Auto body repair & detailing: overspray,dusting, basecoat clearcoat, lacquer paint


Question
QUESTION: I have just painted my car with Omni enamel metallic paint (no hardener).  I created some dusting of the paint between passes with the gun.  How long should I wait to remove the dust and HOW do I remove it?

ANSWER: Hi Thomas, There is no good news on how to rectify this problem. The omni enamel should of had a hardener mixed in prior to spraying. It is difficult to polish out nibs in a metalic paint without a clearcoat. I would personally remove the paint and start from the beginning with hardner..If you are having dust problems then I would also recommend using a basecoat/clearcoat system...

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Do you mean that there is NO WAY to remove the overspray from the car?  Not buffing, polishing or rubbing compound?  Removing the paint and starting over with a hardener in the paint will not change the situation.  The spray gun itself created the dusting this time and it is safe to assume that the spray gun will create the dust a second time.
Tom

Answer
Hi Thomas,, I apoligize for misunderstanding your question, When you spoke of dusting I thought you meant dust in your paintjob...The most effective way to remove the overspray/dusting/dry film/hazing is to respray the car. As a professional painter I would recommend that you make sure that the spray pattern is correct on your paint gun with the proper amount of material passing through.Also be sure that your air pressure is correct.Proper Overlap -gun distance and travel speed will eliminate the overspray problem. I stand behind the before mentioned hardner in the paint only because I am a pro with my own shop and do only top quality Basecoat/Clearcoat paint refinishing.We also sprayed alkyd enamel in the 70s and was a labourous job to do any touch ups on as most touchups in those days were with lacquer paint. I hope you feel this is a better answer as I feel it will be less labour intensive for you to respray rather than try and polish....either way I wish you the best with your new paint job.............Kim