Auto body repair & detailing: smart repairs, ppg products, ppg deltron

Question
QUESTION: I want to start smart paint repairs for chips and dents. The kits are not available here in Brazil. Also the major paint companies here are not aware of this process. I would like to know what type of paint is best suitable for this service, and any ancillary items?


ANSWER: Hi Paul,

I have several customers that are doing what you are wanting to do. I sell them PPG products. They buy PPG's Deltron DBC 2000 base-coat system and use DC3000 clears for speed. PPG also offers a U.V. primer system that would allow you to sand your primer in as little as 2 minutes. The only draw back would be it requires the purchase of a U.V. curing light which can be relatively expensive. But the speed of this system would pay for itself in a short time. Using this system you can literally be buffing a repair in approximately 3 hours. Actually if you also use a infra-red curing light to cure your DC3000 Clear-Coat you could be buffing in about 1 hour.

But to be quiet honest, most any major automotive paint manufacturer will offer the same type system. Some of course are better than others. My advice would be to try and find a local automotive paint supplier in your area and find out what they may have to offer. If you have trouble locating one check with your local auto repair shop and ask them where they buy there paint supplies.

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QUESTION: What is the drying time of the PPG Deltron DBC base-coat and the DC300 clear?
As I have been told that an acrylic enamel would be better!

Answer
With good airflow and temperature you can clear-coat DBC base-coat in 15 minutes. DC3000 can be buffed if allowed to air dry in as little as 1-1/2 hours or if you use a Short Wave Infra-Red Curing Lamp it will need 5 minutes of cure time and can be buffed immediately after cool down.

In my opinion, Acrylic Enamel finishes are not as durable, don't have the gloss needed, and color match for base-coat/clear-coat vehicles suck. Also the cure time for buff ability would be like 16 hours and you can't buff metallic finishes without streaking the color. Acrylic Enamel is a terrible idea for any mobile restoration.