How to Paint Your Own Car, Auto Body Discussion Forum and Videos | Learning how to paint your own car and general automotive restoration. On this page you will find a treatment of the most common paint finish problems. This format details the condition of the problem, it’s causes, prevention and the best solution. We always heartily recommend anybody to spend an adequate amount of time preparing their vehicle’s surface for paint and therefore minimize the need for car paint repair afterwards. Too many times, enthusiastic rookie painters get ahead of themselves. They believe that a thick coat of paint will hide blemishes or flaws, it simply won’t. Don’t rush into things. If you plan on spending a day or two just to prepare your car’s body surface for paint, the need for auto paint repair won’t be necessary.

1. Top 10 Auto Paint Repair Problems and Solutions
If auto painting is a new venture for you, it is
imperative that you understand the basics of do it
yourself auto body paint repair.

2. On this page you will find a treatment of the most
common paint finish problems. This format details the
condition of the problem, it’s causes, prevention and
the best solution. We always heartily recommend
anybody to spend an adequate amount of time
preparing their vehicle’s surface for paint and therefore
minimize the need for car paint repair afterwards. Too
many times, enthusiastic rookie painters get ahead of
themselves. They believe that a thick coat of paint will
hide blemishes or flaws, it simply won’t.
Don’t rush into things. If you plan on spending a day or
two just to prepare your car’s body surface for
paint, the need for auto paint repair won’t be
necessary.

3. Top 10 common paint problems:
• Bleeding - Original finish discoloring or color seeping through the new topcoat
color.
• Die Back - Loss of gloss after application.
• Dirt - Small bumps deposited in, on, or under the paint film.
• Dry Spray - A rough, textured surface often confined to a small area.
• Fish Eyes - Tiny surface finish blemishes that resemble small circles of popped
paint bubbles, of fish eye appearance.
• Orange Peel - Uneven Surface Formation – with an orange peel texture.
• Paint Color Matching - Finished panels that don’t match the color of standard
panels.
• Paint Runs and Sags - Heavy application of sprayed material failing to adhere
uniformly to the surface.
• Sand Scratches - Sanding pattern imperfections that show through the finished
paint film.
• Solvent Popping - Blisters on the paint surface caused by trapped solvents in the
topcoats or primer.

5. Bleeding
• Condition: Original finish discoloring or color seeping
through the new topcoat color.
• Causes: Contamination - usually in the form of soluble dyes
or pigments on the older finish before it was repainted.
(This is especially true with older shades of red).
Prevention:
• Thoroughly clean areas to be painted before sanding,
especially when applying lighter colors over darker colors.
• Solution: Apply two medium coats of Bleeder or primer seal
in accordance with label instructions. Then reapply color
coat.

6. Die Back
• Condition : Loss of gloss after application.
• Cause : Improper evaporation of solvent or poor initial cure.
Suggested Corrective Action Checklist
• Check if the imperfection is on the whole unit or in a specific area.
• Check other units to determine if a pattern is beginning to take place.
• Check for too fast a solvent selection.
• Check for cool temperature during cure.
• Check for lack of airflow during cure.
• Check for improper film build up.
• Check for improper flash times.
• Check for incompatible products.

7. Dirt
• Condition : Small bumps deposited in, on, or under the paint film.
• Cause: Foreign particles entering the wet paint film.
Suggested Corrective Action Checklist
• Check if the imperfection is on the whole unit or in a specific area.
• Check other units to determine if a pattern is beginning to take place.
• Check paint mixing/filtration process (was a strainer in place atop the paint cup
when pouring in paint)
• Check the spraying environment (booth, garage, workshop)
• Check preparation process of unit, tacking, solvent wash, etc.
• Check painter’s clothing.
• Check the spraying equipment (was it thoroughly cleaned after previous use)
• Check used paint filters for contamination.
• Check for use of anti-static wipe or spray products.

8. Dry Spray
• Condition : A rough, textured surface often confined to a small area.
• Cause: Paint that lacks the ability to flow properly.
Suggested Corrective Action Checklist
• Check if the imperfection is on the whole unit or in a specific area.
• Check other units to determine if a pattern is beginning to take place.
• Check if the defect is specific to one color or many colors.
• Check for a proper film build up.
• Check for excessive film build up.
• Check the distance of the spray gun from the surface when spraying. (You
should always hold a paint gun at right angles to the surface being painted
from a distance of 6-10 inches.)
• Check reducing solvent selection and spray viscosity.

9. Fish Eyes
• Condition : Tiny surface finish blemishes that resemble small circles of popped paint bubbles, which seem to occur
almost as soon as paint hits an auto body surface.
• Causes Improper Surface Cleaning Or Preparation.
• Many waxes and polishes contain silicone, the most common cause of fish eyes. Small traces of silicone do not
allow paint to settle evenly; rather they cause material to encircle the speck of silicone and form a fish’s
eye. Silicone adheres firmly to the paint film and requires extra effort for its removal. Even small quantities in
sanding dust, rags or from cars being polished nearby can cause this failure.- Check for possible contamination in
paint materials.
- Check for painter contamination, skin oils, perspiration, greasy foods, etc.
- Check for any oils or contamination that might get into the spray area.
- Check for proper cleaning procedures prior to refinishing.
- Check airborne contamination in spray area.
• Effects of the old finish or previous repair : Old finish or previous repair may contain excessive amounts of silicone
from additives used during their application. Usually solvent wiping will not remove embedded silicone.
• Contamination of air lines : Check for oil in air lines and spray equipment.
• Prevention
• Precautions should be taken to remove all traces of silicone by thoroughly cleaning with wax and grease remover.
(The use of Fish Eye Eliminator is in no way a replacement for good surface preparation).
• Add fish eye eliminator
• Drain and clean air pressure regulator daily to remove trapped moisture and dirt. Air compressor tank should also
be drained daily.
• Solution : After affected coat has set up, apply another double coat of color containing the recommended amount
of Fish Eye Eliminator. In severe cases, affected areas should be sanded down and refinished.