Controlling Variables

Why Long Form Tips

While social media is great for a lot of things, one thing it isn’t great for is providing context.  The process of body work and paint at a high level on ‘high end’ builds is much more than one random post about something.  This is an opportunity to explain more and add context to the subject being talked about.  It’s also for those who are more passionate about excellence and honing their craft.  

While there are a lot of tactics associated with body work and paint, I really believe the more important thing is your mindset and how you think about the work.  Of course part of this is the desire to do great work, but it’s more than that.  That’s a prerequisite for doing this kind of work.  

Variaibles

When I think about how I try to approach anything, one of the main things I think about is controlling variables.  This alone can answer a lot of questions.  The more variable there are, the more opportunity for an adverse outcome.   The less variables, the less of a chance of something not working out.  When some of these projects can get into a 6 figure cost for the body work and paint, predicable quality is very important.

Some Examples

The first is with metal prep and using any metal conversions or acids to neutralize any potential rust.  While I like the concept, it certainly seems like a gamble to me.  Surely it goes right most of the time, but if there’s a 2% chance of the acid not being neutralized correctly or if any area is missed, it’s very hard to justify.  At the end of the day, metal prep is crucial.  It’s certainly possible to make sure any rust pit is thoroughly media blasted and all the metal is sanded thoroughly for epoxy.  I think this topic might be the most underestimated part of the process: what good metal prep actually is.  So, if you execute the prep work correctly and epoxy it right away, you eliminate an entire variable of neutralizing acid.   

Next is epoxy.  I am certainly not a chemist and the world of epoxy is a massive one.  Here’s what I do know though, if an epoxy isn’t dry enough under body filler or primer, it will make the filler or primer delaminate and crack.  This typically happens in tighter inside corners.  

There is a theory that the mechanical bond between epoxy and filler inside the time frame the epoxy manufacturer recommends is better than anything.  This theory completely makes sense.  The problem is it’s impossible to know how dry the epoxy actually is.  It depends how wet it was sprayed, the temperature, if corners are heavier, etc.  The alternative is to let it cure and sand the epoxy before filler.  This method removes that variables of how dry it actually is.  And by removing that variable, you also just removed the chances of having issues on top of the epoxy.

Another example of a variable is primers and why vinylester or quality polyester primers are used.  These are types of primers that shrink and move the least.  When a primer like urethane and most epoxies shrink, that just adds a variable.  If you use vinylester or polyester, that variable of shrinking is removed and you have a very good surface for sealer to be on top of.  

There are many many different situations where this idea of variables can apply.  The important part is to pause and think about the possible downsides of how something is about to be done.  The more different products and steps that are added, the more variables are added.  

As an added bonus, generally speaking, removing variables is also removing time.  The fewer steps taken to achieve the highest level of quality, the better.  Adding more steps usually not only adds time to the process, it also adds more things that can go wrong.

Use this frame of mind to help you determine what the correct answers might be.  It’s a fundamental way to approach body work.