Paint

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abrasive disks

Removes paint but not metal.

abrasive pad

Handheld pad used to scuff paint.

accelerator

Chemical added to paint when a faster drying time, or cure time, is needed.

additives

Used to give paint special capabilities or to prevent problems.

adhesion promoter

Primer formulated to act as a bonding agent and hold refinish paint to existing paint.

adhesion solvent

Reducer component that chemically bites into the substrate.

binder

Thick resin that, when mixed with solvent, from a matrix to evenly disperse and contain the paint's pigment.

bleeding

Appearance of an undercoat pigment in the topcoat.

blending

Paint application intended to hide slight color variation, or mismatch, between the repaired panel and the rest of the vehicle.

bridging

When improperly mixed surfacer is too thick to flow into and completely fill a scratch. The topcoat then sinks into the scratches making them visible.

buffing materials

Includes compounds, polishes, and glazes.

build

The thickness of paint film, measured in mils.

catalyst

Anything that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected.

chemical resistance

Ability of a finish to withstand exposure to solvents such as gasoline.

closed-coat

Abrasive particles completely cover the surface of the sandpaper.

cross-linking

Chemical bond (link) formed between molecular chains.

curing

Drying of paint by oxidation.

cutoff wheel

Most aggressive tool used in pre-paint preparation.

detail cloth

Soft cloth rag that will not damage clean paint. Preferred way to apply and wipe off hand glaze.

dilution solvent

Product used to dissolve a thick paint down to a sprayable viscosity.

dual-use undercoat

Undercoat that combines two functions. Example: primer-surfacer, which binds and fills.

dust-free time

Length of time required for paint to cure to a point where dirt will no longer stick.

E-coat

An electrode position primer applied to a bare metal part at the factory.

etcher

Liquid formation used to remove microscopic rust formation and to prepare the bare steel to accept paint.

fading

Gradual change in color often caused by exposure to the sun. Also refers to a custom painting technique where one color subtly changes into another color,popularly using adjacent colors on the color wheel.

flattening agent

Reduces the gloss level, depending on how much is added.

flash time

Number of minutes it takes for the solvents in freshly applied paint to evaporate, leaving the paint dry enough to touch.

fish eye eliminator

Modifies paint chemistry to be similar to the chemistry of the contamination to a point where the paint is no longer repelled by the contaminant.

flex agent

An additive that changes the paint by allowing it to remain pliable when deformed.

flexibility

Desirable characteristic of a durable paint.

flow out

The tendency of wet paint to level and smooth out immediately after spraying.

grinding disk

Round abrasive tool that can quickly remove paint, as well as metal.

hardener

When added to paint, filler, or adhesives, hardener initiates a chemical reaction that causes cross-linking.

hiding

Topcoat paint's ability to cover and not allow any color from below to show through.

hold out

The ability of the surfacer to resist absorption of the topcoat.

hue-shifting colors

A tri-coat paint that changes colors.

induction period

Time after mixing when components in the paint are still interacting.

leveling solvent

Reducer component that allows the paint film to stay wet long enough for leveling to take place.

liquid mask

Applied with a spray gun, dries to a film on the surface of the vehicle, and will protect the wheel wells, frame, roof and wheels from paint overspray.

mar resistance

Quality of paint that is so tough and durable that it is not easily scratched by abrasion.

masking paper

Material used to protect the vehicle from overspray when priming or painting.

masking tape

Adhesive tape used to hold masking paper in place, as well as to block paint.

mixing cup

Clear plastic cup with mixing ratios printed on it. Designed for fast and accurate paint formulation and mixing.

mixing sticks

Used to measure paint and stir components.

open-coat

Sandpaper that can hold small amounts of debris and are not readily clogged.

oxidation

Process where paint film combines with oxygen to dry/cure the finish.

paint diluting elements

Paint diluting elements such as thinner or reducer, are combined with paint to create a sprayable mixture.

paint strainers

Device used to filter the mixed paint as it is poured into the paint gun cap.

pigment

Made from fine powders and determines the color of the paint.

plastic wheel

Small tools not efficient to strip areas larger than one foot. Similar to an abrasive disks.

polymerization

Another word for curing. Components in the paint react with each other.

pot life

Amount of time it will take for the mixed paint to cure under standard conditions of 70 degrees (21degrees C) and 50% humidity.

powder coating

Another way to cure paint in automotive application with heat. Baked at high temperatures to cure the powder.

pre-paint solvent

Product formulated to remove fingerprints and minor oil-based contamination prior to the application of paint.

per-sanding solvent

Solution blended to remove contaminants and is considered aggressive and will dissolve heavy tar contamination.

primer

Coating that creates a bond between the bare metal and subsequent paint layers.

reducer

Solvent used to dissolve a thick paint down to a sprayable viscosity. Example is enamel.

reducing

Process where enamel paint is diluted with reducer.

retarder

Additive used to increase paint drying time.

rock guard

Protective coating that looks like heavy orange peel, typically applied to rocker panels and other lower body parts.

sanding paste

Mild abrasive cleaner used to scuff clearcoat before blending.

sealer

An adhesion promoter, helps achieve a uniform topcoat color, forms a barrier over sensitive substrates and provides hold out.

seam sealer

A tube-applied product used to make a joint between panels moisture proof.

self-etching primer

Etches and primes bare metal in one step. It is applied to any bare metal before glass is installed.

shrink

Undesirable tendency for primer or surfacer coats to recede This causes cracking and other unwanted defects in the topcoat.

solvent

Substance capable of dissolving or dispersing other substances.

solvent-borne paint

Type of paint that uses highly volatile chemicals, such as ether, to carry the paint components in suspension.

spray-on bed liner

Thick and durable urethane, polyurethane, or

poxy-based polymer engineered to protect the paint inside the truck bed.

stripping pad

Used on larger areas, such as an entire panel.

substrate

Surface to be painted.

surfacer

Designed to fill imperfections. Applied to build up low spots inside featheredged areas.

tack rag

Loosely woven fabric coated with sticky resin to pick up and hold on to dust and other small particles of debris.

thermoplastic

Paints that dry by evaporation of solvents only.

thermoset paint

Dries by evaporation of the solvent and by reaction.

thinning

Process of diluting lacquer paint with thinner.

topcoat

Provides color ,and because of exposure to the elements, it must be extremely durable.

tri-coat

Two layers of paint underneath the clearcoat. Middle layer can be translucent pearl.

undercoat

Formulated to effectively adhere to the substrate and provide a satisfactory base for the topcoat.

UV cure paint

A finish that contains a photo initiator and is designed to cure when exposed to UV radiation.

viscosity cup

A tool used to measure the liquid thickness of paint.

wash primer

A special type of self-etching primer. It is thin and transparent and also known as pre-coat primer.

waterborne paint

Paint components are suspended in water. Does contain some volatile solvent.