Chloe Zhang
Paint fisheye is a phenomenon where small, circular craters appear on painted surfaces. It is caused by contaminants—usually oil, wax, silicone, or grease—on the surface before the application of paint. When paint is applied over these contaminants, it is unable to adhere to the surface, resulting in the paint particles sticking to themselves and creating tension craters. This issue commonly occurs on plastic surfaces, and can be prevented by thoroughly cleaning the surface with detergent and hot water, followed by a solvent cleaner, before painting.
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What You'll Learn
Oil, wax, silicone, and grease contaminants
Silicone, in particular, is often the culprit behind fisheye. This is because silicone is a very slick oil that is noticeably slicker than mineral oil. Many furniture polishes, especially those packaged in aerosols, contain silicone. Additionally, certain brands of deodorant, fabric softeners, and hand lotion contain silicone, which can go airborne and contaminate surfaces.
Oily food products can also be a source of contamination if individuals do not wash their hands thoroughly before handling objects to be painted. Outdated air oil separators can also leak excessive amounts of oil, causing fisheye.
To prevent fisheye, it is crucial to identify and eliminate potential sources of contamination. This may involve instructing employees to wash their hands after eating or switching to a different brand of deodorant or hand lotion. Additionally, ensuring proper ventilation and using an air filtering system can help reduce the risk of contamination.
While it is challenging to prevent all instances of fisheye, taking proactive measures can significantly reduce the chances of it occurring and save time, money, and resources in the long run.
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Using thinner/reducer instead of a solvent cleaner
Fisheye is a phenomenon that occurs when small, circular crater-like openings appear during or after painting. It is caused by contaminants like oil, wax, silicone, or grease on the painted surface, preventing the paint from adhering properly.
Using a thinner or reducer instead of a solvent cleaner is one of the reasons why fisheyes may develop on a painted surface. While thinner and reducer are used to thin paint and reduce its viscosity, they are not substitutes for a proper solvent cleaner.
When using a thinner or reducer instead of a solvent cleaner, the contaminants on the surface are not adequately removed. These contaminants can be introduced by surface cleaners, rags, food, the air, or equipment lines. As a result, when the paint is applied, it cannot properly adhere to the surface, causing fisheyes.
To avoid this issue, it is crucial to thoroughly clean the surface before painting. This can be done by first cleaning the surface with detergent and hot water and then following up with a solvent cleaner. It is important to note that thinner and reducer are not interchangeable with solvent cleaners as they serve different purposes. Solvent cleaners are specifically designed to remove contaminants, while thinner and reducer are meant to adjust the viscosity of the paint.
Additionally, it is important to be cautious when using fisheye eliminators or preventers. While these products can be effective in addressing fisheyes, they should be used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Overuse of these products can lead to the formation of fisheyes, and they should not be used as a substitute for thorough cleaning and preparation of the surface.
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Spraying over areas with fisheye eliminator
Fisheyes are caused by contamination, most often in the form of silicone, water, oil, and/or grease on the substrate. They can also be caused by dirt, wax, fingerprints, caulk residue, or other contaminants. These contaminants prevent the paint from adhering properly to the surface, resulting in small circular, crater-like openings that appear during or shortly after painting. To avoid fisheyes, it is important to thoroughly clean the surface before painting and to use a solvent cleaner.
If you are spraying over an area that already has fisheyes, you can use a fisheye eliminator additive to help correct the problem. Fisheye eliminator eases surface tension and allows the coating to flow properly, providing a smooth, professional finish. When using a fisheye eliminator, it is important to follow the instructions carefully and add the recommended amount to your topcoat formula. For example, one product recommends adding 1 ounce of fisheye eliminator to 1 quart of sprayable paint.
It is important to note that fisheye eliminator should not be used in undercoats or basecoat colors. If fisheyes appear in a basecoat, it is recommended to allow the color to dry and then spray a mist coat over the affected area. If the paint is still wet, you can remove the paint film with a solvent, clean the surface, and then refinish it.
There are several fisheye eliminator products available on the market, including Eastwood Fish Eye Eliminator and Custom Shop KE215-HP Fisheye Eliminator. These products can be purchased from retailers such as Amazon and are designed to combat fisheyes and provide a smooth finish.
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Incompatible materials
Paint fisheyes are primarily caused by contaminants on the surface of the object being painted. However, in some cases, the issue may be due to incompatible materials. For instance, if the paint has a lot of dressing on it, it may be necessary to wipe it with a wax and grease remover and wash it with a degreaser before beginning to paint. Even after cleaning, some contaminants may still remain, causing fisheyes.
In other cases, the issue may be caused by the use of certain products during the preparation process. For example, tack cloths are typically treated with boiled linseed oil, which is a component of many paints. However, if a tack cloth is not properly cleaned, it may leave behind contaminants that cause fisheyes. Similarly, rubbing alcohol may not be sufficient to properly degrease a surface, and other products such as wax and grease removers or acetone may be necessary.
Additionally, the use of certain additives or thinners can also contribute to the formation of fisheyes. For instance, using a thinner or reducer instead of a solvent cleaner can cause paint bubbling. Moreover, the use of fisheye eliminator as an additive can also lead to fisheyes if not used correctly.
To prevent fisheyes caused by incompatible materials, it is important to carefully read and follow the instructions for any products used during the painting process. Additionally, thoroughly cleaning the surface to be painted and ensuring that all contaminants are removed can help reduce the likelihood of fisheyes.
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Contaminants from human touch
Paint fisheye is a phenomenon where small, circular-shaped defects with tiny craters in the centre appear on a painted surface. Fisheyes are caused by contaminants on the surface of the object being painted or in the equipment used for painting.
Human touch can cause contaminants to form on the surface of an object, leading to paint fisheye. Skin oil from a technician's hands or arms can cause fisheyes to form when the next layer of paint is applied. This can be prevented by wearing latex gloves or washing hands before beginning work. Oil and lubricants from tools used between layers of paint can also cause fisheyes, so it is important to clean and maintain power tools regularly to ensure they do not leak fluids onto the fresh paint.
In addition to skin oil, other contaminants that can cause paint fisheye include silicon, dirt, wax, and grease particles. These contaminants can come from surface cleaners, rags, food, the air, or equipment lines. A previous paint job may have also used silicon-heavy additives that can cause fisheye to occur in subsequent paint jobs. Therefore, it is important to thoroughly clean the surface of the object before beginning the paint job and to use a paint prep solvent to clean and dissolve impurities.
If fisheyes do occur, they can be repaired by sanding, cleaning, and repainting the affected area. It is recommended to use sandpaper to remove the area with the fisheye, then clean the area with water and a suitable cleaning product, and finally, apply a sealing product to prevent the issue from reoccurring. To prevent fisheyes from forming in the first place, it is crucial to maintain proper painting equipment and consider installing an air filtration system to remove and prevent oil and moisture contamination.
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Frequently asked questions
Fisheye is caused by a contaminant on the surface prior to the application of paint. The contaminant is usually light oil (silicon), which prevents the paint from adhering to the surface, creating a "fish eye crater".
To prevent fisheyes, thoroughly clean the surface with detergent and hot water, followed by a solvent cleaner. Wipe dry with clean rags before painting.
If fisheyes appear in the basecoat, allow the colour to dry, then spray a mist coat over the affected area. If the paint has dried, sand the surface to a smooth finish below the fisheye cratering and refinish.
