Study each topic below — these are the core knowledge areas tested in Year 1. Build a solid foundation here before advancing to Year 2 material.
💡Colour Theory & Matching
- Three dimensions of colour: hue (position on colour wheel), value (light to dark), chroma (intensity)
- Metamerism: colours match under one light but not another
- Tinting: adding toners to adjust colour precisely
- Spectrophotometer: measures colour accurately; blend panels: spray into adjacent panels
📖Waterborne Paint Systems
- VOC regulations driving shift from solvent-borne to waterborne
- Waterborne base: requires heated forced-air drying between coats
- Different flash times than solvent-based products
- Spray gun cleaning: water flush — separate from solvent-based cleaning; stainless or waterborne-compatible gun
📖Plastic Identification & Repair
- Code on plastic part: PP, TPUR, ABS, SMC, CFRP
- Adhesion promoter required for polyolefin (PP) — plastic won't hold paint without it
- Flexible additive: maintains flex in repaired area
- Plastic welding: nitrogen welder or hot stapler for structural repair; SMC fiberglass-based
⚙️Blending Techniques
- Blend zone: area where new paint merges with existing
- Blend into adjacent panel to hide colour variation
- Clearcoat blend: blend clear 6-12" beyond basecoat
- Tri-coat (pearl): basecoat, mid-coat, clear — all three must be blended; wet sand to 800 grit, polish
📖Paint Defects & Correction
- Orange peel: buff with compound → polish
- Fish eyes: silicone contamination — add fish eye eliminator or resand
- Lifting: incompatible products or insufficient cure of undercoat
- Solvent pop: blistering from trapped solvents — sand, reprime; dirt/nib: sand 1500 wet, compound, polish
📖Body Filler & Straightening
- Quality polyester filler: 2% hardener by weight
- Mixing on non-porous board; spread in thin coats (max 6mm)
- Guide coat: dry spray coat used to find low spots during block sanding
- Blocking: using a hard backing block for flat panels; fiberglass filler for rust holes and larger repairs