Unveiling the secrets to fixing a patchy Toyota Mark X paint job

Freshly applied paint can conceal a lot underneath. Paintwork may appear flawless at first, but over time, any mistakes or defects will inevitably reveal themselves.

Enter the Silver Met (Colour code: 1F7) Toyota Mark X—a vehicle that had undergone a repaint a few months ago. At a distance, the paint seemed relatively fine, lacking any glaring defects. However, upon closer inspection, the roof exhibited unsightly boils, and an overall lackluster appearance hinted at underlying issues.

The cause? Inadequate hardener usage during the clear coating stage.

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Beneath the surface, a significant problem had taken hold: the paint simply could not dry properly. You may be wondering how such a situation could occur. Although the paint was dry to the touch, the curing process was never going to complete.

The cause? Inadequate hardener usage during the clear coating stage. To provide some context, automotive painting has followed a two-step method since the 1970s, involving the application of a base coat followed by a clear coat. The base coat, pigmented with the vehicle’s specific color code, is mixed with thinners only, while the clear coat is mixed with thinners (often sparingly, depending on the manufacturer’s guidelines) and hardener. Most clear coat products have ratios of 2:1:5-10% or 2:1:1 (clear coat, hardener, and reducing thinner). The role of the hardener in the clear coat paint is to trigger a chemical reaction that leads to hardening (polymerization), enabling the paint to dry properly. Not putting enough hardener jeopardizes the polymerization process and the end result is often unpredictable. This is the technical explanation for the issue at hand.

And that dear reader, is why we recommend doing a good assessment of where you take your car to be painted. Cheap might actually turn out to be very expensive in the long run!

Returning to our story, the owner entrusted us with the task of repainting the car and restoring its appearance. After conducting a thorough assessment and identifying the encountered problems, we wasted no time in commencing the necessary work.

Our first step involved addressing cracks in the paintwork before proceeding to remove all the previously applied paint, leaving only the manufacturer’s original coating. From this point onward, we focused on the remaining repairs, diligently filling and sanding each imperfection to achieve a smooth surface.

With the panels repaired and prepped, we embarked on the crucial priming stage. Applying a primer not only enhances adhesion but also helps to achieve a uniform surface for the subsequent layers of paint.

A primer sealer was carefully applied, ensuring complete coverage across the body shell and the removed doors. To guarantee uniform drying, we employed a baking process for each stage of painting, carefully monitoring the temperatures.

After the priming stage, it was time to breathe new life into the Toyota Mark X. Using the base coat silver met, we skillfully applied a fine layer of paint to the body shell, ensuring an even and consistent color.

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Laying down clear coat on the TOYOTA MARK X body frame . Work lined up: 🟦 Full repaint 🆓 Complementary engine bay and upholstery #steamdetailing 🆓 Buffing and paint correction 🆓 Headlight restoration 🆓 Watermark removal and more Stay tuned for updates on progress. Visit our blog to see some of our past work https://www.hipposautospa.co.ke/blog/. www.hipposautospa.co.ke  0710 256 557 #paint #painter #car #reel #painting #refinishing #subaru #detailing #carlove #TOYOTA #carscenekenya #VW #VWGTi #vwgolf  #subaru #NISSAN #Mitsubishi #Pajero #TOYOTA #audi #BMW #mercedesamg  #mercedes #ultimatedetail #detailing #ultimatedetail

♬ Taste – Tyga

Once the body shell was coated, we turned our attention to the doors, meticulously painting them to match the rest of the vehicle. Baking was once again employed to promote thorough drying and to achieve a professional finish.

However, our work didn’t stop at the external surfaces. We also attended to the brake calipers, giving them a fresh coat of sleek black paint to enhance their visual appeal. Attention to detail was our guiding principle throughout the process.

With the painting complete, the focus shifted to the next stage—detailing. We embarked on a meticulous journey of corrective buffing, carefully addressing any remaining imperfections to achieve a flawless finish. Furthermore, we applied a high-grade ceramic wax, enhancing the vehicle’s shine and providing long-lasting protection against environmental elements.

Not only did we revive the exterior, but we also paid attention to the car’s interior and engine. A thorough steam detailing ensured cleanliness, leaving the interior looking fresh and inviting. The wheels, too, received their fair share of attention, ensuring they gleamed with renewed brilliance.

Are you ready for the results?

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