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Just noticed a huge difference in paint curing between shops I visited last week
I stopped by two different body shops in Nashville on Friday and one had their cars curing in a heated bay while the other just had them sitting in the open air. Does that really make a big difference on the final finish or am I overthinking it?
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kelly.daniel2mo ago
Seen this exact thing in shops down in Birmingham. The heated bay thing isn't just about drying faster. Heat helps the paint flow and level out properly before it hardens, so you get a smoother finish with less orange peel. Cold air cure can leave tiny bumps or texture that you'll see in the sun later. I had a bumper done at a shop that just left it in the parking lot and it had that rough feel even after a week. Heated bays cost more but the result is way more consistent.
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benk262mo ago
@kelly.daniel nailed it honestly. Heated bays aren't just for show, they actually do something useful. I've had the same problem with a trunk lid that came out looking like a golf ball after sitting in the cold. Maybe it's just me but I'd rather pay a bit extra and not have to stare at orange peel every time I walk past my car in the sun. Although knowing my luck I'd still manage to get a run in the paint even with the fancy setup.
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