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Contamination Control

Autosphere » Collision » Contamination Control

A range of coating and tape solutions are available to improve productivity.

One of the core principles for profitability in a shop is efficiency—having the right process and the right tools can make all the difference. When it comes to masking and contamination control, there are several products on the market.

“The dirtier the paint booth, the more likely it is that dust and dirt will get into the base or clear-coats,” explains Anouar Belganche, National Sales Manager, Canada, Saint-Gobain.

An easy way to avoid this is to use either a liquid booth coating or a protective booth wrap that can be applied to floors and walls. Both have their respective advantages and disadvantages. Liquid booth coatings are sprayable, which means they can usually be applied much faster than other booth protection solutions. However, these coatings are not able to hold much.

Booth wrap

Protective booth wraps are adhesive-coated with a non-woven backing. The non-woven backing is formulated to entrap dirt, dust, and overspray—protecting the paint booth and keeping the trapped particles from being released during later jobs. This can reduce overall buffing time by decreasing the number of paint defects. This solution costs more and takes longer to apply than a spray-on coating, as it needs to be hand-rolled onto the booth walls.

Norton’s Paint Check paper brings benefits to the masking process in a couple of different ways. The “paint check” logo is used to confirm coverage while still in the booth. The ultimate test for transparency is sunlight, but if you are noticing visible primer by that time, you are adding cost to the repair regarding additional labour and supplies. If the logo is no longer visible, you’re covered.

“The paper is also resistant to both water and colour bleed, while still being semi-translucent so that you can easily see when you are cutting around windows or mouldings. These factors make for faster masking and help to ensure that your finished product looks how you and your customers want it to,” adds Belganche.

At 3M, the company’s Overspray Protective Sheeting clings to the vehicle with centre printing for easy alignment and resists paint flaking. Available in various sizes, 3M’s Overspray Protective Sheeting is a high-density, tear-resistant, clear, durable film that is treated to ensure good overspray adhesion. It can accommodate larger sedans, mini-vans, small pick-up trucks and SUVs. It is designed for critical edge masking as well as paint overspray and can protect floors, walls, cabinets, stationary tool or other shop tools.

Quality masking tapes

“For taping, we offer Orange Mask (OM) masking tape that was originally developed for the aerospace industry. It’s a high-end tape and has been repurposed for the automotive industry,” says Belganche. “OM Performance Grade Tape uses fine crepe paper backing, which is smooth to the touch and easy to work with. It has excellent adhesion due to its natural rubber adhesive, which means it can be layered on itself as well as hold onto masking paper or plastic sheeting. The superior materials used in the OM tape mean that it is highly conformable and flexible as well as resistant to tearing, moisture, and solvents. It is also UV resistant for up to three days and can be exposed to oven temperatures of 250 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 30 minutes.

3M’s Scotch Performance Masking Tape 233+ is a high-performance tape for refinishing applications. It hugs curves and contours and is designed for easy use as well as delivering superior paint lines and adhesive transfer resistance. For vehicles, it can be used for both general and bulk masking applications, including trunk, trim and jamb masking, as well as creating fine lines, though it is not recommended for outdoor use beyond one day.

Categories : Collision

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