Solvent Popping in Fresh Paint

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Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.

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Solvent Popping in Fresh Paint


After inspecting the brand new paint job on the 1928 Model A out in the garage I found at least one place with signs of solvent popping.

Solvent popping is when the reducer, (solvent), which is used to thin the paint to make it sprayable in a paint gun is changing from a liquid to a gas. As this change takes place, the solvent tries to escape and pops through the top film of paint leaving a tiny little crater or what looks like a pin hole.

At least that's the nutshell explanation.


Here's a couple pictures I took to show solvent popping. It is located just above the opening to the rumble seat on this Model A.

Solvent_Popping_in_Paint_001.jpg


Solvent_Popping_in_Paint_002.jpg



Solvent_Popping_in_Paint_002c.jpg



For reference, it's just above the handle you see on the top of the rumble seat in the back of the car here,

1928_Model_A_Coupe_010.jpg




:)
 
This looks like a fun project.

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What can be done to this other than a repaint?
 
Mike thats too bad pretty serious defect. I'm sure you'll pull some magic and make it look better.

My first motorcycle helmet I painted I used too fast a solvent and ended up with this. Nothing sandpaper and a mulligan won't fix, lol.

I'm glad mine was just a helmet, that ride looks like fun to work on.
 
DaGonz said:
What can be done to this other than a repaint?
Click to expand...


A person can try wet sanding or dry sanding, maybe even try a CarPro Denim pad and if the actual "pop" or crater is only in the top surface it can be removed or at a minimum improved.

"You never know what you can do until you try"



If the pop created a tunnel from where it originated to the surface then grinding on it will just uncover more of the tunnel and remove precious paint needlessly.


These look like they will fix.


:)
 
I have used a UV clearcoat in the past to dab into the pinholes , depending on how many. Then sand and polish back up.

They don't look too deep though.

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Mike, I have them same problem on a freshly painted (about 120 days). bumper. Its like those on the Ford, except there are only two but they are bigger
 
Bill1234 said:
Mike, I have them same problem on a freshly painted (about 120 days). bumper. Its like those on the Ford, except there are only two but they are bigger
Click to expand...

Sounds like they may be fish eyes.

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You run into this imperfection(s) when you rush flash times, usually in a production type scenario. Use the slowest reducers and activators you can get by with and extend the flash times on the p-sheet (product sheet), especially on hot and humid days. I push primers and basecoat flash times to their max, then hammer on the clear coats as they tack. These pops are on the very top (30 - 50%) of the clearcoat and often can be completely removed.
 
They are not solvent pops, they are fish eyes. Solvent pops are raised on top the paint, Fish eyes are little craters that go down in the paint. The pictures appear as the imperfections are in-ies not out-ies.
 
They are definitely solvent pops. Fisheye looks like a fish eye, LOL.

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sjb89 said:
They are not solvent pops, they are fish eyes.
Click to expand...

ken tuep said:
They are definitely solvent pops. Fisheye looks like a fish eye, LOL.
Click to expand...


I'm not always 100% correct on identifying paint related defects as I'm not a painter but from what I've seen over the years, these look like solvent pops not fish eyes. As Ken pointed out, fishes actually have an appearance like a fish eye.


I have some painter buddies, I'll e-mail them the link to this thread and see if they can identify these defects just to be accurate.


Thanks guys for both of your input...



:xyxthumbs:
 
Solvent pop can be both pinholes, craters or bubbles whereas fisheyes are always pinholes. If you skin solvent pops with a wool pad you'll have pinholes and sometimes craters or both.

Fisheyes you see instantly when the paint hits the panel. Solvent pops happen later during the curing process. Most of the time fisheyes are all the way to the primer or substrate and cannot be cut & buffed.

IMO those could be either or... If I was the guy shooting, I'd know 100%

These are the things that drive painters to drink lol

In the photo It looks like in's and out's (pinholes and bubbles) If so solvent pop.

Then you think "why did it pop only in this one place and not randomly over the vehicle" then you think contamination in that one spot (fisheye)

Like I said you'd know for sure if you were shooting it... I need a beer :laughing:

Solvent_Popping_in_Paint_002.jpg
 
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