HOW TO: Replicate Sound Deadening Sealers

Ryan Marrinan, 3M Application Engineer, responds to customers who’ve been asking about how to replicate OEM sound deadeners. Some have textures, some have shapes, some have lines. We have a few new techniques to show you. Step 1: Prep your seam sealer (00:30) We’ll start with our 3MTM NVH Dampening Material 04274. As with all our cartridges, equalize it in an upright position into a paper towel, making sure equal parts of A and B are coming out. Once the static mixing nozzle is on and the ring is locked down, dispense two or three inches of material to ensure it’s equally mixed before applying it to the vehicle. Step 2: Lay the material (01:00) You want to get enough material out, then knock it flat with a spreader before trying to replicate the OEM bead. Keep the tip buried in the wet material as you go back and forth so you don’t let any air enter. Try to get a large volume of material out, then knock it down, pushing it to the surface to get a nice tight seal. Pro tip: NVH is a highly flexible two-part urethane with a longer work window than some of our other two-part products. If you’re working on a larger area, this might be your product of choice. Step 3: To replicate a drawn-in line look (01:37) Take a different mud spreader that’s been cut with pinking shears. This gives the shape and appearance of that consistent OEM factory look. Just add the style and feature into the product by dragging it over the top. If you’re trying to replicate a hardened squared-off application, tape it off. You can also use the spreader to feather out the material at the ends if your application has more of a natural feathered look. Step 4: To replicate a rigid sound pad (02:48) For a more rigid material, use our 3M™ Heavy-Bodied Seam Sealer 08308. Again, equalize the cartridge like before. Then just get the material out, maybe turn up the applicator a little. As you dispense, keep the material wet on wet, not allowing any gaps or voids. Knock it down, pushing it into the surface and making sure it’s tape to tape. To create the textured look, use a gray Scotchbrite™ pad. You can go really deep or really soft. Use the pressure that works best for the look you’re trying to create. Important note: There are of course many factors and variables that can affect an individual repair, so the technician and repair facility need to evaluate each specific application and repair process, including relevant vehicle, part and OEM guidelines, and determine what is appropriate for that repair. Products used in this video: 3M™ NVH Dampening Material, Part Number 04274 https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-u... 3M™ Heavy-Bodied Seam Sealer, Part Number 08308 https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-u... Scotch-Brite™ Hand Pad 7448 PRO https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-u... For more advanced tutorials, check out 3M Collision Repair Academy https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/collision... You’ll find courses that will expand your knowledge, deliver practical procedures that you can use right away, and, in many cases, earn you I-CAR credits. Website: 3MCollision.com Instagram: Instagram.com/3MCollision Facebook: facebook.com/3MCollision