Paint Question

[Thomas C]

O.K., here is my question. First let me say that I'm in England, and I'm dealing with a PPG paint distributor. I'm going to paint my 69 convertible, but now that I have it ready to paint, I'm having trouble with the paint selection. I am going to go with the original color (cortez silver met.), and I want to go with Lacquer. However, the guy at the paint store says you can't put a metallic basecoat down without a clearcoat, because they don't make a gloss basecoat. It won't shine even with polishing. He also said basecoat isn't waterproof and therefore it requires a clearcoat. He said they make non-metallic paints in a gloss base coat (which is what I painted my last car in), but not metallic colors and years ago they made a gloss basecoat in metallic, but not anymore. Does this make sense to anyone, and what should I do to keep it original? I'm really not wanting to spray a basecoat/clearcoat, but I'm running out of options. What does NCRS and experience say? Thanks in advance.

tom

[GDaina]

Re: Paint Question

Tom, If you want to keep your car to factory specs, you're in a 'bit of abind. Acrylyc Lacquer is no longer produced, by anyone here in the States. As of 1/1/99 you weren't supposed to be able to by lacquer anymore, but the EPA backed down on that and said current supplies could be sold.

NCRS will deduct points if the paint on your corvette is not acrylic lacquer, even though the clearcoat paints are more environmental friendly. Maybe someday the deep thinkers at NCRS will see the light of day, as some other clubs have, namely the Buick & Pontiac.

As for your situation, I don't see what the problem is. Either paint it in Acrylic, if it is available, or clearcoat. One of my customers has taken every award available from Concorse d'Elegance with his 64 GTO convert, and he clearcoated the GTO using the factory color.

[GDaina]

Re: Paint Question

Tom, If you want to keep your car to factory specs, you're in a 'bit of abind. Acrylyc Lacquer is no longer produced, by anyone here in the States. As of 1/1/99 you weren't supposed to be able to by lacquer anymore, but the EPA backed down on that and said current supplies could be sold.

NCRS will deduct points if the paint on your corvette is not acrylic lacquer, even though the clearcoat paints are more environmental friendly. Maybe someday the deep thinkers at NCRS will see the light of day, as some other clubs have, namely the Buick & Pontiac.

As for your situation, I don't see what the problem is. Either paint it in Acrylic, if it is available, or clearcoat. One of my customers has taken every award available from Concorse d'Elegance with his 64 GTO convert, and he clearcoated the GTO using the factory color.

[G B.]

Don't they drive on the wrong side?

Perhaps the paint salesman is confusing lacquer with urethane.

I know PPG and Dupont still manufacture lacquer in the U.S. Many of their distributors have quit stocking it, however, due to low sales volume. Many states have regulations limiting airborne emissions of Volatile Organic Componds in heavily populated areas. This effectively prevents commercial shops from using lacquer in some cities. In my town with a population of about 250,000, lacquer can be bought and sprayed by anyone. Only the local PPG distributor keeps a mixing stock on hand. The Dupont outlets don't mix it anymore, but they will order it in two gallon minimum quantities for anyone who wants it.

Lacquer paint (metallic or otherwise) cures through the evaporation of solvent. You can put clear lacquer on top of color lacquer, but you certainly don't have to in order to get the color to shine. Urethane cures through a chemical reaction rather than evaporation. There are one stage urethanes that come in most automotive colors, but there are two stage urethanes as well. The "basecoat/clearcoat system" refers to a two stage urethane finish. It is true that the basecoat is thin, relatively dull, and not very durable. The clear coat is applied to give shine and protect the color coat from physical and sunlight damage.

Last year someone in France asked me to post the formula for his paint color in lacquer. He said the local Dupont dealer didn't have it in his reference material. Could this be the reason that your English salesman is talking about a basecoat when you're asking about lacquer?

[G B.]

Don't they drive on the wrong side?

Perhaps the paint salesman is confusing lacquer with urethane.

I know PPG and Dupont still manufacture lacquer in the U.S. Many of their distributors have quit stocking it, however, due to low sales volume. Many states have regulations limiting airborne emissions of Volatile Organic Componds in heavily populated areas. This effectively prevents commercial shops from using lacquer in some cities. In my town with a population of about 250,000, lacquer can be bought and sprayed by anyone. Only the local PPG distributor keeps a mixing stock on hand. The Dupont outlets don't mix it anymore, but they will order it in two gallon minimum quantities for anyone who wants it.

Lacquer paint (metallic or otherwise) cures through the evaporation of solvent. You can put clear lacquer on top of color lacquer, but you certainly don't have to in order to get the color to shine. Urethane cures through a chemical reaction rather than evaporation. There are one stage urethanes that come in most automotive colors, but there are two stage urethanes as well. The "basecoat/clearcoat system" refers to a two stage urethane finish. It is true that the basecoat is thin, relatively dull, and not very durable. The clear coat is applied to give shine and protect the color coat from physical and sunlight damage.

