Brad Larsen
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[b]bondomerchant wrote:[/b]
[quote][b]Easy wrote:[/b]
[quote]:welc I am also form WA state.[/quote]
same here[/quote]I am from Montana which is a much nicer place!
Be careful what you absorb.
Brad
I believe you are the first Italian I have seen on this or any site. Welcome. Are you a painter, bodyman, shop owner?
Brad
Welcome
What do you mean by how often? Do you mean how often do they look like that when you put the last coat of clear on or when it leaves the shop? I think most of us here do a little cutting and buffing. I do on almost every job to get the job up to an acceptable standard.
Brad
The nicest flame job on a Monte Carlo was done by Gregory Hines.
We sand them down with 600 wet until the magnesium chloride and oxidation are off and then 1000-1200 wet, dry them off and spray two coats and bake. We tried just 600 wet and could see scratches still visible under the clear when out in the sun.
The stuff we are using now is a polymer we make ourselves, but there are a few clears out there I could recommend Glasurit 923-255 clear being the best on the market, at least that I have found. I am looking at some UV cure clears, but they are hard to get, and a really cool product product that SW just gave me to try that they made for anti graffiti. Sticks to anything and it is made to be pressure washed at 3000 plus pounds per sq. inch. I am really interested in what you guys are using and what you have found. It may save me some time in my quest.
The only problem we have had in the past is with the high pressure washers. So many people have them at home now and some create 3000 lbs of pressure. They take paint off of cars too if they get a inch away trying to take bugs off. The product we use now is excellent. I have done a lot of destructive tests on it and it is holding up great.
I had a customer come in a few years ago that had a deer hit. Took out one headlight and the one that was untouched was hazed almost to white opaque. We cleared it for him so that it matched the new one. Three years later he came back and said my headlight was chalking up. When we went out to look at it, it was the new one that was chalking up. Ours still looked great.
Right on Han. Guys there are two books that you just have to read if you want to build a successful team. The first is “Self Made in America” by Jon McCormack. http://www.amazon.com/Self-Made-America-People-Meaning-Success/dp/0201608235
This book shows you how to turn losers into winners and winners into superstars. A must read for you and your employees..The second is “The seven habits of Highly effective people” by Stephen R.Covey. http://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People/dp/0743269519/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276888935&sr=1-1
This book will teach you how to get yourself and your business organized, by getting rid of the habits that are holding you back and giving you new ones to develop.
Both of these books work. If you can’t afford them, go to the library and check them out.
They were paid to do it right the first time. Tell them that if they do not like re-doing them for free that they need to take more time and do it right the first time. You need to get them to change their attitude and approach towards quality. Show them what you expect and review comebacks with the crew as they come in. You should have a written Standard Operating Procedures Manual which defines industry acceptable procedures. Every member of the crew should read and sign a paper stating that they read and understand it. If something new comes up, review it with the crew & add it to the manual. One man can sink the whole ship. The damage to the shops reputation is harder to repair and will cost you more money than lost labor or materials. Management needs to inspect every car prior to calling the customer to pick it up. If they can not or will not perform quality repairs, get someone who can.
Brad Larsen
That is one of the nastiest colors to spray. This is not a cheap fix, but sometimes we need to get another gun. The LHP400LVX by Iwata is a good one for some of those colors that refuse to laydown like you want them to. See if your jobber can get you a loaner gun next time you run into this problem and see if it works for you. The LHP400LVB is another good gun if mottling is a problem. All guns ain’t the same.
http://www.anestiwata.com/products/manual-hvlp-full-gravity.cfm?series=LPH400%2DLVX
http://www.anestiwata.com/products/manual-hvlp-full-gravity.cfm?series=LPH400%2DLVBBrad
a little bondo [img]http://www.refinishnetwork.com/media/kunena/attachments/legacy/images/1949_Ford__Pickup_Schaffer_028.JPG[/img]
A little rust [img]http://www.refinishnetwork.com/media/kunena/attachments/legacy/images/1949_Ford__Pickup_Schaffer_012.JPG[/img]
I would like to know what you guys think about aprrenticeships and technician licensing in general. Opinions please!
Brad Larsen
