Clearcoats are thin by Mike Phillips
Clearcoats are thin by Mike Phillips
The majority of cars being manufactured today and starting since the 1980's use what's called a basecoat/clearcoat paint system. With this system, a clear layer of paint is sprayed over the top of the basecoat which is also the color coat or the layer of paint that has pigment in it. If the car has a metallic finish then the metallic flakes are also in the basecoat.
The basecoat doesn't offer any gloss or shine and in fact it's dull or matte looking after it's sprayed. The basecoat gets it's gloss, shine, depth and reflectivity by the spraying of the clearcoat layer of paint over the top of it. This is why if a person removes too much clearcoat when buffing and they expose the basecoat it will appear to be a dull round or oval spot on a body panel. The part of the paint system that adds beauty has been removed revealing the dull or matte basecoat layer of paint.
Just how thin is the clear layer of paint on a factory paint job?
The factory clearcoat on a new or modern car measures approximately 2 mils thin.
The average Post-it Note is around 3 mils thin.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=68387
What does this mean?
This means the factory clearcoat on a new or modern car is thinner than a post-it note. The next time you have a post-it note in front of you, feel a single post-it note between your fingers. Like this...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...php?file=68388
This experience will drive home the point as to just how thin the clear layer of paint is on modern car with a factory paint job.
It should also drive home the importance of using the least aggressive pad, product and even tools to get the job done.
When I say, get the job done, the context of this usually means someone is buffing out a car to remove paint defects like swirls, scratches, water spots and oxidation to make the paint and thus the car look better.
By using the least aggressive products you "get the job done" while leaving the most paint on the car to it will last over the mechanical service life of the car.
If you're working on your own cars and you're reading this you're already ahead of the game by reading the AGO forum and probably being a member so you can ask questions and get help.
If you're working on customer's cars take a professional approach as a service to your customers.
If you're reading this and you're going to do the work yourself or hire a detailer then do some research and make sure you hire a detailer that knows this type of stuff because the factory clearcoat on your car is thin.
:)
Re: Clearcoats are thin by Mike Phillips
***Bump***
When it comes to sanding on factory clearcoat paints,
Remember...
1. Sanding removes paint.
2. Compounding removes paint.
3. Polishing removes a little paint.
You only have a limited amount of paint on the car and even the best in this industry, sooner or later will sand or buff through a factory clearcoat finish.
Here's an article I wrote in 2009 that really clarifies why you DON'T want to wet sand or dry sand factory clearcoats.
Wetsanding - Fresh Paint vs Factory Paint
Hand sanding the Titanic circa 2000
http://www.showcargarage.com/gallery...Sanding004.jpg
:)
Re: Clearcoats are thin by Mike Phillips
Thanks for this information! It really does help understanding why you should not go to far compounding the clear coat!
Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline
Re: Clearcoats are thin by Mike Phillips
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DirtyConcepts
Thanks for this information! It really does help understanding why you should not go to far compounding the clear coat!
Your welcome.
And thank you for commenting on this thread.
Considering I wrote this article in 2014 and thousands of people have read it I'm always surprised no one ever makes a comment.
It is probably what I consider one of the Top 10 Articles I've ever written simply because the pictures enable the average person to wrap their mind around just how thin the paint is on their new car.
I also use this article to inform and even WARN people that are "thinking" about WET SANDING the factory finish on their car. For most people... this is not going to turn out well.
:)
Re: Clearcoats are thin by Mike Phillips
This is a New Mazda 3, not touched by the dealership.
They are getting very thin nowadays!
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...gshineshop.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: Clearcoats are thin by Mike Phillips
Quote:
Originally Posted by
theshineshopaut
This is a New Mazda 3, not touched by the dealership.
They are getting very thin nowadays!
Crazy huh?
And if Dr. David Ghodoussi is correct, that is - if the long term testing the paint companies have conducted have shown that in order for the entire paint job to hold up over time the clear layer needs to be at least 2 mils in thickness, (actually thinness is a more accurate word), then the car manufacturers have gotten the science of the ecoat, primer and color coat down to less than 1 mil according to your readings.
Now think about the above every time you see someone on Facebook wetsanding a factory finish.
:dunno:
Re: Clearcoats are thin by Mike Phillips
I went out today and looked at a 2019 Mustang GT Prem with the FP pack 1. I took measurements and saw 4.0 - 4.7 mils. Very thin!!! I also brought my Scangrip Colormatch light and saw a nasty buckle rash in the passenger rear quarter panel. I said, "thanks but no thanks..."
Today's lesson: paint is thin... and it's getting thinner. Secondly, detach yourself from the car your buying and think of it as a business decision. This car with 104 miles on it had more paint blems than my 2016 Mustang EB which is PRISTINE!!!
I treated this vehicle as if I was doing a VIF. I had my clipboard, VIF Form, my Scangrip light and Delfesco PTG. I didn't care if they thought I was crazy.
There was a scratch on the rear qtr panel, I would have fist tried removing by hand with an applicator and some 105. If that didn't work I'd have to try some 3000.. all on a new $46k car. The salesman saw my light and paint meter and said, wow that's what we take to auctions... he said, you must be in the business. They didn't think I was nuts, instead they realized they were dealing with a very informed person. Third lesson, don't be afraid of what people think of you. If you're OCD, they'll have to deal with it! :) It's your money. I graciously passed... and am ready to look at another. And I'm patient... I can wait for the perfect one.
Again, paint is thin.. do your homework... A $699 Delfesko PTG and scangrip light are the best tools to have in a tool box. Because when you decide to chase a scratch, it's bad news when you burn the clear... No undo's there.