Learning about paint

ABCDetail

New member
The other day I was talking to a gentleman who owns a bodyshop here in NC, and I started talking to him about using a rotary, wetsanding, etc. I asked him if maybe he could show me a thing or two about using a rotary, since all I use currently is a PC. He replied that really for him to teach me what I need to know, i'd have to work with him for about a month at the body shop. He said that he could teach me how to USE the rotary in about one afternoon, but that knowing what pads, product, and paint conditions takes a while to understand. I totally believe him, but I want to know how all of you that use rotaries got proficient with them? Trial and error, pro training, etc... Just curious. He also mentioned that his bodyshop fixes about one car a week from the detail shop down the road!
 
Using a rotary in a bodyshop situation is great experience! I would think thats where you need a rotary the most. 1 Afternoon to learn? I would think you have to practice to master less splatter, keeping the rotary leveled, running at the right speeds, etc. You could learn in the winter time. With a bodyshop you could take some hoods / body pieces home to practice also.

Hope to talk to you soon :-p
 
Not only is it a matter of Learning how to use it, it's also the amount of time you spend with it. You can easily "learn" how to in 1 day, but I certainly wouldn't go and do a customer's car after that. You definitely get better the more and more you use it.
 
I agree 100% with Woob and Nick ....
The other advantage to learning at a body shop is that you will be exposed to different paint conditions, such as body shop applied paint versus factory sprayed and baked paint. I would also think that you would gain great exposure to wet sanding and all of the variables that go along with that.
Go for it ... Nothing beats getting experience under a true craftsman.
 
If you got the time to spare, then go for it! Like other have said, be a great place to learn how to use a rotary and how to wetsand. Maybe you can even learn how to mix and spray paint.
 
:yeah Like everyone else said , the more you work with it ,the more proficient you become . If you have time you should take the body shop guy up on his offer to teach you the trade. In my opinion hands on is the best way to learn , never pass up the chance to learn something new. :bigups Best of luck to you.
 
rollman said:
:yeah Like everyone else said , the more you work with it ,the more proficient you become . If you have time you should take the body shop guy up on his offer to teach you the trade. In my opinion hands on is the best way to learn , never pass up the chance to learn something new. :bigups Best of luck to you.
Maybe i need to go and work with him a while ABC who knows maybe i'll see you there:bigups
 
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