Orange Peel

[Lou G]

I have heard a couple of people talk about orange peel in their paint.
What is that? Someone said that they wet sanded the car and got most of it out. I look at my car and don't see anything wrong with the paint. I have about 10 coats of Zaino on the car. Did that take care of the orange peel and I don't know it?

[ynkedad]

Man Lou, you must be BUFF!

Sorry, i've heard nothing of this orange peel thing.

Anyway, just thought i'd say hi.

[Mekanic]

Orange Peel:

Ever seen an orange? notice whe small waves and dimples on the skin? Apply surface to paint... Orange Peel.. Its totally normal even on brand new cars to have it. Unless the painting is perfect, I mean... PERFECT, or the peice is dipped in paint, you will get orange peel.

Only way to fix it, wet sand, clear, wet clear, repeat till smooth and shiny... why do you think some show cars look like your staring through a peice of glass before you see paint?




from a distance, its hardly noticible, this is taken at extreme close range.

[Lou G]

Thanks Mekanic. Appreciate the explanation. I'll look again tomorrow and see if I have the peel thing.

Hi Ynkedad. What's Up? Love that flasher.

[Mekanic]

Originally Posted by Lou G

Thanks Mekanic. Appreciate the explanation. I'll look again tomorrow and see if I have the peel thing.

np Lou, thats what I'm here for

[Rich Z]

When I first read about "orange peel" I thought it was something specific to the body panels of the Corvette. But when I looked closer at my wife's Silverado, darn if it doesn't exhibit the same thing. So is this a Chevrolet thing or do all the car manufacturers have this sort of paint artifact?

I used to play around with refinishing woodwork, and and very familiar with sanding between clear coats to get that crystal clear mirror finish. Pain in the butt and a lot of work. Which is probably why it doesn't come from the factory that way, since it would be VERY labor intensive to do that on a vehicle's body panels.

[Z06 Rocket]

Originally Posted by Rich Z

So is this a Chevrolet thing or do all the car manufacturers have this sort of paint artifact?

All of them.

[FinerFinish]

Originally Posted by Lou G

Thanks Mekanic. Appreciate the explanation. I'll look again tomorrow and see if I have the peel thing.

Hi Ynkedad. What's Up? Love that flasher.

If you own a Vette that is clear coated, you have significant orange peel, most the time your horizontal surfaces don't tell the tale as well as your vertical panels, but I am sure it's present.

[FinerFinish]

Originally Posted by Rich Z

When I first read about "orange peel" I thought it was something specific to the body panels of the Corvette. But when I looked closer at my wife's Silverado, darn if it doesn't exhibit the same thing. So is this a Chevrolet thing or do all the car manufacturers have this sort of paint artifact?

I used to play around with refinishing woodwork, and and very familiar with sanding between clear coats to get that crystal clear mirror finish. Pain in the butt and a lot of work. Which is probably why it doesn't come from the factory that way, since it would be VERY labor intensive to do that on a vehicle's body panels.

Being that oem forces manuf. plants to use virtually watered down versions of previous years paint systems, pretty much every manuf. puts out horrendous orange peel.

Although, if you take a look at Bentley or Rolls Royce paint, they are as flat as can be on every surface because they prep their finishes accordingly at the plant.