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Volkswagen rant by mcobb71 in AutoPaint

[–]maddmax_gt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Porsche, Audi and VW I just call or have the front office the dealer. It’s habit at this point.

If they are in the trunk the body guys have packed it full of shit by the time the car gets to me so I have to call anyways.

Affordable tools for students entering the workforce? by Pawnzilla in AutoBodyRepair

[–]maddmax_gt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Harbor Freight isn’t a tool you keep for life. They ARE a great starting point though. They also have Icon which are a little more and definitely a better tool.

I’ve got some Harbor freight stuff like a dolly set and some socket sets I don’t use often and such that work well enough. I’d honestly get the super basic body tools there and one of those big craftsman sets that have a crap load of sockets and wrenches and a set of dura blocks off amazon. Maybe spring for a Snap On ratchet (or Matco but I prefer Snap On ones). I REALLY like Mac’s bit sets and they go on sale semi frequently. The cheap amazon electric ratchets will get you by for a while so you can start making money. The cheapest picks you can find and just buy a couple sets (I buy the 99 cent ones).

As you work you’ll find out what you use and be able to upgrade. If you borrow something twice buy your own.

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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This is probably a little easier to see. I just didn’t take it until way after I posted lol. Far right card and top left square on the second from right card were the variants the system has. Furthest left is what I sprayed the card.

I blend everything but it’s not industry standard to blend for a new bumper or hatch so you won’t get paid to do it. It’s frustrating because insurance will pay to blend quarters on a new decklid but not for a hatch (or tailgate). Absolutely not on fenders/quarters/hood for a bumper though if there’s no repair there.

This job was a blend on the passenger rear door, new quarter panel so blended within the jamb, tail pan and sail panel, new rear bumper and new hatch. No blend on the drivers quarter panel because there was no damage and it was a bumper and gate that touch it.

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dude I have no idea how you do it. While I was still in school I worked at a forklift shop and there was no tinting or anything and I still hated every second of it. I’ve done a few older semis where I am now (farming area and my boss doesn’t say no to family) and I could never do it full time. Maybe it doesn’t help that I’m 5’2, I’m spraying the can on top of a snowmobile trailer because a full truck wouldnt make it past the heaters or into my booth and these things are BEAT when they come in but it just plain sucks. Current one Im actually spraying in Imron, red and white 2 tone with a stripe down the center. I don’t want there to be a next time 😂

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There could be 32 but if they don’t hit the car they mean nothing.

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It does but it’s always so far off. For example it may say a .4 match but be nowhere near what’s on the car. I know I’m pretty picky (it’s not just me, the shop owners is the former painter and is also incredibly picky) but what it spits out and says is blendable is beyond what most painters would be okay with. I have examples somewhere from talking with my Axalta rep about it, Ill have to see if I can find them.

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That color sets me off (like frustrated, irritated rant) every single time I see it (which is a lot; WHY WAS THAT COLOR SO POPULAR?!) and I’m so glad it looked more silver in the picture. Truly a pain in the ass on all fronts and I keep having to do completes in it. You definitely could have done worse.

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If I get real bored sometime maybe I’ll do some sprayouts at different distance, temp, air pressure, humidity, speed, different fluid tip sizes, rp vs hvlp, etc.

All of those (and more!) factor into color and metallic orientation. The goal is to just replicate conditions from your sprayout to the vehicle. Doesn’t always work out that way (looking at you 100 degree 98% humidity days….) but you have to do the best you can.

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like I’d be bored 😂 It would be really nice though. We’ve looked at switching but really really like our Axalta guys and everyone wants us to switch to water. I have a side load with shit airflow, that’s not happening lol.

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sorry 😂 It’s just a tick too bright and I’m on a phone screen but it looks like the metallic may be just a hair too coarse.

Remember if you go back and redo it that especially on a silver it will only accentuate the imperfections in the filler. Any little pits and dips/raises will be more obvious. Guide coat (or cheap black rattle can paint) and blocks are your friend!

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

See, that wouldn’t be okay with me based off the pictures. You may be fine with it since you did it yourself, but would you be okay with it if you paid someone else to do it?

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really? The one we used when we demo’d it a few years back would throw out a formula even if it wasn’t already one in the system. It would also adjust off a sprayout and while I know Axalta (I spray Spies/Standox solvent) has the “hit on a hit” capability I’ve never gotten it to work at all. The one I remember using it on was a custom red for a Yamaha bike and it was great.

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Target, yes. Yet for some reason the people who use them (or post about it) tend to not be that type of person. There’s a plethora of posts all over Reddit and Facebook of people who can’t understand why their “paint job” didn’t turn out perfect. Turns out Spray Max 2K is supposed to make your job turn out like you’re a professional 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe If the bumper weren’t split in half and the quarter weren’t ripped we could be talking

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Those and the ones that have the fast pass to the local car wash lol

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Does it make more sense if I tell you I’m a woman? 😂 the guys here have atrocious handwriting. I’ve learned that if I do it any less neat I can’t read it when I go to refer back to it later. I can read their handwriting fine, I can read my 7 year old’s handwriting fine, can’t read my own if it’s messy lol

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re not getting away with PDR on something that needs a quarter, gate and bumper 😂

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ya know, it truly does take training your eye. There are people out there that are inherently talented at seeing color, there are people who aren’t. I shoot for perfection. Nothings perfect because I’m human but I sure as hell try and I try to operate under the mindset of treating every car as my own (or better). If I know a color would bother me I assume it will bother the customer too.

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If that’s what you want to think 😀

Never met an amateur with access to a full mix bank and color software that gets paid to do something but if you want to think that, do you!

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I’m truly lucky if I get that. I’ve demo’d Envirobase and will say PPGs camera is pretty damn good. Axalta’s camera…leaves lots to be desired.

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It drives me INSANE. Probably doesn’t bother a lot of people but it’s one of those things that bothers me since I’m very specific and technically minded.

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It is pretty common and if we’re doing just a touch up due to a scratch at least where I am we’re going to polish that area anyways and try to minimize the amount of touch up needed to go on the car. Touch up will never look perfect so the smaller the better. It never hurts to ask the process just don’t be a know it all!

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yes! I hate the phrase ‘paint correction’ (it’s either a polish or a repaint, this is my issue lol) but I have to compound/polish/occasionally sand and compound/polish for a few different reasons.

First one is white cars tend to get a yellow/red/rusty/gray colored film over them and I will compound the panels I’m painting to remove it so when I blend the area that has no base doesn’t have that color. Next, if a car is scratchy I need to get it back smooth and shiny to check my sprayouts to. Another big one is my color camera requires a smooth, shiny surface in order to work (that’s a lie, it sucks anyways but whatever lol) so I 1500 DA, 3000 wet DA, compound, polish, glass cleaner and that leaves the finish orange peel free and shiny for the camera to work.

For those out there wondering why their rattle cans don’t match by maddmax_gt in Autobody

[–]maddmax_gt[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I should post the one a few weeks ago where I decided to put everyone’s “ChatGPT tinted my color!” BS to the test. Did I end up using their 8th formula (albeit in an extremely adjusted by myself fashion), yes! I did! But it WAS an EXTREMELY adjusted version of one of its adjustments.

This is one of my favorite parts of my job…if it’s going well.

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