I just read that 70% of shops in a trade mag survey still use solvent-based cleaners for prep, which seems wild to me.

I found this in the latest issue of 'BodyShop Business' and it made me question if the push for waterborne is really as widespread as we talk about, so what's the actual hold-up in your area?

3 comments

3 Comments

brookerobinson5d ago

That number tracks with what I see. The hold-up is old habits and cost. A lot of guys in my area have used the same solvent cleaner for 20 years and it just works. Switching to waterborne means changing your whole process, not just the product, and for small shops the time to relearn isn't free.

alice2424d ago

Actually, the relearn time is often less than people fear (the new gear does most of the work). The real cost is usually the upfront equipment change.

evan_dixon674d ago

Honestly that number doesn't surprise me at all. It reminds me of a shop I visited last year where the owner swore his solvent cleaner was the only thing that cut through wax. He had this whole system down for decades, like brookerobinson said. The thing is, his booth was next to a daycare and the smell was just brutal. I mean idk maybe it's just me but you have to think about that stuff now. Switching feels like admitting your whole way was wrong, and that's a big hurdle for a lot of guys.