C1 Paint Rec and Paint Life in Can

[Ted S.]

Here's the situation, I'm quite a ways off from painting my '58 and with lacquer being phased out, I thought I should get some mixed up and set it back.

- Should I get acrylic or Nitrocelleous?
- What's the shelf life on the paint?
- How much paint should I get for the body vs coves?
- Should I get the thinner also?
- What's the shelf life on the thinner?

Given my history with my '60, I figure if I start now I might have it done for the 50th anniversary celebration for '58s in 2008.

TIA

[Ed Jennings]

Re: C1 Paint Rec and Paint Life in Can

Properly sealed up and stored in a cool place, the lacquer will last a long time, as will the thinner. I'd get a gallon of body color and a quart of cove color. I would get the gallon in 4 quarts if possible, since you probably won't have to open all 4. That way, you'll maybe have one unopend can in reserve if some spot painting becomes necessary down the road. Fast dry lacquer thinner will probably be around forever, but I'd get at least two, if not three gallons of the slowest drying formula available for the actual paint job.

[Mike M.]

Re: C1 Paint Rec and Paint Life in Can

Get acrylic. don't think 58's used nitrocellulose as the 57's got acrylic silver, not nitrocellulose silver(rest of 57 colors were in nitrocellulose) doubt you'd be able to find nitrocellulose anyway. once sprayed, sanded and buffed, i couln't differentiate acrylic from nitrocellulose. good luck, mike

[Bill W.]

Re: C1 Paint Rec and Paint Life in Can

The nitro started dulling in the can. Bill

[John M.]

Re: C1 Paint Rec and Paint Life in Can

Ted,
I agree with Ed on getting the paint in quarts if possible to minimize the drying of th paint in a partially filled can. The paint should last as long as the can does and will probably go bad only when the can rusts out! Acrylic lacquer is the way to go as it is eaiser to work with and is less prone to chipping. Finding nitrocellulose lacquer will be real tough and you will probably need to go to a real specialty vendor who sells only historic restoration paints.
As to the larger question of whether you should stock in paint for a job in the future, there is no plans to outlaw lacquer by the EPA as has been widely reported, and PPG has no plans to discontinue producing lacquer. I cannot speak to Dupont, as the local supplier quit stocking lacquer over 6 years ago and I have been using PPG products ever since. There are a few states that will not allow lacquer, but the EPA realizes that lacquer is a real niche paint that is used pretty much only on restoration autos and that there is little benefit to pursuing such a low volume product and they have stated so publicly.
The real problem with the low volume, is that many suppliers do not want to dedicate the space and money to the components necessary to sell lacquer. Before long I would predict that most purchases of lacquer will be made from few national suppliers as it will be necessary to give them the volume necessary to continue to stock the toners and mixing components. You will find that even those suppliers that have stopped stocking lacquer will usually be glad to order the paint for you if it is available in factory-pack colors. I believe that lacquer will be available for the forseeable future, but you will just have to hunt for it a little. Even if the big manufacturers quit producing lacquer, there will be some specialy manufacturers step in and produce it as long as the law allows.

Regards, John McGraw

[Ted S.]

Thanks everyone for your responses *NM* *NM*