Using a Flex Agent to Combat Stone Chips

[johnbenk]

Hi

If you are considering a respray of the front bumper and bonnet because
it is showing a lot of stone chips which seems to show more on blue cars get your body shop to use a "Flex Agent" in the final 2K clear lacquer.

If you can "insist"" that they remove the front bumber to be sprayed on a
a STAND get the paint sprayer to "drop coat" the colour coat and hit the AREA THAT GETS STONE CHIPS WITH AN EXTRA LAYER OF PAINT AND NOT TO "ARM ARC" AFTER THE GUN PASS BUT FOLLOW THE CURVE OF THE BUMPER.( See article on spraying for technical terms)

If you can find a bodyshop using the oldfashioned JGA Guns instead of the modern HVLP Guns (high volume low pressure) so much the better. The PROBLEM today using HVLP Guns is that you can get an orange peel paint effect if not done well when using 2k clear coat (to prove the paint look at the back of a Fiat Punto done at the Factory by a "Robot") You can SEE the orange peel effect when you stop behind one at traffic lights the effects show up because you are looking through glass at the paint.

The bumper front and rear are made of a PRIM COMPONANTS (reinforced injection mouldings)

The ICI flex aid part number a089B6121v / p100.2001 is reduced by 1 part volume.

Theory behind "Flex Agent".

When a stone hit the "paint surface" and the lacquer has dried and cured
the chips only breaks the surface of the "Lacquer" this can be touched up by your self.

As a touch up aid dont use a "Brush". Get a cocktail stick and dip into a small jar of lacquer and "blob" the area of the stone chips and leave to dry. It will shrink so you will need to "blob" again. Dont try and FILL CHIP
in one Go. Use Less and go back and top up.


Hope the above information is of help.

[Sy V]

It is of help John (and we are grateful), but I do wish you'd refrain from the use of capitals...I'll edit the heading for a start.

[muley]

John,

Thanks - I'll pass the info on to my spray shop - both mine are due for partial resprays this year.... I think you're saying that the bumper should come off - I am taking mine off right now? Shall we tell Al?

Cheers

Jim B