Mike O'Brien (aka M.O.B.) has been airbrushing for the past 15 years and operates his own airbrush studio from his home in Southern Alberta, Canada. He specializes in custom automotive airbrush work as well as motorcycle art and helmets. To see some examples of his work, visit www.freewebs.com/airbrushmafia or call 403/671-3226.
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Question:
Hey M.O.B. Scene!
I am working on painting my '08 Dodge and have run into a bit of a snag: the fender flares!
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They are fiberglass Bushwacker flares. Do you see where I'm going with this? Every time I start to lay paint on them, the overspray just sticks to them and makes a big mess.
I have cleaned them thoroughly, wiped them down with wax and grease remover, and the overspray stil goes everywhere. What can I do to combat this very frustrating problem?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance M.O.B., and keep up the great work!
Kevin N.,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Answer:
Hey Kevin,
Thanks for the great question! Good for you for taking on the big Dodge project. Ahh, fiberglass...sometimes it can be a painter's nightmare (if I had hair, it would be standing straight up right now!).
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I have airbrushed my fair share of fiberglass parts and have battled this problem for years-although the real culprit here goes by the name of static electricity. To understand how to fix this problem, one must first understand how static works...just kidding! This isn't a science fair!
I have tried everything from setting a water-soaked rag under the part to physically attaching a wire to the part and grounding it to metal to try and get the static problem under control. And these fixes have been very hit and miss, to say the least.
I have, however, recently discovered a great product made by Hawk Industries called Hawk's Anti-Static and Dust Eliminator spray. Check it out at: www.hawklabs.com.
You simply clean your surface, scuff and wipe down, apply the spray, let it flash off, and then prime and lay on the basecoat as usual. It really is that easy! It's designed for this application, so it is safe to use for paint projects. The best part is that it works great and doesn't break the bank!
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Hope this helps, Kevin. Good luck with the truck, and don't forget to send us pics when it's done.
Keep those paint questions coming and keep on sprayin'.
M.O.B.
