What causes orange peel?

[Harlow]

Our volvo was hit. someone T boned another and the car slid into our car as my mom sat at a red light. We are now painting the new fender and door we were able to get for 150 bucks. We are getting orange peel. This is our first time trying to paint. Are we applying the paint too thick?

[Charger-Bodie]

The question you are asking is kinda hard to answer without seeing it first hand but, orange peel can be caused by a few: paint mixed to thick, air pressure (too much or not enough) speed moving the gun, how much the material flows, proper reducer selection and others.

[Todd Wilson]

Cheap paint gun or the wrong tip in the gun for the type of paint you are using.


Todd

[bull]

I thought one cause was a lack of clean surface such as a chemical left behind.

[chargerman68]

the orange 

[FJMG]

the orange

Yup, happened to me too when I used orange paint Now I will use copper metalic, because copper turns green over time and thats what I really want is green!

[MichaelRW]

All paint jobs have some orange peel (although it can be removed by cutting and buffing). Excessive orange peel is caused by:

Under reduction and/or air pressure too low.
Thinner/reducer evaporates too fast for spray conditions.
Excessive film thickness or piling on of heavy coats.
Improper spray gun setup.
Improper painting technique.

[daytonalo]

I agree , all the above ! Got to go out to the shop a paint a Mustang !!!!!!!!!