Paint - Pearlescent Paint Refinishing
Reference: PI94-007Date: October 28, 1994
3-COAT PEARLESCENT PAINT REFINISHING
SERVICE PROCEDURES
When refinishing 3-coat pearlescent painted vehicles, it is important to properly match the basecoat of the vehicle you are refinishing. If the refinish basecoat doesn't match the basecoat on the vehicle, the refinished paint will not match. To ensure a quality paint match of the finished paint job, follow the procedures below:
1. Remove the front kick panel. An unfinished portion (an area of 1" x 2" ) of the original basecoat is provided for basecoat matching. See chart and diagram to determine which front door sill kick plate to remove.
To determine the appropriate pearl film builds and ensure a proper final paint match, prepare a let down panel as described in step 2.
2. Spray a let down panel (see diagram) as directed in the following steps:
a. Apply basecoat to hide complete panel.
b. Mask the panel in six (6) even sections, leaving the first section exposed.
c. Apply a single medium-wet coat of pearlescent.
d. Remove the masking paper from the second section.
e. Apply a medium-wet coat of the pearlescent over the entire uncovered portion of the panel.
f. Repeat the above five (5) steps until five (5) of the six (6) sections are completed, leaving the basecoat unpearled.
g. Mask and spray half (1/2) of the panel with clearcoat.
NOTE:
After spraying the last section, the let down panel should include the basecoat and five (5) different film builds of pearlescent coating. Half of each section should also have a clearcoat.
3. Compare the clearcoated section of the let down panel to a painted portion of the vehicle to determine what level of pearl is needed.
4. Paint vehicle using normal procedures for your paint system.
NOTE:
Store the let down panel for future use. If the let down panel basecoat matches the basecoat under the kick plate, this let down panel can be used for that paint refinish job. If not, a new panel will be required.