Fixing Fish-eyes

Bob Heine

Bob Heine

Oldtimer
Fish-eye eliminators can help in some style paints and the lower the grade, the better they work. For the very best clears, fish-eye additives are less effective and using more may actually add to the problem. This applies to SPI clears but should apply to most clears as well.

The first coat of clear is on and we have fish-eyes on some panels. The options are:
  • Wait, let it set and wet sand the fish-eyes out.
  • Let the fish-eyed panels set 20-30 minutes
  1. Add 50-100% medium urethane reducer to the clear you have mixed up.
  2. Spray one medium coat over the problem areas and walk away for 15-20 minutes.
  3. Repeat until you have two to three medium coats. This should have the problem solved.
  4. Let set 15-20 minutes.
  5. Finish spraying the vehicle with unreduced clear.


Usually this will solve the problem and if not totally, the remaining imperfections can be easily wet sanded and buffed.
This is one of Barry's posts from the old web site.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
What about just adding fish eye eliminator? (option "C")
what's so bad about that.
I haven't used any in a long time but it sure did solve
the problem back when I got fish eyes.
I used it quite often, even if I didn't need it, because
it made the paint flow better. I never saw a down side other
than having to use it again if ever painted over.
 
Fisheye eliminator may become more effective if solids content is lowered by the addition of extra reducer.

But, since it is pure silicone, it is a contaminant in its own right, and may induce problems in future jobs by contaminating the spray equipment and surrounding area.
 
i let the last coat of clear tack up slick to the touch and get out a toothpic or trusty sword brush and dip in leftover clear in the cup and dab into the fisheyes and kinda work it till its filled in. continue on with your cut/buff process once its all cured enough to cut.

The mustang had about 10 on the top right quarter panel on the very last coat...have NO idea how it happened. I cleaned the gun out good, took suit off and all then walked back in the booth to double check things and BAM..there they were. After i sat down and took a deep breath i got the brush and leftover clear. Quarter is smooth now.
 
when i get the occasional fish eye i do just as jeremy said. dab a little in it, sand and buff flat after cured. jim, always try and stay away from eliminator. like crash said, its silicone. you are really putting silicone in your gun and spraying it around your shop contaminating everything. many times, once you start using it you cant stop and have to use it all the time. it really is bad news.
 
Arrowhead found this gem from Barry from '04:

"Use NO!!! lacquer thinner! It will smear the friction modifiers (depending on brand and type) in the trans fluid and you will have a mess.

Take rubbing alcohol 50%
Tap Water 50%
Now add 10% ammonia.
wash twice and dry with clean rag each time.

Let dry about 10 minutes and hand scuff with 320 and apply one
coat of primer over just to make sure you got it all out. If primer
goes on smooth you've got it whipped!

Another issue I just thought of, Did this happen in a closed up garage? If outside no problem in a small garage trans fluid is the worse fish-eye causer of anything, you may need to wash the whole car with the above mix if it was. Make sure you use and keep the rags clean while cleaning maybe get a roll of heavy duty paper towels.
Also all trans fluid on the floor must be delt with before anything is done."
 
Thanks for reposting that. Just put it in context, Barry was commenting on a post on a another forum where the poster has transmission fluid on his panels.
 
Bob Heine;5755 said:
Arrowhead found this gem from Barry from '04:

"Use NO!!! lacquer thinner! It will smear the friction modifiers (depending on brand and type) in the trans fluid and you will have a mess.

Take rubbing alcohol 50%
Tap Water 50%
Now add 10% ammonia.
wash twice and dry with clean rag each time.

Let dry about 10 minutes and hand scuff with 320 and apply one
coat of primer over just to make sure you got it all out. If primer
goes on smooth you've got it whipped!

Another issue I just thought of, Did this happen in a closed up garage? If outside no problem in a small garage trans fluid is the worse fish-eye causer of anything, you may need to wash the whole car with the above mix if it was. Make sure you use and keep the rags clean while cleaning maybe get a roll of heavy duty paper towels.
Also all trans fluid on the floor must be delt with before anything is done."
Click to expand...

Other Culprits to fish eyes are wd40, PB blaster, tire dressing.
 
Got fish eyes, go to the optometrist.

217622-3d-Pink-Fish-Wearing-Glasses-And-Facing-Front-Poster-Art-Print.jpg
 
i understand silicone is a contaminate and causes fisheyes why does it prevent them if you add it to the paint ? never have understood that.
 
If you are going to wash the tranny fluid off your ospho prepped panels for application of POR14, then by all means soda blast the lacquer thinner off first
 
Senile Old Fart;20019 said:
If you are going to wash the tranny fluid off your ospho prepped panels for application of POR14, then by all means soda blast the lacquer thinner off first
Click to expand...

I Lol'ed
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top