How to Apply the Wrinkle Paint

Application Cycle for the Wrinkle Paint

The Wrinkle Paint or Raggrinzante in Italian is a classic three-dimensional paint effect that has been widely used by automotive manufacturers along with interior and industrial designers. Cromas is the exclusive supplier to several famous Italian sports car manufacturers.

For more information, visit our webpage: Wrinkle Paint Effect

Minimum Application Requirements:

• A ventilated cabin or spray booth to spray solvent-based paints
• A gravity feed spray gun with a tip size of 1.8 to 2.0 mm
• An oven that can reach a temperature of at least 85°C to bake and dry the paint for 1 to 2 hours
• It is suggested to have a Micron Depth Gauge to check the thickness of the wet paint

Industries using the Wrinkle Paint Effect:

• Automotive Production and Restoration
• Industrial Design
• Commercial Products

Wrinkle red paint sprayed on various materials

Wrinkle red paint sprayed on various materials

Red Wrinkle Paint Sprayed on Metal and Plastic

Wrinkle paint applied on various materials

Wrinkle paint applied on various materials

Wrinkle Paint Effect on Metal and Plastic Surfaces

Surface Preparation and Primer:

• The surface must be sanded and cleaned with paint thinner or degreaser
• On clean metal and aluminium surfaces, apply the Wrinkle paint directly on the surface
• For durable plastic materials, they must be resistant to oven temperatures of 85°C
• The most common durable plastic is a Glass-Filled Nylon 6.6 material
• Apply an Epoxy Vinyl primer on any durable plastic surface
• Also apply an Epoxy Vinyl primer on an object with existing paint on the surface

Application:

• The Wrinkle paint is a ready to spray paint and does not need a paint hardener. You should mix well by hand before spraying
• If a paint thinner is needed, add a maximum of 10% by weight. However, we do not suggest to dilute this paint because it was made at the proper viscosity to make the wrinkle effect
• Because this paint has a higher viscosity, it must be sprayed with a nozzle size of 1.8 to 2.0 mm. Smaller nozzle sizes are not suitable for a paint of this thickness
• The air pressure should be 3-4 Atm
• The paint must be applied in continuous and even layers on the surface to build up the desired thickness
• For large or vertical surfaces, it is suggested to spray 2-3 layers to prevent sagging of the paint. Wait 5-10 minutes between each layer
• It is important that the required thickness of paint is applied in one painting session. It is not possible to apply another layer after one hour because the paint will begin to dry and the wrinkle will be affected
• Before beginning series production or a one-time restoration project, we suggest to make several application tests to understand the application and drying of the paint

Spraying metal with black wrinkle paint

Spraying metal with black wrinkle paint

Application of Black Wrinkle Paint on Metal

Spraying metal with red wrinkle paint

Spraying metal with red wrinkle paint

Application of Red Wrinkle Paint on Metal

Wet Thickness and Dry Thickness:
When applying the Wrinkle paints, it important to understand how the wet thickness of the paint layers will affect the dried 3D wrinkle finish.

To see a nice wrinkle effect, the most common application has a wet paint thickness of 300 μm (microns). The result will be a dry thickness of about 150 μm that gives the surface a nice 3D wrinkle effect.

If the application is on automotive parts and valve covers, the application thickness should be 500 μm. This thickness results in a thicker dried finish that has a very nice 3D wrinkle effect that is even across the surface. This thickness has been tested and certified to be resistant in a salt environment for 2000 hours as required by our sports car customers.

For a softer 3D wrinkle effect, we suggest to apply the paint with a wet thickness of 200 μm. This results in a more matte finish with wrinkles that are finer and closer to each other.

If the paint is applied with a very low thickness, the wrinkle effect may not appear when dried and it will be more shiny.

It is important to spray even layers of paint on the whole surface to achieve the desired wet thickness and a good wrinkle effect.

Checking the wet thickness of the red wrinkle paint

Checking the wet thickness of the red wrinkle paint

Micron Depth Gauge to Check the Wet Thickness

Checking the wet paint thickness of wrinkle metallic paint

Checking the wet paint thickness of wrinkle metallic paint

Micron Depth Gauge to Check the Wet Thickness

Oven Drying the Wrinkle Paint:
The wrinkle paint must be dried in an oven with a minimum temperature of 85°C. We suggest the oven temperature be at least 90°C. Check the temperature of the surface with a laser thermometer. For the best result, it is important to put the painted piece in a pre-heated oven that is at least 85°C.

Avoid using materials such as wood and other plastic materials that that are not suitable for a higher temperature oven.

It is possible to dry the painted pieces with IR lamps, but this is not suggested because the lamps can dry the surface unevenly and will result in different wrinkle effects across the surface.

The painted piece must be baked in the oven for at least 60 minutes, but we suggest 90 minutes. After this time, the piece is dry and can be handled when cool. The wrinkle paint is fully cured in about 20 days.

The wrinkle paint must be dried in an oven at 80°C

The wrinkle paint must be dried in an oven at 80°C

The Wrinkle Paint Must Be Dried in a Pre-heated Oven that is at least 85°C

Storing the Wrinkle Paint:
The wrinkle paint produced by Cromas Paints is a special paint product that is packaged so that it does not produce a skin on the paint for about 6 months – that is if the product is not shaken. Once the can is open and stirred, it is highly suggested to use all the paints in 1 to 2 weeks.

After the can is open and in room temperature, the paint can develop a skin on the surface. If there is skin on the top of the paint, it is necessary to remove the skin and filter the paint before use. If this is not possible, we suggest to open a new fresh can of paint.

To provide a paint that is always fresh, we regularly produce the wrinkle paint in 1 kg cans. This is a good amount of paint for a small project. The paint should be stored in dry area with temperatures between 5°C to 25°C.

This information is based on our high level of experience and testing with this product. It is suggested to make application tests with drying the wrinkle paint to better understand the complete application process.