CTVET Ghana Certificate II - Auto Body Repair & Spraying flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Hierarchy of control

Ranked order of risk controls from most to least effective: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, then personal protective equipment as the last defence.

Isocyanate sensitisation

Two-pack hardeners can trigger asthma-like sensitisation after overexposure. Once sensitised, the worker may react to very low levels, so air-fed respiratory protection is mandatory when spraying.

Flash point

The lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to ignite near an ignition source. Low flash point solvents such as thinners need strict fire precautions.

Hazardous workshop waste

Waste thinner, gun-wash sludge and wet paint residues must be segregated, stored in labelled closed containers and sent to an approved disposal route, never poured down drains.

Spray booth face velocity

The speed of air moving across the booth opening, commonly around 0.4–0.5 m/s. If airflow falls below the required level, spraying must stop until filters are changed.

Compressor condensate draining

Water collects in the receiver as air cools. Draining daily and fitting a filter and water trap before the gun prevents moisture defects such as blushing and fisheyes.

Grit number meaning

Abrasive grit numbers indicate particle size: lower numbers are coarser and cut faster, higher numbers are finer and produce a smoother surface for primer or topcoat.

Dual-action sander

A sander whose pad both rotates and orbits. The orbital motion reduces swirl marks and gouging, making it suitable for flattening filler and preparing panels.

Torque wrench storage

After use, wind the wrench back to its lowest setting so the internal spring is not held under load. Never use it to loosen fasteners, and recalibrate on schedule.

Tram gauge use

A measuring tool with adjustable pointers used to compare diagonal distances between reference points on the body shell, revealing distortion after a collision.

Etch primer purpose

An acidic primer applied thinly to bare steel or aluminium to provide adhesion and corrosion protection before filler or high-build primer is applied.

Epoxy primer

A two-pack primer that seals the surface and gives strong corrosion resistance. It is often used over bare metal and as a barrier under filler or topcoat.

Pot life

The working time a mixed two-pack product stays usable before it gels. Mix only the quantity that can be applied within that time; gelled paint cannot be rescued.

Tack cloth

A resin-impregnated cloth wiped lightly over the prepared surface to lift sanding dust without leaving residue, used immediately before primer or topcoat application.

Feathering a repair

Gradually sanding the edge of a repair so it blends smoothly into the surrounding panel. A hard edge left under primer shows as a visible ring in the topcoat.

Spot weld drill

A dedicated bit that cuts through the weld nugget with minimal damage to the underlying panel, allowing a welded panel to be separated for replacement.

Panel gap recording

Measuring and noting door, bonnet and boot gaps before removal so the panel can be refitted to the original tolerance rather than guessed by eye.

Heat shrinking

Applying controlled heat, often with a shrinking disc, to a stretched high spot so the metal contracts. Excess heat damages the steel structure and must be avoided.

Cavity wax

A protective coating sprayed inside closed box sections after welding or repair to prevent internal corrosion where paint cannot reach.

Bolt-on versus welded panel

Bolt-on panels such as wings and doors are aligned through hinge and fastener adjustment; welded panels such as sills and quarter panels need cutting, alignment and welding.

Spray gun fluid knob

The adjustment that controls how much paint leaves the nozzle. It is set together with the fan knob and air screw to balance flow, pattern width and atomisation.

Orange peel defect

A bumpy, textured finish resembling orange skin, usually caused by paint too thick, insufficient thinner, too much air pressure or spraying too far from the surface.

Paint run cause

A sag or run occurs when too much paint is applied in one pass, the gun moves too slowly, or the coat is too wet, allowing gravity to pull the film down.

Flash-off time

The interval between coats during which solvent escapes from the film. Skipping it traps solvent and causes solvent pop, blisters or poor adhesion.

Fisheye defect

Small circular craters in the paint film caused by silicone, oil or grease contamination on the surface or in the air line, preventing the paint from wetting the panel.

Clearcoat function

The transparent top layer applied over basecoat to provide gloss, weather resistance and UV protection. Basecoat alone is porous and fades without it.

Colour variant check

Spraying a test card and comparing it with the vehicle under correct lighting before painting the whole panel, because the same paint code can have several factory variants.

Body diagonal measurement

Comparing cross-measurements between fixed reference points on the shell. Unequal diagonals indicate distortion and show whether structural alignment is needed.

Door alignment sequence

Set the door's rear edge to the quarter panel first, then the front edge to the wing, then confirm the waistline and roof line before tightening hinges.

Torque-to-yield bolt

A fastener tightened until it stretches beyond its elastic limit. It must be replaced rather than reused, because it no longer holds the specified clamping force.

Job card essentials

A record of vehicle details, mileage, reported fault, authorised work, parts, labour time, technician signature and customer sign-off, used to control and invoice the job.

Customer authorisation of extra work

Additional damage found after stripping must be explained and approved by the customer, preferably in writing, before the extra repair and cost are carried out.