12 May 2023 – Bodyshops thrive on fast throughput; minor damage that can be repaired quickly and efficiently, with minimum downtime for the customer. But occasionally a repair comes in that is classified as major damage, and that can be problematic for the bodyshop, who has to dedicate time and resources to the repair, and for the customer, who is without their own vehicle for longer.

Harald Klöckner, Axalta International Training Leader and Refinish Product Specialist for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, has put together an overview of steps using Standox and Audurra – the accessory brand from Axalta - for repairing major paint damage on metal substrates that will help to get a right-first-time repair done as quickly as possible.

Preparation is key

“Refinishers should never skimp on the preparation step or else they will have issues later in the repair process,” says Klöckner. The first step is to clean the area thoroughly to remove anything that may inhibit the adherence of the subsequent paint layers, such as Standox Silicone Remover 6600 wiped dry with the Audurra Degreasing Cloth.

“Then the area should be sanded back to the metal and cleaned again using Standox Silicone Remover 6600 and the Audurra Degreasing Cloth,” Klöckner says.

Get ready to paint

Once prepped, apply Standox Soft Stopper U1090 on the damaged area. It is a 2K polyester stopper that is quick drying and easy to sand. Follow this with an even powder layer of Audurra’s Dry Guide Coat, which makes any imperfections and scratches visible during the sanding and levelling process. Klöckner says, “the Dry Guide Coat is a great addition as it guides the refinisher through the sanding process helping them to achieve a perfect result.”

Then sand the area, remove the dust sufficiently, and re-apply the stopper to any pinholes if required, followed again by a light coat of Dry Guide Coat, and sand again. Ensure that coarser sanding scratches are refined by using a finer abrasive. Never jump more than two P-Grades to remove all coarser sanding scratches entirely. Feather edge sand using a machine for best results. Hand sand corners and edges with Audurra Soft Roll Premium.

Klöckner says, “at this point it is best practice to re-clean the entire area of panel using Standox Silicone Remover 6600 wiped dry with the Audurra Degreasing Cloth.

Refinishing

First apply a suitable primer, ideally either a Standox acid or etch primer such as Standox 1K Primer Filler U3010. It provides outstanding corrosion protection and exceptional adhesion. It is also available in a convenient 2K-SprayMax spray cans for smaller repairs and sand-through areas.

Second, apply a filler, such as Standox VOC Xtra Filler U7560. It has very good filling properties, provides an excellent surface to enhance topcoat holdout, is easy to apply and allows for outstanding drying.

Then, hand sand corners and edges with Audurra Soft Roll Premium. Hand block the stopper area again to ensure excellent levelling of the damaged area. Refine by machine sanding and sand the remaining areas with Audurra Disc D. Then clean the area using Standox Precleaner 6800.

Finally, apply your chosen clear-over-base Standox system.

Klöckner concludes, “While repairing major damage to metal substrates is in some ways more complex than a small, straightforward repair, it doesn’t have to be more difficult. It is important to point out that to fulfil certain OEM requirements, refinishers may be required to pre-coat bare metal before applying the stopper, so always refer to OEM guidelines.”

For more information or to watch other Standovision training videos, visit www.youtube.com/standoxonline and for more information about Standox, visit www.standox.com/za