Last year someone in France asked me to post the formula for his paint color in lacquer. He said the local Dupont dealer didn't have it in his reference material. Could this be the reason that your English salesman is talking about a basecoat when you're asking about lacquer?

[Jimmy G.]

Re: Paint Question

I am in the paint raw materials business and I have an opinion that is some what different from that of NCRS rules and guidelines. Once applied to a car, NO ONE and I mean NO ONE can absolutely say what the paint is. They may have their opinions, but without sophisticated chemical analysis it is impossible to say. Yes, there are indications that it may be one or the other but it is a matter of opinion. If it looks right then it should be accepted, in my opinion. A correct appearance should be the goal, not the pathway.

[Jimmy G.]

Re: Paint Question

I am in the paint raw materials business and I have an opinion that is some what different from that of NCRS rules and guidelines. Once applied to a car, NO ONE and I mean NO ONE can absolutely say what the paint is. They may have their opinions, but without sophisticated chemical analysis it is impossible to say. Yes, there are indications that it may be one or the other but it is a matter of opinion. If it looks right then it should be accepted, in my opinion. A correct appearance should be the goal, not the pathway.

[Patrick H.]

Paint Question: Is Jack Humphrey out there?

Tom,

I would consider contacting Jack Humphrey and asking him who his contact is in England re:painting Corvettes and the use of lacquer. Jack and I had an off-board discussion on this a while back, and I believe that his contact could help you not only get the best possible paint, but also the best possible color match.

Due to different regulations, you can actually get a much better version of lacquer paint than we can here in the U.S. You can get a very good paint, much like what was originally used on your car rather than the poor quality lacquers that we are now forced to use here in the States.

Hope this helps.

Patrick Hulst

[Patrick H.]

Paint Question: Is Jack Humphrey out there?

Tom,

I would consider contacting Jack Humphrey and asking him who his contact is in England re:painting Corvettes and the use of lacquer. Jack and I had an off-board discussion on this a while back, and I believe that his contact could help you not only get the best possible paint, but also the best possible color match.

Due to different regulations, you can actually get a much better version of lacquer paint than we can here in the U.S. You can get a very good paint, much like what was originally used on your car rather than the poor quality lacquers that we are now forced to use here in the States.

Hope this helps.

Patrick Hulst

[Loren]

Re: Paint Question

As of 2 weeks ago, the 1999 formula for PPG Cortez Silver (now known as "Silver Mist Mica") in DURACRYL Acrilic Lacquer is DDL2059. It's priced here in Arizona at $107.00 per gallon.

[Loren]

Re: Paint Question

As of 2 weeks ago, the 1999 formula for PPG Cortez Silver (now known as "Silver Mist Mica") in DURACRYL Acrilic Lacquer is DDL2059. It's priced here in Arizona at $107.00 per gallon.

[GDaina]

That's cheap......

I was going to buy two gallons on British Green for my vette, and went to my friendly neighboorhood auto paint supplier, oh, at the end of last October, for fear of not being able to get the stuff in 1999. The cost per gallon was $95.00. The owner said, no problem, the lacquer will ba available in '99, as long as the tints and bases are available, in other words, they can sell the paint as long as current stock holds out, and this guy informed me he could hold out at least a year with the supply that he has, after that, nada. Anyway, I though since I wasn't going to be ready for the paint portion, I'll wait. I go back in January, get two gallons, the guy rings up $265.00, not counting tax. I asked wha' hoppen' to the $95.00/gal price? OH, as of Jan. 1, ALL lacquer went up due to supply and demand.

Talk about getting snookered.

[GDaina]

That's cheap......

I was going to buy two gallons on British Green for my vette, and went to my friendly neighboorhood auto paint supplier, oh, at the end of last October, for fear of not being able to get the stuff in 1999. The cost per gallon was $95.00. The owner said, no problem, the lacquer will ba available in '99, as long as the tints and bases are available, in other words, they can sell the paint as long as current stock holds out, and this guy informed me he could hold out at least a year with the supply that he has, after that, nada. Anyway, I though since I wasn't going to be ready for the paint portion, I'll wait. I go back in January, get two gallons, the guy rings up $265.00, not counting tax. I asked wha' hoppen' to the $95.00/gal price? OH, as of Jan. 1, ALL lacquer went up due to supply and demand.

Talk about getting snookered.

[Loren]

Re: That's cheap......

I guess I can't keep up - didn't your previous message state that lacquer was no longer available?

[Loren]

Re: That's cheap......

I guess I can't keep up - didn't your previous message state that lacquer was no longer available?