding) or P500 for dry sanding (eccentric sanding) to sand the cratering and repaint.
- If a filler application is required, the clear coat must be completely removed by sanding and the paint coat applied incrementally again.
Pores (many pin-holes in the clear coat / top coat).
Cause:
- Smoothing spots were not filled before painting.
- Paint coat applied too thick
- Flash off time (5 min.) not observed with infrared drying.
- Infrared dryer too close to the object (over +80 °C).
Remedy:
- Allow the affected paint area to fully dry and use P800 for wet sanding (manual sanding) or P500 for dry sanding (eccentric sanding) to sand the cratering and repaint.
- If a filler application is required, the clear coat must be completely removed by sanding and the paint coat applied incrementally again.
The shade does not match the ColorMatic solvent-based / water-based mixing system.
Cause:
- The mixing colours were not shaken long enough during mixing.
- The scale is cold, not placed on a level surface or in a location with a draft.
- The base coat was not dried long enough (especially water-based paint).
- The base coat was not applied with full coverage
- Possibly required coloured substrate priming (ColorMatic HG1 - HG8) or appropriate pre-filler coat during 3-layer structure was not observed.
- The 2K clear coat was applied to the base coat while still wet.
- Wrong shade version mixed.
- Adjacent vehicle parts possibly weather-beaten and not polished when comparing shades of colour.
- Shade not adapted
Remedy:
- Shake the mixing colours well before mixing (water-based paints 30 seconds, solvent-based paints approx. 3 minutes)
- Switch on the scale 15 minutes before weighing (warming time).
- Place the scale on a solid, level and wind-protected floor.
- With some shades of colour (especially with water-based paint), the shade may not match until the paint is dry. The final shade becomes apparent only after the aqueous solvent (dry surface) has evaporated.
- 2K clear coat may be applied only after the base coat has flashed off matt and is dry (normally after approx. 20 min. at +20 °C).
- Check whether different shade nuances are indicated in the recipe and compare with colour chart.
- Mix shade, paint a sample sheet (full coverage) and compare.