TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE — BASECOAT
DRY SPRAY IN THE BASECOAT
Dry spray appears as a matte, dull, or grainy texture in the basecoat finish — similar to sandpaper. It occurs when paint particles become nearly dry before reaching the surface of the part, preventing them from flowing together to form a smooth shiny finish.
Applying the silver layer over areas of dry spray will make the silver look textured and diminish the reflectivity.
If your parts already have dry spray, you can sand the surface with 800 grit sandpaper, degrease, and apply another layer of basecoat.
- Gun Distance: Holding the gun too far away from the surface (the most common cause) allows paint particles to partially dry before landing on the part.
- Air Pressure: Using excessive atomizing air pressure (PSI) breaks the paint into droplets so small that they dry instantly mid air.
- Environmental Factors: High temperatures or low humidity can accelerate solvent evaporation.
- Spray Technique: Moving the gun too quickly across the part results in a coat that is too thin to level out.
- Gun Distance: Keep the spray gun closer to the surface when spraying — typically 4 to 6 inches away from the part.
- Air Pressure: Lower the atomizing air pressure (PSI) to the minimum required for a consistent spray pattern.
- Environmental Factors: Ideally, spray in temperatures between 70°F and 85°F.
- Spray Technique: Maintaining a consistent speed and distance when spraying the basecoat ensures a uniform, shiny deposit.