painting question

[DanC #36497]

Hello everybody,

I'm in the process of restoring my 58 and a problem has come up regarding paint type . I know it is supposed to be acrylic laquer but it is banned in the state of IL. The painters are saying base coat/clear coat but I'm concerned about the deductions for judging. Do you think I can blend tint into the clear to make it less noticeable? Any help would be appreciated.

thanks,
Dan

[Gerry Proctor]

Re: painting question

You don't actually have to clear coat. Clear coating over a color base makes the finish more reflective and more durable, but that's about all. Production painters like clear coating because there isn't quite as much work involved in achieving a good finish. When using urethane color coat, you can color sand(using a 2000-grade wet paper) and buff just like lacquer. Sure, it's harder to do, but it is done all the time.

[James F.]

Re: painting question

Dan,
If your desired color does not contain any metallic, single stage (no clear coat) Urethane can be applied and IMO be finessed to look like very much like lacquer. If you want to match to a metallic lacquer, IMO it's very hard to do in single stage paint and a base coat clear coat system has to be considered. This is only one person's opinion, it's free (and you get what you pay for ;-) ) ! Regards,

[Wayne K.]

Re: painting question

If your not using a metallic color you might consider an enamal with a hardener. When wet sanded and buffed I think it looks as close to laquer as you can get.

[Donald O.]

Re: painting question

Dan,

I don't know who told that lacquer was outlawed in IL, but it is still available to shops and to individuals. Just got to look around. My partner can still get it and use it. E-mail me if you like.

Don

[Duke W.]

Re: painting question

Seems like most paint shops just want to do base/clear today because that's what all modern cars use, so they blow a lot of smoke at you about how they can't do it any other way.

Lacquer is more labor intensive, but single stage enamels - either acrylic or urethane can be massaged to look very much like lacquer, but the painter has to know how to do this i.e, using a flattener on the door jambs, etc.

It sounds like you just need to keep shopping around until you find a shop that is willing to do it your way instead of their way. Find a shop that has done Corvettes, get references, then go inspect their work.

If your looking to have your car judged, you want to be real picky and check a lot of references. There are lots of subleties, especially in non visible areas like the jambs underside of the hood, etc. where you can loose points because the pattern doesn't match the factory pattern.

Duke

[Bill W.]

Re: painting question

lacquer is NOT illegal in Ill. It is illegal to use it in shops in about 4 counties 2 around chicago and 2 around st louis .it can still be sold and used by indivduals . and even in those counties it can be used in very small quanties .the biggest problem is almost no painters under 40 years old have ever used it. there are 6 painters at the dealer i work at, the youngest is 40 the oldest (me) 52 I am the only one who has ever painted a complete lacqure job .b/c c/c paint is very good but it can also have it problems .as far as passing judging i dont think it is possible to fool a good paint judge . Bill.