Clear Bra Question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 213
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From: Long Beach, CA
Clear Bra Question
I had my front bumper resprayed late last year because it was rock-pocked. The product used was DuPont's CroMax paint system, which uses a water-based paint and a solvent-based clear coat. The body shop said to let it cure 30 days and I'd be good to go with a clear bra installation.
I had the clear bra done on the entire front end - bumper, full hood, fenders. Months later, I noticed what looked like a fine spray mist on the bumper. I tried to wipe it off, but quickly realized that it was underneath the clear bra.
Two body shops and the clear bra installer said that what I am seeing is fine bubbles from the continued off-gassing of the paint. In other words, the bumper wasn't fully cured before clear bra installation.
The body shop that did the respray agreed, and agreed to redo the job and pay for a new clear bra install on the bumper. They say, however, that it will take 90 days for the paint to fully cure and to not reinstall the clear bra until then. That seems awfully long.
I'd appreciate hearing from anyone that has had experience with this particular DuPont paint product and its cure time.
Many thanks!
I had the clear bra done on the entire front end - bumper, full hood, fenders. Months later, I noticed what looked like a fine spray mist on the bumper. I tried to wipe it off, but quickly realized that it was underneath the clear bra.
Two body shops and the clear bra installer said that what I am seeing is fine bubbles from the continued off-gassing of the paint. In other words, the bumper wasn't fully cured before clear bra installation.
The body shop that did the respray agreed, and agreed to redo the job and pay for a new clear bra install on the bumper. They say, however, that it will take 90 days for the paint to fully cure and to not reinstall the clear bra until then. That seems awfully long.
I'd appreciate hearing from anyone that has had experience with this particular DuPont paint product and its cure time.
Many thanks!
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 14
From: Oakville, Canada
Some of the older 3M product did that, but that's quite some time ago, my silver color DD has VentureShield film on it for 6 years now, no yellowing and no difference between the original film installed on the hood/fenders and the newer film on the bumper installed 4 years ago.
The Xpel film on the Porsche is now 1.5 years old, no signs of yellowing either.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: Long Beach, CA
I Dr. Colorchipped the hood, which came out great. The bumper was to chewed up for that. The clear bra installer tried a small test area, but wasn't going to be able to get good adherence.
