Before the Booth: Saving Time Aztec NM

In a business where money hinges on your completion time for any job, the impetus to go fast is universal. And painters battle harder to beat the book time than metal men do. While painters are constrained by dry times between coats, metal men have only the suggested book labor time to beat.

By Mark Clark
7/1/1996

One way painters can save time is by making the next paint job cleaner. By spending time preparing to paint, the dirt can be managed and subdued. If the painter very carefully prepares the vehicle, himself and the booth for clean paint work, total time to deliver the car will be less.

Many painters claim they don't have time for all these fussy little steps, yet these same painters spend hours the next day sanding and polishing yesterday's paint work. Try the following on the next two cars, and you'll be surprised at how clean your work can be.

Prepare the paint:

• Match the color before the car gets near the spraybooth. Use test panels, mix small quantities and find a blendable match first!
• Strain the paint twice. The better job your paint mixer does cleaning the cans of mixing tint, the less junk you'll find in your color. Strain the clearcoat twice, too. Use only fresh isocyanate hardener - old catalyst looks like dirt in the paint.

  Prepare the vehicle:

  • Wash the car with soap and a drenching water rinse. Better yet, wash the car with a pressure washer and shoot up under the wheel wells and behind the grill. Make an effort to remove all t...