<snip> I don't know what the actual factory process is but I got the
impression
that the old heat lamp "baking" process we associated with lacquer and/or
enamel auto paint jobs has been changed with the advent of clearcoats and
especially when old solvents disappeared and the products became water
based.
You'd have to ask an auto paint nurd
Ahem, I object to being called an "auto paint nurd" LOL, but anyway. It
just so happens I work in an auto assembly plant and specifically with the
paint department. I asked one of our paint engineers about the "cure time"
and this is what he told me. The new paints being used, water based color
and clear coat are applied separately. The base coat is sprayed and sent
into a "heated flash oven" long enough to make the base coat tacky then
sprayed with clear coat. After the clear coat is applied the vehicle body
is baked in an oven with 4-7 different heat zones, with temperatures
ranging from 250-400 degrees. After the clear coat finish is baked on the
vehicle is inspected in the finesse area and polished prior to being sent
to general assembly for completion. After completion the vehicle is again
inspected and any defects in the finish are repaired prior to leaving the
factory. Most new vehicles are shipped from the factory with either a
protective coating or a wrap on them which must be removed as part of the
dealer prep. When the dealer prep is done the vehicle is usually washed
and polished. The paint normally requires 48-72 hours to cure and by the
time the vehicle leave the factory is has been out of the paint shop for
about a week or more. You can apply waxes and polishes as soon as you get
your new vehicle home just be careful not to put swirl marks in the
finish.
HTH,
Ray Irons
Dover, DE
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Feb 06 2004 - 11:45:45 EST