Identification should include
- blistering (i.e., trapped air raising the paint surface)
- dry spray appearance
- presence of fish-eyes (i.e., crater-like openings) in the finish
- lifting
- clouding (i.e., mottling and streaking in metallic finishes)
- orange peel
- overspray
- solvent popping in a freshly painted surface
- sags and runs in a paint surface
- sanding marks or sand-scratch swelling
- contour mapping or edge mapping while the finish is drying
- color difference (i.e., off-shade)
- tape tracking
- low-gloss condition
- poor adhesion
- paint cracking (e.g., shrinking, splitting, crow’s feet or line-checking, micro-checking)
- corrosion
- dirt or dust in the paint surface
- water spotting
- finish damage caused by bird droppings, tree sap, and other natural causes
- finish damage caused by airborne contaminants (i.e., acids, soot, rail dust, and other industry-related causes)
- die-back conditions (i.e., dulling of the paint film, showing haziness)
- chalking (i.e., oxidation)
- bleed-through (i.e., staining)
- pinholing
- buffing-related imperfections (e.g., swirl marks, wheel burns)
- pigment flotation (i.e., color change through film build).
Process/Skill Questions:
- What are the most common paint defects?
- What are the most common causes of paint defects?