Red Seal Auto Refinishing study plan

Identify and document the six substrate types encountered in a refinish shop (bare steel, galvanized, aluminum, plastic, e-coat, and previously refinished panels) and state the correct preparation sequence for each

Demonstrate the difference between wax-and-grease remover and a surface-cleaner wipe by writing a step-by-step cleaning protocol that names the products, dwell times, and wipe direction for each

List the personal protective equipment required for isocyanate-containing clearcoats, solvent-based primers, and waterborne basecoats, and explain why each item is required

Locate the safety data sheet sections that cover flash point, exposure limits, and reactivity, and extract those three values for two products used in your shop

Execute a full panel preparation on a scrap panel: strip, clean, sand through the correct grit progression, feather-edge a repair, and verify flatness with a guide coat

Set up and adjust a DA sander, a block, and a sanding pad to match the grit and surface being worked, and explain when each tool is preferred over the others

Diagnose three common preparation failures (sand-through on edges, pigtail scratches, and solvent pop from trapped contamination) by describing the visible symptom and its root cause

Write a daily and weekly maintenance checklist for spray booths, compressors, and sanding equipment that includes filter change intervals and drain schedules

Mix a given colour from a formula using a mixing bank or scale, verifying each component by weight or volume and recording any variance from the stated formula

Perform a spray-out test card and evaluate it under three lighting conditions (daylight, booth lighting, and a colour-corrected lamp) to identify metamerism

Select the correct primer or sealer for bare metal, plastic, and a previously refinished panel, and justify each choice by adhesion, filling, and compatibility requirements

Apply a primer and a sealer to test panels at the specified film build, measuring wet and dry film thickness with a gauge and comparing against the product data sheet

Apply basecoat in three coats on a test panel, controlling gun distance, overlap, and flash time between coats, and document the settings used for each pass

Apply clearcoat to the specified film build without runs, sags, or dry spray, and record booth temperature, humidity, and gun settings at the time of application

Identify and photograph at least six finish defects (runs, orange peel, solvent pop, dust nibs, mottling, and die-back) and write the cause and the corrective action for each

Perform a defect repair on a cured test panel: sand, polish, or refinish a defect and verify the repair under raking light

Execute a three-stage or tri-coat finish on a test panel, sequencing base, mid-coat, and clear correctly and verifying the colour hold-out after each stage

Mask and spray a two-tone or graphic layout with a sharp break line, demonstrating correct tape selection, back-masking, and de-masking timing

Compare a single-stage solid colour against a basecoat/clearcoat system on matched panels and document the differences in durability, repair strategy, and film build

Reproduce a custom effect (pearl, metallic orientation control, or matte clear) while documenting the technique variables that control the final appearance

Disassemble, clean, and reassemble a gravity-feed spray gun, identifying the fluid tip, needle, air cap, and packing, and explaining the function of each

Set up a gun for a given product by selecting the correct tip and cap combination and adjusting fluid flow, fan pattern, and atomizing air, then verify the pattern on a test card

Troubleshoot five spray faults (spitting, uneven fan, pulsation, heavy centre pattern, and excessive overspray) by naming the likely cause and the corrective adjustment

Explain the ventilation, filtration, and waste-handling requirements for spray booths and gun-cleaning stations, and describe the correct disposal route for solvent waste and dirty filters

Diagnose a set of finish failures from written symptom descriptions alone (adhesion loss, blistering, cracking, and fading) and assign the most probable cause and the correct repair procedure for each

Write a customer-facing repair estimate that itemizes labour, materials, and refinish operations, and explains the repair method in plain language without jargon

Produce a work order and a refinish record for a simulated job that captures colour code, batch numbers, products used, film builds, and environmental conditions

Role-play a customer conversation about a defect complaint, practising how to explain cause, warranty position, and remedy without assigning blame

Complete a timed mixed-topic practice set weighted to the domain percentages, and score each domain separately to identify remaining weak areas

Re-drill the two lowest-scoring domains by rewriting the underlying rules, formulas, and procedures from memory and checking them against reference material

Recite the safety, compatibility, and colour-matching decision rules that appear most often across domains without referring to notes

Review every previously missed question and write a one-line reason for the correct answer to confirm understanding rather than memorization