Why even after a high-quality body repair of a car, putty cracks

Puttying is a mandatory, basic, in fact, part of the work on restoring a car body part. However, in recent years, this process has caused too much skepticism on the World Wide Web. The AvtoVzglyad portal figured out where the legs of popular disappointment “grow from”.

So, a dent formed on the door, wing, roof and further down the list, which cannot be pulled out with cunning pieces of iron. This means that it is necessary to repair in a full cycle: remove the old coating, put in a fresh one, level and paint. It seems nothing new - cars have been repaired this way for the last 50-60 years.

However, more and more often you can find reviews, supported by photographic evidence, which describe the consequences of such a repair: the putty cracked along with the paint, and a failure formed at the site of the work carried out, as deep as Lake Baikal. Why? To answer this question, it is enough to understand the theory.

So, putty. First, it is very different. If the part is large, and in the place of damage it can be bent with a finger (for example, a hood or fender), then simple putty is indispensable. It is necessary to use a material with aluminum chips, which will “play” together with a metal element: expand in the heat, and contract in the cold. If the master decided to cheat and save money using a simple putty, then, of course, it will burst from stress.

Secondly, any experienced painter will tell you that it is better to apply ten thin layers than one thick one. However, such an operation takes 10 times more time - each of the layers must dry for at least 20 minutes.

Therefore, in garage repair shops, where quality is not monitored, and the only factor that interests the owner is the number of repaired cars, a car mechanic will not be able to explain the low speed of work. Lay thicker, skin less often. But it is worth remembering that only applying thin layers of putty, one after another, ensures that the material does not sag, burst or fall off.

The third “thin moment” is developing powder. In order to “bring it to the ideal”, you need to apply a special bulk material that really resembles powder, which falls into every seam and crack, demonstrating a flaw in grinding. Alas, it is difficult to find a master who works this way. On the other hand, developing powder is one of the indicators of a professional.

Item number 4 should be devoted to the order of applying materials: primer, reinforced putty, primer, finish. Stories about the fact that “this newfangled ultra-modern material does not need soil” are just stories.

Before each shift, the surface must be primed. After grinding - degrease. Then and only then the putty will last a long time, and will not fall off on the first bump.

A well-putty and high-quality painted part is no different from a new one - it will last the same amount and will please the eye for many years. But for this, the master needs to spend many hours applying and removing. Therefore, the work of a high-quality professional painter simply cannot be cheap.