What causes fisheye?

What causes fisheye?

• A. Water intrusion
• B. Surface rust
• C. Oil, grease, or silicone contamination
• D. High humidity

Answer: (C)

Fisheye happens when the coating can’t wet properly on the surface because of a contaminant that reduces wetting around itself. Oils, grease, or silicone residues on the substrate create a barrier with higher surface tension, so the paint pulls away from the contaminant and forms a circular crater as it cures. In collision repair, common sources are silicone from mold-release agents, wax or polishes, or oil residues from skin contact or cleaners that aren’t silicone-free. The result is a ring of coating around the spot with a clear void in the center—like a fish’s eye. Disruptions from water intrusion, surface rust, or high humidity cause different problems (blisters, rust blooms, or moisture-related curing issues) rather than the characteristic fisheye pattern, so they don’t fit as the primary cause. Proper cleaning with silicone-free products, tack wiping, and avoiding silicone-containing cleaners or waxes prevent fisheye.

Fisheye happens when the coating can’t wet properly on the surface because of a contaminant that reduces wetting around itself. Oils, grease, or silicone residues on the substrate create a barrier with higher surface tension, so the paint pulls away from the contaminant and forms a circular crater as it cures. In collision repair, common sources are silicone from mold-release agents, wax or polishes, or oil residues from skin contact or cleaners that aren’t silicone-free. The result is a ring of coating around the spot with a clear void in the center—like a fish’s eye.

Disruptions from water intrusion, surface rust, or high humidity cause different problems (blisters, rust blooms, or moisture-related curing issues) rather than the characteristic fisheye pattern, so they don’t fit as the primary cause. Proper cleaning with silicone-free products, tack wiping, and avoiding silicone-containing cleaners or waxes prevent fisheye.