Advice please - should I take it back to the bodyshop?

[KirstMin]

Hi all, I have recently had both doors stripped back to bare metal and re-sprayed. The car is sprayed in 2 pack, traf blue FYI.

However, after 2 weeks one of the doors has 5 or 6 stone chips - back to metal. When I inspected these the paint looked very thin in the area - like one pretty thin coat. Anyway, I have a chip repair kit and some touch up so went about making a repair. With much caution I tried to flat back (2000 grit and proper block) the touch up paint but to my horror after about 6 passes (and touch up still raised) the original paintwork started to show signs of bare metal. I have done these sorts of repairs on other areas (on partssprayed by others) with no problems.

I have had to stop before I make it 10 times worse.

Should this be happening? I paid £335 for the door to be stripped and painted and believe that more than one thin layer of paint should be present? Otherwise, how can any repairs be made without spraying? Should I contact the company who did the spray and complain?

Thanks

[Matt]

I would, especially if it cost over £300! I think 2 pack should have 2 coats and a primer layer (although I may be wrong). However expect them to say not our problem.....

[KirstMin]

However expect them to say not our problem.....

yes indeed!

I do however have a few things on my side in that I have a list of stuff that is not right - for eg: someone in their bodyshop has rubbed back one of my rear wings and tried to bring it back in with 'some' paint but not enough - its now patchy and faded in areas. It wasn't even on the job list!!

Also, they didn't paint the window frame surround on the door either - which for the price I was expecting - it is part of the door after all and the job was 'strip and re-paint door'.

It's a reputable place and I have just spent £7000 on work there on a whole load of stuff.

[Matt]

Take it back and shout at them! (ok... don't SHOUT, but you know what I mean...)

[KirstMin]

Ok, I'll be firm but fair! Thanks for the help Matt. I'll let you know how I get on.

[Cam]

Sounds like they did not use an etch primer on the bare metal and they were a little shy with the top coat!

Also why spray parts in 2 pack? Makes it awkward to touch up as the touch up is cellulose.

Could you let me know which garage this is as there is currently an ongoing complaint against a certain garage in the London area (Minor specialist) and this kind of thing sounds exactly like the current issues. If you could let me know the name of the garage by private message (PM) I would be very grateful. Thanks.

If it IS the same garage then I can put you in touch with a couple of people who are having the same problems.

[KirstMin]

its not actually london based - I've PM'd you. The 2-pack issue was because the rest of the car was in 2 pack I guess. There doesn't appear to be anything under the coat of 2 pack but I guess that should be a clear etch primer anyway so I wouldn't notice?

Shy with the top coat indeed - I bearly sneezed on the door . One coat doesn't offer much protection does it?

[Cam]

No it doesn't. Also it should not chip off to reveal shiney metal if it's been properly etch primered.

[KirstMin]

So the etch primer helps the bonding... it was definitely bare metal as it went rusty in 4 days after being exposed.

thanks for the info. This does all help for my pending conversation with them.

[rayofleamington]

I didn't think properly etch primed metal would go rusty as quick as that.
I've also never seen 'clear' etch prime - most of it I've seen leaves a dark hue on the metal (nolonger bright and shiny). Some of the DIY etch primer is creamy colour as it helps to show wht you've done (and not done).

I'm no expert on painting - but I have heard the 'clear primer' story a few times over the years (maybe it does actually exist) but usually it is when people complain about iffy work.

[KirstMin]

Right then, after emailing said garage with a list of 'snags' for the job that was done - I've had mechanical, chassis, interior and bodywork done but all the problems are bodywork related ones - he called me back and was very nice. He suggested that I bring the car in in about a month because with the amount of work that was done there was no point in coming in now because other things might crop up - I have a new engine to run in for starters. He suggested it would be better getting them all sorted in one go when I have a definitive list and accepted that with a sizable job there was bound to be certain things to remedy. Although I suspect it is better to get paintwork right the first time of asking! But at least he was nice and didn't leave me with the feeling that it won't get resolved.

I do wonder though because all the problems are focussed on one thing (bodywork) and he was so nice that I was left thinking it's not the first problems they have had with this - maybe they have changed their sprayer (if that is the word used to describe them) or have a new member of staff. Whatever it is they could do with sorting it out because it ain't cheap and you soon lose customers if you dont do a top class job for those prices!

[chickenjohn]

I think you would have been better off (if you can borrow a garage for a weekend or two) spraying the doors yourself with aerosol cans. Its surprising how good a finish is possible if you do all the right things and take your time.

Sounds like the "bodyshop" has ripped you off!

[jonathon]

Kristmin,
As Cam has already stated this paintwork or lack of it sounds familiar. I can only advise on how we paint our customers cars, basically back to bare metal,degrease, two coats of etch primer (yellowy colour) three coats of high build primer, and finally four to six top coats, depending on customer spec and required finish. All of our paint is two pack which is easy to tip in if you scratch it. You can ask the paint shop for the remainder of unmixed colour and use this for repairs. We always supply a 1/4 litre of top coat and relevant hardener, for this purpose.
I would say that you have been shortchanged on the paint quality, but not necessarily on the cost, had the job been comprehensive in the first.place
The garage has a legal right to be offered the car for rectification work,but if you feel that you no longer have confidence in their workmanship then say so and see if they will offer to pay for this to be done. I doubt they will but its worth a chance and hopefully legal proceedings can be avoided.

[Matt]

I am painting my sprite at the moment from bare metal, I took it back to bare metal, and rust converted the whole thing, then sanded most of the converter off (just leaving the really small pock type marks with converted rust. Then I have done 2 coats of an acid etch, high build primer which is kind of a khaki colour, then 2 coats of bog standard beige primer, then 6 coats of cellulose, if that helps. It does sound distinctly like it hasn't even had a coat of primer, its just been blown over!

[chickenjohn]

Cellulose is the best for a post war classic!!! Lets hope we can still buy it.

[Onne]

I am painting my sprite at the moment from bare metal, I took it back to bare metal, and rust converted the whole thing, then sanded most of the converter off (just leaving the really small pock type marks with converted rust. Then I have done 2 coats of an acid etch, high build primer which is kind of a khaki colour, then 2 coats of bog standard beige primer, then 6 coats of cellulose, if that helps. It does sound distinctly like it hasn't even had a coat of primer, its just been blown over!

Like it stood next to another car whilst that was sprayed you mean!

[jonathon]

I think that cellulose will have its day soon, as 2K paint will be banned in two years time. We must all then be forced to use waterbased paint. Better for the sprayer and the environment ,yes. But the cost to upgrade my booth and change spray equipment will cost in the region of £5,000. Where is this money supposed to come from. Sometimes wish I was a farmer who got paid a fortune not to work when the beurocrats decide to change things. But that's another story.

[Onne]

I heard farming isn't as cheap as I thought it was, they have to meet very strict rules too, which involves equal investments. But thats me again off topic.

[jonathon]

Yes, I was probably being a bit unfair, but having just invested many thousands on a quality booth, I now have to spend the same again on upgrades for legislation. With all of the other requirements from insurance, health and safety etc it makes you wonder one, when this will stop two is it worth the agro and three will my rates have to be increased yet again just to stand still!!

[plastic_orange]

Jonathon,
Become a farmer and forget all about legislation, health and safety etc. You will be able to spray what you like where you like on your premise, and be exempt from planning, commercial rates etc etc. (mates a farmer who does blasting as an a'hem sideline). If you don't fancy doing a job, just say it's 'set aside' and get paid anyway.
How does 'JLH agicultural engineer' sound?


Pete