Aerosol-applied UV-cured primer surfacers offer new technology that allows collision centers to deliver high quality spot repairs while dramatically reducing the amount of time and material spent per job.

Ideal for scratches, small dings and dents, aerosol-applied primer surfacers can be cured in just two minutes with the use of a paint manufacturer's approved ultraviolet (UV) lamp. Two minutes of light at 8 inches to 10 inches from the repair will cure an area the size of an 8.5x11-inch sheet of paper.

By using such a system, you can achieve topcoating in less than six minutes - more than 45 minutes faster than conventional primer products. In some cases, when a shop uses a UV-cured primer, repairs can be made for customers "while-you-wait," potentially increasing the shop's customer satisfaction index (CSI).

Because UV-cured primer surfacers are aerosol applied, overspray is less than when using a traditional paint gun. As a result, less masking is needed for spot repairs, no gun cleaning is required, and there is less waste. Also, since these products only require a few minutes of vigorous shaking by hand, mixing time is reduced.

As with any refinish product, it's important to your health and safety to read and follow the safety procedures for applying UV-cured primers. Be sure to read the technical literature and MSDS safety information provided by the manufacturer.

Don't be fooled into thinking that since UV-cured primers are aerosol applied, normal spraying procedures do not apply. When spraying UV-cured primer, you must wear an air-fed breathing apparatus and protective nitrile gloves and spray in a well-ventilated area. Also wear the nitrile gloves when wiping off the uncured primer.

Special precautions should also be taken when handling a UV lamp. Never look directly into the lamp or expose your skin to direct UV light. To protect your eyes, you must wear UV protective glasses when using the lamp.

You should also be aware that UV lamps get very hot, so be careful not to burn your skin and to keep the lamp away from solvent fumes.

In today's world, success in collision repair is all about improving operational efficiency while delivering quality workmanship. Easy to use, with less masking, less mixing, less waste, no gun cleaning and reduced cure times, UV-cured primer surfacers allow collision centers to move spot repairs into the fast lane, helping to reduce process time by as much as 80 percent, increase cost savings and decrease cycle time. UV-cured primer surfacers are the two-minute solution for achieving super-fast spot repair jobs.

This article was provided courtesy of the Technical Service Group of PPG Automotive Refinish. For more information on UV cured primer surfacers, go to www.ppgrefinish.com. The Technical Service group is available 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time at (440) 572-6111.

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