Single stage vs base/clear

[CLEAH]

I understand the "durability" aspect of the more modern paint, but the fact is our cars came out of the factory with enamel, were driven daily and had the livin' s**t beaten out of them and the paint did not fall off. Today, our cars are coddled, primped and preened, and live in toasty garages. Enamel simply looks right on these cars. I'd go with that.

 

[tomshobby]

It seems like a lot of the newer "modern" cars with base/clear have serious paint problems. Just look around and notice how many have the clear flaking off. In the 80's and early 90's I worked in a shop that "repaired" a lot of new cars for dealers. Most of the time all it took to remove the clear was to blow it off with an air nozzle.

 

[jlaird]

Just checked with Agatha, she says Base/Clear is easier to wear.

 

[glemon]

I agree with Tom, most any modern paint will be plenty durable for a collector car, if you want more I guess you could paint it with POR or Powder coat it, but proper prep will have more bearing on durability than type of paint chosen. Modern urethane enamel single stage is very durable, as is modern acrylic enamel, as is modern basecoat clearcoat, which is always done in a catalyzed type paint as far as I know.

 

[nomad]

I agree with Tom, most any modern paint will be plenty durable for a collector car, if you want more I guess you could paint it with POR or Powder coat it, but proper prep will have more bearing on durability than type of paint chosen. Modern urethane enamel single stage is very durable, as is modern acrylic enamel, as is modern basecoat clearcoat, which is always done in a catalyzed type paint as far as I know.

Well, I'm not real optimistic about the new water base. Had the hood on my Miata repainted water base and the black doesn't begin to match for one thing. Durability is still up in the air.

Kurt.

 

[Bayless]

Haven't checked lately but I believe the water based paints are still all 2 stage and the clears are still solvent. I'm not ready for that yet.

 

[jlaird]

My Ranger pickup is going on 16 years and the paint looks like new. Lots of folks tell me how nice it looks. I have clay blocked it twice.

 

[drooartz]

Thanks again to all for your thoughts and ideas. I've got some good things the mull over before I meet with my painter (will be a little while) to pick out the paint.

 

[Whitephrog]

Single stage was/is my choice.

 

[Gundy]

If you want that mirror shine the base clear will do the trick. Quality paint is nice too. The guy who did Mimi used a couple of base coats, each color sanded then
laid on the clear coat. DuPont paint.
The B is done in enamel. Pretty paint but it doesn't have that mirror effect like the base/clear on the Sprite.
Like Granny says: That is why they make chocolate AND vanilla.