What is Orange Peel and how is it different from Clear Coat?

[luwahn]

Hey guys, I thought I would carry this topic over from the 'Everest 2015' thread so that all the info on this subject could be contained under its own title.

What is Orange Peel and how does it differ from Clear Coat? What is there to like and dislike about it?

[Sviss Geez]

There is nothing to like about orange peel.

There is no similarity and no comparison can be made between the orange peel effect and clear coat.

Orange peel is the effect produced by the incorrect application of paint (or clear coat) that gives a dimpled look similar to orange peel, i.e. the surface of the paint or clear is not flat and so distorts reflections from the paint's surface. I believe that the method of manufacture or constituents of modern paint can make the orange peel effect difficult to avoid and it has to be (should be) removed by polishing or wet sanding.

Clear coat is a transparent protective layer applied over the paint which also ensures a high gloss but can also show the orange peel effect.

[IMHO]

According to paint experts, orange peel is just a side effect of newer paint formulations that are required to have low VOC's - i.e. paint formulations that are intended to be healthier for people and the environment.

A couple of decades ago, before people cared about health and environment issues of VOC's orange peel was almost non-existent on properly applied paint. These days, with waterbased paints that are baked on, orange peel is just a fact of life. All newer cars have it - even the Benz's, BMW' s and Porsche's...

There's orange peel, and then there ORANGE PEEL though... You shouldn't be able to feel it - if you can, you've got a bad paint job and should complain. The only time it's really detectable is when looking at reflected objects, where it results in blurring and/or distortion. Orange-peel free paint works just like a mirror.

The bottom line is, if you see a car less than 2 decades old that doesn't have orange peel, it's either been removed intentionally, or the car has been repaired / resprayed. Indeed, a lack of orange peel, or excessive orange peel, on selected panels only, is one of the easiest ways to detect a crash damaged car.

This article is a good read on the subject: http://www.mustangandfords.com/how-to/paint-body/1507-is-orange-peel-in-paint-bad-or-correct/

[kartman]

Orange peel can have a 'Tangy taste' clear coat tastes like "S/?&'

[Ace of Pop]

Well mine hast been repaired ,but Ford isn't that fussy.Neither is Mitsu I've noticed Nissan Cars seem as good as Honda imo. Get cutting back IMHO it's worthwhile in your case.Black n Dark finish need it.

[Ace of Pop]

P.S. IMHO. Looks superb apart from those tiny wheels. Looks unbalanced.

[IMHO]

Well mine hast been repaired ,but Ford isn't that fussy.Neither is Mitsu I've noticed Nissan Cars seem as good as Honda imo. Get cutting back IMHO it's worthwhile in your case.Black n Dark finish need it.

What about this poster from early this year that had Nissan share in the cost to have his Juke's orange peel removed?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789610-updated-nissan-juke/?p=9162796

[DavisH]

According to paint experts, orange peel is just a side effect of newer paint formulations that are required to have low VOC's - i.e. paint formulations that are intended to be healthier for people and the environment.

A couple of decades ago, before people cared about health and environment issues of VOC's orange peel was almost non-existent on properly applied paint. These days, with waterbased paints that are baked on, orange peel is just a fact of life. All newer cars have it - even the Benz's, BMW' s and Porsche's...

There's orange peel, and then there ORANGE PEEL though... You shouldn't be able to feel it - if you can, you've got a bad paint job and should complain. The only time it's really detectable is when looking at reflected objects, where it results in blurring and/or distortion. Orange-peel free paint works just like a mirror.

The bottom line is, if you see a car less than 2 decades old that doesn't have orange peel, it's either been removed intentionally, or the car has been repaired / resprayed. Indeed, a lack of orange peel, or excessive orange peel, on selected panels only, is one of the easiest ways to detect a crash damaged car.

This article is a good read on the subject: http://www.mustangandfords.com/how-to/paint-body/1507-is-orange-peel-in-paint-bad-or-correct/

That make explain why nissan (who sprayed my suzuki under insurance), decided to spray the whole car. It now has considerably more orange peel than on the original which was quite OK. The panels would not have matched correctly. I wonder if the clear wrap would make it less noticeable..?

Do some colours show the orange peel more than others? My dark blue shows it up clearly.

I watched a video where a guy used 1500 wet and dry to cut it back, then some meguiars products to buff it up. Looked pretty good, but would not be game to try it on my one car. Looks like it would take ages though.

