collision repair and auto painting

[oliver.r]

just finished repairing a bumper cover on a 07 porsche carrera 4, man thats a real car

[Vivek]

What do you do to repair a plastic/rubber bumper cover?

[oliver.r]

We don't repair rubber, don't have the materials for it.
There are special epoxys and plastic bonding compounds specifically designed for plastic.

The bumper on the carrera was just bent so we heated it up and massaged it back to shape

[bmwstephen]

Oliver,

I know you are a strong advocate of double stage paints. However, for those who are interested in non-metallic colors such as black, white, or red can single stage paint jobs be just as competitive even at it's current state?

I know in double stage paint, it would traditionally be 3 base + 3 clear layers. What if you spray single stage with 6 layers. Would that be just as durable and lasting for someone who cares for the car monthly (wax, seal, etc)

[Cabriolet]

Oliver painted my plastics with single stage so it would match the car, since it wasn't a full repaint. the issue that i noticed with single stage is they aren't as good on durability. i bumped a curb and it took the paint off. if i had done a full repaint with base and clear, the clear would have protected much better against the hazards. live and learn.

[bmwstephen]

eric, is your alpine white single stage on the rest of the car?

I just assume adding more layers of paint would benefit the car given that clear coat is nothing more than paint without a pigment making it more expensive than paint because of its transparent characteristic

[oliver.r]

eric, is your alpine white single stage on the rest of the car?

I just assume adding more layers of paint would benefit the car given that clear coat is nothing more than paint without a pigment making it more expensive than paint because of its transparent characteristic

its actually not the same.
clear coat is a lot more flexible than single stage urethane

if you do more coats of single stage you are just layering the same brittle paint.

the base in a bae/clear paint is very thin so that wont crack and clear is very flexible so it absorbs minor damage.
they are not compareable paints

[bmwstephen]

its actually not the same.
clear coat is a lot more flexible than single stage urethane

if you do more coats of single stage you are just layering the same brittle paint.

the base in a bae/clear paint is very thin so that wont crack and clear is very flexible so it absorbs minor damage.
they are not compareable paints

interesting, so despite both types of paint claiming to be urethane, the characteristics and chemical composition is different between the stages?

couldn't the brittle effects of single stage be countered by the use of a flex additive? it's no different than if base/clear paint had too much hardner that causes cracking upon the finish no? I mean, how else did the single stage paints on these survive up until this point (provided the owner detailed it every now and then).

also, in your experience, what is the life expectancy between the two stages

[cardnation]

its actually not the same.
clear coat is a lot more flexible than single stage urethane

if you do more coats of single stage you are just layering the same brittle paint.

the base in a bae/clear paint is very thin so that wont crack and clear is very flexible so it absorbs minor damage.
they are not compareable paints

This is great info! Thanks!

[mikeedler]

couldn't the brittle effects of single stage be countered by the use of a flex additive? it's no different than if base/clear paint had too much hardner that causes cracking upon the finish no? I mean, how else did the single stage paints on these survive up until this point (provided the owner detailed it every now and then).

also, in your experience, what is the life expectancy between the two stages

from what I know, a flex addative only keeps the paint flexable while the paint is not fully cured. When the paint is cured, it is just like any paint, the additive is used on plasic parts like e90 bumpers to ease the instalation of the part. too much hardener will not make a paint harder either... The secret to any paint is to care for it. Here in Germany, any quality paint shop doesn't even spray anything in 1 stage anymore, you would have to search for someone to do a 1 stage job--- except for shops that do up semi trucks over here
I'm not a painter, but do hang out in a body shop and have quite a few painter friends.

[oliver.r]

interesting, so despite both types of paint claiming to be urethane, the characteristics and chemical composition is different between the stages? yes, i dont know how they are made up but they are not the same

couldn't the brittle effects of single stage be countered by the use of a flex additive? it's no different than if base/clear paint had too much hardner that causes cracking upon the finish no? I mean, how else did the single stage paints on these survive up until this point (provided the owner detailed it every now and then). flex addtive helps over large surfaces dosnt make a diference in durabilty

also, in your experience, what is the life expectancy between the two stages 2 stage paint can last as long as you own the vehicle if it is maintained properly, if its treated like shit maybe 5 years

[bmwstephen]

Oliver painted my plastics with single stage so it would match the car, since it wasn't a full repaint. the issue that i noticed with single stage is they aren't as good on durability. i bumped a curb and it took the paint off. if i had done a full repaint with base and clear, the clear would have protected much better against the hazards. live and learn.

eric, where is the damage located and was there damage in the area when it had its original factory paint?

[bmwstephen]

from what I know, a flex addative only keeps the paint flexable while the paint is not fully cured. When the paint is cured, it is just like any paint, the additive is used on plasic parts like e90 bumpers to ease the instalation of the part. too much hardener will not make a paint harder either... The secret to any paint is to care for it. Here in Germany, any quality paint shop doesn't even spray anything in 1 stage anymore, you would have to search for someone to do a 1 stage job--- except for shops that do up semi trucks over here
I'm not a painter, but do hang out in a body shop and have quite a few painter friends.

Oliver,

can you confirm that with your painters?

[oliver.r]

Oliver,

can you confirm that with your painters?

thats not completely true but flex additive still wont keep paint from chipping

[bmwstephen]

Oliver,

does your shop have a frame machine?