Tip of the Month

Hidden Money with ESR

Innovation comes in many forms. I could tell you about our new innovative clearcoats, primers, basecoat or some other products. However, I’m not going to because at Sherwin-Williams, innovation is more than a product; it’s a concept. It’s looking at market trends and developing a means for our customers to remain profitable even in these changing economic times. As always, Sherwin-Williams products are the highest quality in the industry and when used systematically, innovation happens.  The latest innovation of Sherwin-Williams is our “ESR” program. ESR stands for Express Scratch Repair. We have developed a program that allows for small scratches and dents to be quickly and economically repaired. Our ESR program would allow most repair facilities to expand their product offering and provide profitability in what was once considered unprofitable repairs.  ESR is a program using products and equipment associated with our HP Process. HP stands for Higher Productivity, Higher Profits and Higher Performance. ESR and the HP Process would enable you to produce high quality repairs while your customers wait. With ESR, vehicles can be dropped off in the morning and delivered that same day. For ESR you will need to use Complete Speed Color Surfacer mixed with SR15 reducer and UH80 hardener, Ultra 7000 Basecoat mixed with RHF activated stabilizer, HPC15 Clearcoat and BS10 Aerosol Blending Solvent. The equipment needed would be a mini/touch-up spray gun for the Speed P30 Color Surfacer, a mini/touch-up spray gun or airbrush for Ultra 7000 Basecoat, a venturi air diffuser to dry the Ultra 7000 Basecoat and a spray gun to apply the clearcoat.  Start the repair by cleaning with SC155 waterborne surface cleaner to remove water-soluble contaminates then clean with R7K158 solvent borne cleaner to remove solvent borne contaminates. Finish repair area with P180 grit sand paper and back sand with P400 to accommodate the application of Speed P30 Color Surfacer. Mix Speed P30 Color Surfacer 2:2:1 using SR15 reducer and UH80 hardener. Apply the Speed P30 Color Surfacer according to our W.O.W. (wet on wet) recommendation. Block Speed P30 Color Surfacer in 15 minutes with P400 grit sandpaper, then final sand with P600 grit. After the final sanding, prep the remainder of the panel for a Basecoat blend, and if necessary, prep for a Clearcoat blend, keeping the repair as small as possible. Before applying the Ultra 7000 Basecoat, finish cleaning and mask the repair.  Mix Ultra 7000 Basecoat 1:1 with the appropriate RHF Stabilizer, then blend color with a mini gun or airbrush keeping the repair as small as possible. Dry Ultra 7000 Basecoat with venturi air diffuser. This will dramatically increase productivity. After the Ultra 7000 Basecoat has dried, apply HPC15 Clearcoat with Air-Bake Technology. If necessary, blend clear with BS10 Aerosol blending solvent, wait 15 minutes air-dry, nib sand and buff if necessary. You’re now ready to de-mask, clean and deliver to customer.  For further technical and implementation information on the ESR program, please contact your local Sherwin-Williams Representative.