What is overspray
Written by: Vinnie van Rooij
Overspray is caused by the mist that is created when spray painting a surface. The tiny paint particles are light enough to float around in the air, when they land they slowly start to harden and become overspray. Overspray can be removed safely in many cases.
Contents
Why overspray
When a painter needs to spraypaint a surface, he needs to set his equipment to work with the paint he is using. The paint is pressed through a nozzle that atomises the liquid paint into a very fine mist of tiny paint drops. This very fine mist is then sprayed on the surface to form a very even layer of paint drops. These slowly harden into a coat of paintwork. The very fine mist of paint is very light and is easily carried by air. This mist can float to area that are not covered by masking tape, and settle on a surface they are not supposed to come into contact with.
How to remove overspray
There a several ways of removing overspray, the best technique is very dependent on the type and amount of overspray.
How does overspray look like
Overspray can come in different amounts and sizes. If the droplet are bigger, the overspray will look like hardened raindrops, but in most cases it will like dust. A very fine layer if tiny dust particles that feel very rough and hard. The color might even give away that its not dust. Overspray can rarely be washed off, unlike dust.
When you polish a surface, the level of imperfection defines how much work it will be to achieve a perfect finish. This can either be a 1 stage polish, a 2 stage polish or even a 3 stage polish. Different types of stages needed define slightly what pads and/or polish you are going to need, and might give an indication of the time-frame needed....
Gumming can occur when polishing with not enough lubrication, to much heat and a clogged pad. It will show up as sticky residue marks on the paintwork. It is a general indication of an incorrect polishing technique. Ignoring this issue will negatively affect your polishing result....
A glass polish is a specially designed product that can polish glass. Normal polish isn't hard enough to have an effect on glass, but glass polish solves this problem. ...
IPA stands for IsoPropyl Alcohol, and is a chemical compound often used in the world of detailing to remove polish residue. The liquid is colorless with a strong odor. Caution is required for this liquid is very highly flammable!...
Detailing a motorbike isn't all that different to any other surface. The main different will be the technique and the tools used because of working in small spaces. Motorbike cleaning requires more effort then most other vehicles, due to small crevices and tight corners....
It is often asked on detailing fora and social media: "what is the best wax". Off course there is a difference between certain products and brands, but it is important to know what you are asking. In this guide I will try to explain what the problem is with this question unless it is asked more in-depth....
[…] with an LVLP gun results in the least amount of overspray of any type of spray gun on the market, even modern HVLP guns. If you’re looking for the least […]