Which practice helps prevent solvent pop defects during refinishing?

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Solvent pop happens when solvents from a coating get trapped under a subsequent layer, causing tiny blisters or pinholes as the trapped vapors try to escape. The best way to prevent this is to follow the manufacturer’s recoat times. Those times let the first coat flash off and reach a suitable level of dryness so the next coat can lay down properly without sealing in solvent. This promotes good adhesion between coats and a uniform film thickness, reducing the chance that solvent remains trapped and forms defects.

Raising reducer to thin the film adds more solvent to the wet film, which increases the risk of solvent pop rather than preventing it. Spraying after an excessively long dry time can lead to adhesion or finish issues and doesn’t specifically address solvent entrapment. Skipping surface preparation undermines adhesion and surface compatibility, which can cause multiple problems, including poorer coating performance.