693 Chapter 28 Spray Technique Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. of excess paint at the point where the two panels meet. The best way to paint these is to first spray a band of paint at the right angle. This technique is sometimes called banding. Use the band as a beginning and stop- ping point. Spray one panel, and then paint the other as shown in Figure 28-35. Painting the broad side of a van or the large expanse of a truck’s bed side calls for the same painting strategy that is used on a quarter panel or fender. The only difference being the panel must be divided into sections or walked. Spray the wheel well first. Then work from top to bottom. Painting the inside of a pickup truck bed requires several different strategies. When just one inside panel of a bed needs to be painted, the painter can stand inside the bed to spray. When the entire inside of the bed must be painted, the painter should stand outside of the bed. Full-size pickup beds are difficult to reach. One way to get around this problem is to position the painter on a stand. Another way to spray the inside of a pickup truck bed is to remove the bed from the pickup frame and paint the bed separately. The bed can be placed on stands, near the floor, giving the painter greater access. In either case, the painter must spray in an awkward position. The painter must reach around to spray the inside of the bed. It can be difficult to keep the spray gun, air hose, and sleeves out of the wet paint. When spraying the entire bed, spray the floor first. Spray in sections. Start at the center and work to one side. Then go to the center and spray to the other side. Next, spray the sides. Spraying the wheel wells can cause problems. Try banding the right angles around the wheel well, and then spray the wheel well and the sides around it. Other Painting Considerations Every detail is important when painting. Seem- ingly unimportant factors, such as failure to thoroughly wash the vehicle or wearing a dirty painting suit, will result in a poor finish. There are no shortcuts to quality painting. By following best practices, developed and tested by the industry, technicians will give themselves the best chance to consistently produce excellent results. Controlling the air hose, understanding spray booth airflow, and being dedicated to thorough spray gun maintenance are examples of the kind of atten- tion to detail that separates the expert painter from the amateur. Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 28-34. The rear door on this car has a difficult to spray, angled area. Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 28-33. Follow the long dimension when spraying a long narrow panel. Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 28-35. Banding is the technique used to avoid runs. First spray a band of paint where the panels meet. Spray the fender, and then spray the bed side. 1. 3. 2. 1. Spray band around rear fender 2. Spray fender 3. Spray bed