A customer said my clear coat looked like orange peel and I got mad, but he was right.

About two months ago, I was finishing a hood repair and thought it looked great. The customer, an older guy who used to paint planes, came to pick it up. He ran his hand over it and said, 'Son, this texture is all wrong. It's got more orange peel than a Florida grove.' I was ready to argue, but he showed me how the light caught it at an angle. I'd been mixing my clear a bit too thick and spraying a little too far out, thinking it gave better coverage. I was wrong. I changed two things: I now always use a mixing cup for the exact ratios, and I keep my gun about six inches closer. The difference is night and day. Has anyone else had a customer call them out on a finish detail you thought was fine?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_tyler22d ago

My first year doing bodywork, I must have sprayed fifty panels with that same orange peel texture. Thought it was just how it dried. A regular customer, Mrs. Chen, finally asked if her new fender was supposed to look like a golf ball. That stung, but she was right. It's exactly what @simonp76 said about being blind to your own process. I was so focused on getting color match perfect, I ignored the clear coat finish. Started using a guide coat on the clear now, shows every ripple.

simonp7622d ago

Isn't it funny how we can be blind to our own work? I mean, you get so used to your own process that a fresh set of eyes can spot the obvious flaw. It's a good reminder to stay open to feedback.

miles_hall22d ago

Remember trying to fix a leaky faucet for hours once. I was sure the washer was the problem, kept replacing it. My buddy walks in, takes one look and points out the whole valve body was cracked. Felt so dumb but he saved me from flooding the kitchen. Sometimes you're just too close to see the thing right in front of you.