The Lincoln Motor Company does not approve the procedure of clearcoat blending or using clearcoat blending in any warranty or collision repair. They strongly suggest that blending clearcoat might lead to future issues down the road with peeling and product breakdown. Furthermore, Lincoln never allows for partial clearcoat blending on warranty paint repairs and does not approve clearcoat blending on customer-pay or insurance-pay repairs. Paint companies and vehiclemanufacturers agree that a repair using this material and procedure is not robust, and that over time, the edge will begin to lift and discolor, making the edge around the repair very noticeable. To resist ultraviolet light and other environmental factors, the clearcoat needs approximately two mils of thickness, however, the millage of the clearcoat in a blended area tapers out at the edge.
What Does this Mean to You?
Lincoln’s position is continually reinforced in all approved paint system manuals. Furthermore, paint companies will not warrant any products if clearcoat blending has been done. The preferred process – and the one that Lincoln approves – is to blend the basecoat color as necessary and then clearcoat the entire panel. On a quarter panel or roof, the ditch area is usually the line to make a break point. Most Lincoln vehicles include a ditch area, which makes it easier to peform the procedure the right way the first time. More information on specific paint company recommendations will generally appear with their clearcoat application guidelines and mix information
