Rapid repair: tricks of the trade

Rapid Repair

The current industry buzz regarding rapid repairs has essentially followed overseas trends. Sikkens technical advisor, Martin Ruigrok, shares the tips he gives his customers for successfully implementing the process into their body shops.
Organise your workflow
Most of the products used on small, quick and invisible repairs aren't really new at all. A combination of a paint system and the right tools is just part of it. The most important component that makes the real difference is the way the workflow is organised. Consider how much time is wasted simply moving cars around the workshop -- probably the same amount of time it would take to complete a rapid repair. The key here is having a dedicated, well-equipped preparation bay that will avoid wasting unnecessary time and effort.
Sanding
Use small sanders to shorten the sanding process by keeping the repair as small as is possible.
Spray guns
Manufactures such as DeVilbiss and Iwata have introduced smaller spray guns ideal for small repairs that achieve a great end-result.
Primers and Fillers: 3 + 1 Filler/Autosurfacer 940 HS or Colorbuild
Instead of spraying primers and fillers in the spray booth, consider rolling on the Sikkens primers. This saves you the labour intensive work of masking and gun cleaning. However, keep in mind that rollers require extra sanding, can only be used once and cannot be used for a wet-on-wet application.
Blend preparation
With a damp sponge slightly abrade the final fade-out area where you will later fade-out your clearcoat. This will produce the perfect adhesion for making your final fade-out.
Sikkens Colour Autobase & 123 Thinner
Save time and effort by using Sikkens Autobase and 123 Thinner. The available colour retrieval tools are easy to use and the local Australian colour swatches are sprayed with actual paint. Combined with the Autobase system, it is the fastest way to get from code to colour.                                                                                                                                                               Sikkens Autoclear MS 1000 & MS 10Autocryl Hardener
These two products will provide the fastest system in the market. The clear is fully cured when heated for only 10 minutes on 60 degrees.
Sikkens SRA Thinner
This specially formulated solvent is designed for dissolving the edges of the fade-out areas invisibly into the background quickly and easily. Application is with one light coat and a medium coat of SRA Thinner after the clearcoat has been applied.
Infrared drying
Infrared drying equipment is ideal for fast drying. An additional advantage is that it leaves the spray booth free for larger drying jobs.
Polishing
For the best result when completing a fade-out/spot repair, ensure that the final fade-out area of the clearcoat is polished with a fine polish or wax.