Orange Peel on New Cars ?

[bor]

Any good reason why new cars have such a poor quality finish ? Is it anything to do with the change to water based paint ?

Can orange peel be polished out, or is it under the laquer ?

[BigGriff]

Water based paint seems prone to it I'm afraid. You could mechanically polish it.

[Mr Whippy]

It must be under the laquer, the clearcoat would be noticeably rough to the touch.

Just shoddy cheap painting. I think on dark colours, especially solids, it looks bloody terrible!

Dave

[bor]

On black you can see it from quite a distance. I'm surprised that buyers who've paid out big money don't complain.

[deecee]

Its caused by the paint drying before it has time to flow out.

Metallic Colors usually can't be fixed, but a solid color can sometimes be wet sanded, then polished.

[bigphil]

Metallic colours are no different as they are clearcoated and this can be wet flatted in the same way. My 350Z was awfull in some ares and did just this and then machine polished with G3 and now nice flat finish.
I would add you do need to know what you are doing as it is very easy to go too far and through to the basecoat.

[deecee]

The Orange Peel in the Basecoat will still appear even if teh Top Coat is Block Sanded.

[bigphil]

Well I am sorry to disagree we have had some awfull cars through the workshop some new and some after bad paintwork by others and we have never failed yet in bringing the finish up to a good standard.Some of the worst we have added additional clearcoats and then wet flatted and polished always with outstanding results.