Is Baked Paint or Spray Paint Better at 4S Stores?
2 Answers
Baked paint is better than spray paint. The comparison between baked paint and spray paint is as follows: 1. From the process perspective: (1) Baked paint involves applying three layers of primer and four layers of topcoat on the substrate. Each layer is then sent into a dust-free, temperature-controlled baking room for curing. (2) Spray paint involves sanding the substrate, applying paint, and letting it dry naturally. 2. From the paint film perspective: (1) Baked paint has smooth edges, uniform color, even paint film, and rich color saturation. (2) Spray paint has rough edges, lighter color than the door panel, uneven paint film, and poor color saturation. 3. From the texture perspective: (1) Baked paint door panels have a smooth surface with no texture but may show orange peel effect. (2) Spray paint door panels have a rough surface with visible texture but no orange peel effect. 4. From the surface perspective: (1) Baked paint door panels have a flat and smooth surface. (2) Spray paint door panels have a surface with particles, not smooth, and a strange feel when touched. 5. From the wear resistance perspective: (1) When hitting the paint film with a hard object, if there is no damage, it is baked paint. (2) When hitting the paint film with a hard object, if there are cracks, paint film peeling, or white flakes coming off, it is spray paint.
As a sheet metal and paint technician with nearly 20 years of experience, I can honestly say that the painting process at 4S shops is indeed more reliable. They use professional equipment with dedicated baking booths, and the workflow is particularly meticulous: first sanding off the old paint, applying epoxy primer for rust prevention, then applying three layers of body filler and sanding it smooth, followed by spraying two to three coats of color paint, and finally applying clear coat which is baked in a booth at over 60°C. The advantage of this method is that the paint surface is highly durable, resistant to bubbling in rainy weather, and generally won't crack within five years. The air-dried paint jobs at roadside shops tend to discolor easily under sunlight, especially noticeable on red cars. However, for minor scratches on bumpers requiring touch-up paint, regular repair shops do offer better cost performance.
