How I used to fight with clear coat runs vs. now just walking away from the gun

Back when I started at a shop in Nashville about 6 years ago, I would try to fix a run while it was still wet. Big mistake. I'd mess with it, make it worse, then have to sand the whole panel after it dried. My boss yelled at me once "you're just spreading the problem around" and he was right. Now if I get a run, I leave it alone, let it cure fully, then block sand it out. Takes me maybe 15 extra minutes instead of an hour of frustration. Anyone else learn this one the hard way?

3 comments

3 Comments

sam171mo ago

Man, that boss was right. Spreading it around just makes a bigger mess you gotta fix later.

felix8241mo ago

That's exactly how I see it working with people too honestly. It's like that old saying about gossip or a rumor - once you start spreading something around, it just gets bigger and more twisted until you're stuck cleaning up a hundred different lies instead of just owning one truth up front. Same deal with trying to fix small problems by ignoring them or pushing them onto someone else, they always come back bigger and louder later on.

the_wren1mo ago

Hold up, @felix824, are you saying that boss actually demonstrated the principle by smashing a monitor? That's either a really committed teaching moment or someone who really needed to step away from the desk for a bit. Either way, it's a pretty memorable way to drive the point home.