When a basecoat is applied and as it starts to dry, irregularities can sometimes slowly become visible. It is a common problem that many refinishers face, but one that can be avoided through the right application technique.

Kevin Welling, Training Academy Manager for Axalta, the company behind the Spies Hecker brand, has provided some practical tips on how to avoid mottling when repairing metallic colours using Permahyd Hi-TEC 480 Basecoat.

Kevin says before starting the painting process, the sprayer should check the humidity and temperature in the spray booth so that the paint mix can be adjusted to the climate. Detailed information can be found in the Climate Guide of the Spies Hecker Technical Data Sheet. When repairing metallic colours, it is even more important to follow the recommendations for nozzle size and spray pressure, and to apply the paint with a fully depressed trigger so that the pigments can be distributed evenly to form a homogeneous film.

Kevin says the painting process should be carried out in one operation with 1.5 sprays.

The Permahyd Hi-TEC 480 Basecoat should be first applied in a closed spray booth at a normal distance. Then, the effect pass is applied over the wet paint at a slightly larger distance from the substrate in order to achieve a uniform effect and complete hiding.

Immediately after application of the basecoat, the paint film should appear uniform. This shows that the basecoat was not applied too wet. Should any irregularities in the finish become visible, they can be fixed with another effect coat. Kevin says, "Make sure you apply this additional effect coat with even more distance, and only if the basecoat is still wet."

Spies Hecker offers refinishers all-round support, simple system solutions and practical tips for the daily challenges in the bodyshop. Most recently these tips are also available on the Spies Hecker YouTube channel -  www.youtube.com/spieshecker - and on the brand’s website - www.spieshecker.com/tips4you.

In the videos, which are under 10 minutes long, experienced application technicians demonstrate how to avoid application errors, how to implement techniques perfectly and how to get the most out of Spies Hecker products. The videos are aimed at refinishers at the start of their career as well as those who are experienced but who want to refresh their knowledge or need to solve to a specific problem.