Five Ways to Minimise Paint Waste in Bodyshops

Paint sprayingWhen repairing and restoring cars, we are always looking for ways to minimise costs and save time. During the painting stage, there are various things you can do to minimise paint waste to avoid extra spending, whilst speeding up the process.

1. Effective Stock Management

Firstly, place your orders on a regular basis so you can make sure you keep track of which colours/tinters you already have to avoid over ordering. When trying colours, test them in small quantities in natural daylight - you don’t want to get the wrong colour and waste time and paint by respraying/reworking.

If there are multiple vehicles requiring the same work, such as primer, then plan these jobs back-to-back when possible to save time. If only a specific section of the vehicle needs painting, then consider removing it from the vehicle to avoid the need for masking and it gives you the flexibility to move it to another area of the workshop. 

2. Avoid Spillages

If you need to paint at awkward angles and even upside down, you may worry that you’ll spill some paint. With the Norton Paint System (NPS), you needn’t worry! There is a membrane system that creates a vacuum seal so the paint cup can be shaken to mix the paint, as well as being tilted upside down to cover those hard to reach areas, without the risk of paint spilling or leaking, reducing preparation and clean-up time.

The vacuum system pulls the paint from the cup through the gun, which allows you to paint at awkward angles including upside down, for periods of time.  It’s also lightweight so it reduces fatigue and makes the job easier. As the NPS sprays from the filter liner, not the hard cup, you can clearly see where you’re spraying to avoid over-spraying.

3. Use Less Equipment

Costs start adding up with the more equipment you need. The NPS system is quick to use with its two click system. A reusable hard cup is available with pre-printed mixing ratio scales so avoids the need for extra mixing cups to mix directly into - one less piece of equipment to factor in.

You can also avoid spending excess money on solvent gunwash as you only need to clean your spray gun and not the hard cup supplied with it. There is a fresh clean NPS cup for each and every job. Plus, there are no remnants of paint or chance of cross contamination from your spray guns hard cup when using the NPS system.

4. Store Leftovers

Paint storage_webThe vacuum seal in the NPS ensures all the paint is used and distributed evenly as it collapses in a controlled way when sprayed. If there is any paint left, it can be stored. We recommend storing leftover paint in the holder provided, keeping it moist so it’s ready to use again. You could always use the leftovers for the door interiors and edging.

5. Review and Maintain

Once you’ve completed the job, review how much paint was used and how much is leftover. This could help when planning your next paint job and ordering stock.

Make sure to regularly maintain your products and clean any fan blades that may have become dirty due to overspray, as this can reduce airflow away from the finish surface and the user. This will ensure you not only deliver the best performance by reducing any dust contamination but will protect your health.

Paint Waste Disposal

If you need to discard any waste, you need to ensure it’s safely disposed of so it doesn’t harm humans or the environment. Visit Gov.uk for more information.

Before you get started with your paint job, click here for tips on preparing a car for paint. For further advice, get in touch with our Norton experts.