[DavisH]

Well mine hast been repaired ,but Ford isn't that fussy.Neither is Mitsu I've noticed Nissan Cars seem as good as Honda imo. Get cutting back IMHO it's worthwhile in your case.Black n Dark finish need it.

What about this poster from early this year that had Nissan share in the cost to have his Juke's orange peel removed?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789610-updated-nissan-juke/?p=9162796

That's interesting, wonder if they would fix mine too...

[IMHO]

Well mine hast been repaired ,but Ford isn't that fussy.Neither is Mitsu I've noticed Nissan Cars seem as good as Honda imo. Get cutting back IMHO it's worthwhile in your case.Black n Dark finish need it.

What about this poster from early this year that had Nissan share in the cost to have his Juke's orange peel removed?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789610-updated-nissan-juke/?p=9162796

That's interesting, wonder if they would fix mine too...

The way I understand it, that was a new car, and it was the dealership that folded to the buyer's demands to help with 4K of the 5K cost - it wasn't actually Nissan TH paying, or something that was covered under warranty.

In your case, you'd probably be best going back to your insurance company to complain about the quality of the repair work.

[luwahn]

Now that I understand Orange Peel is a 'condition' (and not a treatment), does it occur often on LOS cars delivered from the factory? Wouldn't the car owner have some recourse in such a situation or does it require a 'trained eye' to notice?

[IMHO]

Now that I understand Orange Peel is a 'condition' (and not a treatment), does it occur often on LOS cars delivered from the factory? Wouldn't the car owner have some recourse in such a situation or does it require a 'trained eye' to notice?

It is standard on all cars, all brands, all models - because they all use the same low VOC chemicals and spraying / baking methods.

The only time you'll find a new car without orange peel is if someone has gone to the effort to remove it.

[Ace of Pop]

Some Colours enhance the peel,so its noticeable, some dont.Black ones are the Pips for Orange Peel.

[Ace of Pop]

Well mine hast been repaired ,but Ford isn't that fussy.Neither is Mitsu I've noticed Nissan Cars seem as good as Honda imo. Get cutting back IMHO it's worthwhile in your case.Black n Dark finish need it.

What about this poster from early this year that had Nissan share in the cost to have his Juke's orange peel removed?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789610-updated-nissan-juke/?p=9162796

Why not ask Ford to do the same then, Nicely Played as You remarked, must admit i never looked till today, and quite happy theres nothing to notice.

[IMHO]

Well mine hast been repaired ,but Ford isn't that fussy.Neither is Mitsu I've noticed Nissan Cars seem as good as Honda imo. Get cutting back IMHO it's worthwhile in your case.Black n Dark finish need it.

What about this poster from early this year that had Nissan share in the cost to have his Juke's orange peel removed?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789610-updated-nissan-juke/?p=9162796

Why not ask Ford to do the same then, Nicely Played as You remarked, must admit i never looked till today, and quite happy theres nothing to notice.

The reason is, you're generally either very brave, or very stupid, or both, to try and remove orange peel form factory paint.

I'm the only idiot I trust to do it

[raffo77]

....then a mototaxi ruins all your work

[Sviss Geez]

Now that I understand Orange Peel is a 'condition' (and not a treatment), does it occur often on LOS cars delivered from the factory? Wouldn't the car owner have some recourse in such a situation or does it require a 'trained eye' to notice?

It is standard on all cars, all brands, all models - because they all use the same low VOC chemicals and spraying / baking methods.

The only time you'll find a new car without orange peel is if someone has gone to the effort to remove it.

...unless you are Ace of Pop, his Civic doesn't have it. Must have been a special order.

[thrilled]

Supposedly you can sand,professional body shop.Then the area will need to put 1 or more coats of clear coat on afterwards.

If it's not really noticeable then just live with it.Most people just leave it like it is.

[Sviss Geez]

Supposedly you can sand,professional body shop.Then the area will need to put 1 or more coats of clear coat on afterwards.

If it's not really noticeable then just live with it.Most people just leave it like it is.

Only if the clear coat is sanded off down to the paint but that's not what happens. The clear is sanded down as level as possible removing as little as possible of that coat. It is then compounded and polished using gradually finer compounds/polishes to bring back the gloss.

Applying another final coat of clear would defeat the object of the exercise. If you were being so particular that you were wet sanding in the first place, you would then need to wet sand and polish that clear that had just been applied.

[luwahn]

I just noticed a small Orange peel section on my 3 y.o. SUV!

[Don Mega]

Cheap white goods cars have peel.... live with it or spend some $$$ on a decent car.