Painters, managers and body shop owners alike gathered in Glendale, California, for a clinic to introduce BASF’s water-borne R-M Onyx HD – an easy-to-use paint line, enabling shops to achieve the best possible results in the fastest possible time. At the August 1st event, a live demonstration by Colortone Technical Service Specialist Henry Hernandez, a 30-year veteran painter, showed off the simplicity and effectiveness of the product and the supporting SATA HVLP paint guns used to apply it.

        More than 66 Los Angeles painters and owners had the opportunity to see how easy the Onyx paint is to spray.

        R-M Onyx HD was developed to replace the solvent-borne R-M Diamont line, allowing southern California auto body shops to accomplish the legislated switch away from solvent-based paint, and, at the same time, acquire next-generation processes already in use world wide.

        Participants learned that, in most cases, no significant new equipment (apart from disposal containers for water) is required. An HVLP spray gun, which most shops have, is all the equipment needed to spray Onyx HD.

        Steve Treutel, from SATA demonstrated the proper use of the SATA Dry-Jet system on the Onyx HD basecoat. The increased airflow from the Dry-Jet over a panel helps speed the drying of the basecoat.

        Hernandez used BASF’s recommended application procedure for the Onyx HD. He applied one medium wet coat, allowed that to flash, and  followed up with one medium coat. After the second coat flashed off Hernandez applied an “orientation coat” to even the metallics.

        “Using this procedure,” said Hernandez, “the color will always match the BASF ColorMax color tool chip.”

        The event was co-sponsored by Colortone Automotive Paints, a Los Angeles company since 1933 and a ColorSource Distributor; BASF Corporation, Total Sales & Marketing; and SATA.

        As an extra bonus for attendees, two SATA paint guns were raffled off along with 50 other door prizes.