This condition is known as lifting. It happens when the existing paint shrivels, wrinkles, or swells when new paint is applied or dries. Lifting can be repaired by sanding the impacted area and refinishing.
In this article, I’ll answer common questions about how to prevent lifting in an auto paint surface and eliminate it when it happens.
Lifting (also called raising or alligatoring) refers to the wrinkling or shriveling of an existing paint layer that happens when a new finish is applied or dries.
Lifting occurs when solvents in a newly applied topcoat attack the previous finish. The resulting wrinkling, raising, or puckering of the paint can be caused by:
Remove the paint from lifted areas, then refinish.
Check questionable finishes by rubbing a small, inconspicuous area with a shop towel that is saturated with lacquer thinner. Finishes susceptible to lifting will soften, swell, or shrivel as the lacquer thinner is applied. If any of these reactions occur you should:
Doing these things will help prevent lifting from occurring on your car’s new finish.