SMART Repair

SMART repair is a cost effective technique that can be utilised when the area to be repaired can be contained within the area of an A4 sheet of paper.

3M has a fully comprehensive range of products available for you to undertake SMART repairs, with the process in this guide showing the full SMART repair process.

SMART Repair Process
1. Damage Assessment
2. Surface Cleaning
3. Surface Preparation
4. Masking
5. Primer Application
6. Primer Sanding
7. Paint Application
8. Paint Rectification

Full SMART Repair Process

Damage Assessment

SMART Repair Process – Step 1

Access the position, size of damage and colour for suitability to SMART repair (THINK SMALL).

Surface Cleaning

SMART Repair Process – Step 2

Wash and preclean the entire panel using 3M™ Professional Panel Wipes 34567 and 3M™ Adhesive Cleaner 08984.

Compound the entire panel using 3M™ Perfect-it III™ Fast Cut Plus Compound 50417 (and 3M™ Perfect-it III™ Extra Fine Compound 80349 if a dark colour) to get the panel back to a freshly painted appearance.

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Surface Preparation

SMART Repair Process – Step 3

Sand out the defect using a 3M™ Hookit™ Abrasive P180 or P320 76mm Disc. (Always start with the finest grade possible). N.B. The use of 76mm discs helps to minimise the size of the SMART repair area.

Apply a stopper if required and sand using 3M™ Hookit™ Abrasive P180 / P320 Disc or Sheet. N.B. Using a 01908 Handblock with the abrasive disc will help keep the SMART repair area smaller than using a traditional block.

Sand around the repair area using a 3M™ Trizact™ 75mm, P1000 Blending Disc 50413.

Enlarge the area further using a 3M™ Trizact™ 75mm, P3000 Fine Finishing Disc 50415.

N.B. Remember that for a SMART repair you should think small: the completed sanded area should be no bigger than a A4 Sheet.

Masking

SMART Repair Process – Step 4

Mask out the surrounding area to be painted using 3M™ Soft Edge Foam Masking Tape Plus 50421 and 3M™ Taped Masking Film 05967 with Scotch® High Performance Masking Tape 3434 07895.

Primer Application

SMART Repair Process – Step 5

Apply the primer following the paint company recommendations. Overspray must be kept to a minimum to keep the SMART repair area as small as possible.

Primer Sanding

SMART Repair Process – Step 6

Sand the primer using 3M™ Hookit™ P500 and /or P1000 76mm Abrasive Disc.

Paint Application

SMART Repair Process – Step 7

Apply the basecoat to the primed area using 3M™ Mini Paint Preparation System (PPS) again following paint company guidelines. N.B. Apply the basecoat from the outside in to keep the SMART repair area small and the overspray to a minimum.

Once the basecoat is thoroughly dry, carefully ‘Tack’ the area using the 3M™ Tack cloth Aqua 50401. Apply the clearcoat to the basecoat area and then fade the edge away using the blending agent.