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Smart, Efficient Paint Application from 3M
Resources for Surface Prep, Masking and Painting
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Standard Operation Procedures for The Paint ShopHere you will find step-by-step procedures from start to finish, including how to mask a vehicle, feather prime block, preparing bumpers and e-coat panels and mixing and spraying using disposable paint cups. These SOPs are recommended for helping ensure you create the most suitable panels for car paint application.
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Technical Tips for The Paint Shop3M provides vital tips that support car panel repair, critical for an area that combines product, process and pure skill for truly outstanding results. Our tech tips make your life easier, while still allowing you to achieve the best results and auto body shop efficiency. Check them out below.
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Important NoteThere are of course many factors and variables that can affect an individual repair, so the technician and repair facility need to evaluate each specific application and repair process, including relevant vehicle, part and OEM guidelines, and determine what is appropriate for that repair.
Featured Standard Operation Procedures for The Paint Shop
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Paint Application | In the Booth
Your paint booth is not just where you earn your living. It’s where you prove yourself, and the value of your entire shop, every single day. At 3M, we provide solutions to help you from the moment you step inside the booth. They include our 3M™ Dirt Trap products, for keeping the paint booth and your work clean, our revolutionized 3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 Spray Cup System to drive painter efficiency and ease, and our 3M™ Accuspray™ ONE spray gun to further simplify the painting process.
For truly spectacular results coming out of the paint booth, discover the best practices, processes and procedures to bring into it.
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Feather Prime Block
These 3M SOPs for feather, prime and block cover critical procedures for vehicle panel preparation. Included are products, procedures and abrasive grades for feather-edging and masking for primer, as well as primer application and effective block sanding.
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General Masking
Review the basics for effective masking for smoother, better auto paint work. Excellent for masking large and small car panels, these SOPs describe products and techniques for paint overspray protection using plastic sheeting as well as critical edge masking with fine line tapes.
More 3M Standard Operating Procedures for the Paint Shop
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Feather Prime Block Waterborne
These SOPs present the specific steps recommended to prepare car panels for waterborne paint. They include the extra DA sanding steps vs. non-waterborne paint, as well as recommended abrasive grades at each step.
English Download: Feather Prime Block Waterborne (PDF, 273.10 KB)
Spanish Download: Feather Prime Block Waterborne (PDF, 215.33 KB)
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Blend Panel Sanding
Here are the recommended steps, tools and abrasive grades for effective and efficient blending of repair areas and adjacent panels. These 3M SOPs include products and techniques for hand scuffing and DA sanding as well as cleaning and inspection.
English Download: Blend Panel Sanding Process (PDF, 247.64 KB)
Spanish Download: Blend Panel Sanding Process (PDF, 196.14 KB)
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Primer Masking
The recommended steps for vehicle primer masking include detailed techniques for cleaning, back masking, overspray protection and edge sealing before primer. These 3M SOPs are excellent for effective masking around smaller repair areas.
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Jamb Masking
Review the process for effectively masking vehicle door jambs. These SOPs contain fast, easy-to-follow information on initial cleaning as well as the use of transition and foam masking tape to create soft-edge masking lines. They also include procedures for masking removal.
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Masking Openings
These SOPs are developed specifically to help prevent paint from drifting and settling into openings in and between automotive panels. They include back masking, overspray protection, trimming film around inner panel openings and sealing openings after general masking.
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New Primed Bumper Prep
3M SOPs detail the recommended steps for cleaning and sanding new, primed bumpers and other parts. You’ll find surface preparation procedures by hand and by machine, as well as recleaning and topcoat application when following paint company recommendations.
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E-Coat Panel Prep
Here are the recommended steps for cleaning and sanding hard e-coated panels. SOPs include information on hand and machine surface prep and topcoat application when following paint company recommendations, and tips on working with hard-to-sand aftermarket parts.
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Refinish Bumper Prep
These 3M SOPs include the steps for cleaning and sanding bumpers during refinishing. They include information on hand and machine surface preparation, as well as topcoat application when following paint company recommendations.
Get more process guides. Download the full SOP books for these three areas.
Technical Tips for The Paint Shop
Maybe more than anywhere else in collision repair, it’s vital to gain valuable insights into best practices in the paint shop. This especially applies when you begin using new or upgraded equipment, such as our 3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 Spray Cup System. Here are a few tips from the technicians at 3M who can help you convert smoothly to the highest-performing spray cup system on the market.
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Properly Attaching the Lid
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Q: How can I ensure that the PPS™ Series 2.0 cup, liner and lid fit tightly together every time?
A: Place the liner into the cup. Line up the lid with the cup as shown on the right: one tab on the lid should be centered with the clear access window on the cup. Push the lid straight down into the liner. Once pushed down, lock the lid onto the cup with a ¼-turn. There is no need to overtighten.
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Properly Attaching the Spray Gun
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Q: What is the best way to make sure the 3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 Cup is connected securely to the spray gun?
A: Place the liner into the cup. Line up the lid with the cup as shown on the right: one tab on the lid should be centered with the clear access window on the cup. Push the lid straight down into the liner. Once pushed down, lock the lid onto the cup with a ¼-turn. There is no need to overtighten.
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Best Practices for Spill-Free Lid Removal
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Q: How can we avoid spillage during refilling?
A: The 3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 Lid is designed to hold up to 3 oz of paint below the filter to minimize sputtering during spraying. After spraying is complete, you should allow a little extra time to let this filtered paint drain back into the cup before you remove the lid for tinting or refilling. To make it go as quickly as possible:
Unhook the air from the spray gun. Invert the gun and hold the trigger open to start the paint drain. To speed up the flow, gently tap the gun and cup assembly against a solid surface. If it appears the paint is not draining, tap a little harder. Remember, there is more paint below the filter, so it will take a little more time vs. legacy PPS™ disposable paint cups.
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Using the PPS™ Series 2.0 Universal Shaker Core
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Q: Can we use the 3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 Cups in our paint shaker without breaking them?
A: Yes. Use the 3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 Universal Shaker Core, which works with all sizes of 3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 paint cups and absorbs and distributes the force from the shaker through the clamps. Simply tighten the shaker core over the lid until snug. Do not over-tighten, as this can cause the hard cup to break (usually along the bottom of the access window).
Remember, you ALWAYS get a FREE hard cup in every case. The 3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 Cups are NOT designed for extended use.
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Need Help Finding the Right Solution?
These 3M resources are meant to help you save time, save money and get the most out of your collision repair operations. If have additional questions about metal panel repair and replacement or anything related to 3M collision repair products and solutions, we’re happy to help. You can send us a message at the right. Or, if your needs are more immediate (or if you just want to talk shop), we’re ready to chat. We look forward to working with you!
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