Hello, everyone I'm new here, I don't own a Corvette, yet, I'm still in college, but that's what I'll hopefully be driving two years after I graduate. Anyway I was just wondering about the special paint offered in the new C6 Corvettes. What does the designation of "tintcoat" mean? Is the paint brighter, thicker, or shinnier?

 

In the case of Monterey Red, and probably for other "tint coat" colors, the color is a "tri-coat" system. For Monterey Red, the tri-coat system consists of a base coat (a reddish metallic), an intermediate coat (translucent purplish metallic red), and a clear colorless top coat.

Some people mistakenly believe the "tint coat" Corvette colors have a tinted clear coat...that may be true in the past, but not today. In the DuPont premium Chromabase system, the tri-coat colors use EXACTLY the same colorless clear coat as other Chromabase BC/CC colors. I believe the "tint coat" probably refers to the intermediate coat, which is a translucent color coat.

Edit: I re-read your question, and it appears you are more interested in the aesthetics of the tint coat colors than the mechanics of application. By employing a translucent mid-coat, light direction and intensity changes the visual appearance of the colors according to the light reflected by the base coat and the mid-coat. Monterey Red can vary from a dark maroon in low light conditions to a bright vibrant sprarkling red in bright sun. The first public shots of the color on late 2005s was on a transport under a cloudy sky...the color appeared like a flat lifeless solid maroon. I thought, "They can't possibly believe this color is going to replace Magnetic Red". I'm glad I didn't judge it prematurely.

 

I'm sorry, but you are quite mistaken. It is a tinted clear coat. Call the plant if you don't believe me.

 

 

Its' tri-coat system base color coat tinted clear coat then regular clear coat.

 

So, you're saying the plant is spraying a tinted clear coat on Monterey Red, but if you buy Monterey Red at your DuPont dealer, it doesn't use a tinted clear?

You're laboring under a misconception...I have researched the DuPont product data sheets. Being "right" is immaterial on a discussion board, but if you're going to spray the paint, you have to know what you're talking about.

 

Who puts the car together? Have you asked the plant?

 

If Frank, aka Another Yellow, says it's a tinted clear coat, I'd take that one to the bank!!

 

 

I think the confusion is that the third coat is clear,not a tinted clear as often stated.

 

The Yellow corvettes do have tinted clear coat.

 

I only have to know what they are doing at the plant. Call them on Monday and ask for the manager of the paint shop.

 

Actually it's a prime coat, base color coat and a tinted clear coat. NO clear coat over the tint coat.

 

Does that mean, say, Velocity yellow would lose some of the green over time as the tint coat wore away a bit?

 

The tri coat consists of a base color coat,followed by a translucent tint coat (tinted clear as some incorrectly call it) followed by a conventional clear coat...I do this stuff every day

 

Some of the confusion is due to the fact that some of the aftermarket paint systems treat a lot of the newer paint procedures differently then the OEM(plant) does. This is not new but goes back to the "firemist" paints of the late 60's. The fact of the matter is that when done correctly, the A/M systems, even when the 3 stages are done as a 2 stage, produce excellent results.

 

Hot dam...Finally, someone that knows what the hell they're talking about, and isn't listening to smoke getting blown up their azz. Thank you, vetteshop.

 

While I agree that factory OEM paint is different from the similar aftermarket product, that difference today is typically in the chemical composition to reduce VOC emissions. The Feds hold the manufacturers feet to the fire by forcing them to use water-based finishing sytems to reduce VOC, but allow aftermarket systems to use solvent-based products.

I will not believe that GM can put a tri-coat color on in two stages, and ever have ANY EXPECTATION that the color can be matched in commercial body shops using a three coat system. Further, if the process is being done in two steps just like all the other colors, how can they justify $750 for "extra trouble"...if they're doing it in two stages just like all the other colors, the option charge is bogus.

Even subtle changes like the humidity can affect how the color matches. Commercial body shops are familiar with the usual parameters that affect color match, and I can't believe that their suppliers would blind side them with another factor to consider; i.e. trying to match a three stage system to a factory two stage system.

 

The method paint shops use to try to match the original tintcoat is different than the way the plant paints the cars.

The original poster asked what the designation "tintcoat" meant. He did not ask how to repair a car that had a tintcoat.

The plant tintcoat is done as I have stated. Prime coat, base color coat and a tinted clear coat. NO clear coat over the tint coat.

Seriously, if you don't believe me, call the plant paint shop manager on Monday.

 

Not looking to get into a spitting match, but this has been what I have been involved in for over 30 years. The differance is that the majority of shops, even those with the best equipement, can not always dupplicate the factory paint process. The paint companies, some of which are both OEM as well as aftermarket suppliers, have to come up with a paint system that can work in the repair field. Silkins(BASF), as one example, for years have had single and 2 stage paints that dupplicate the appearance of factory 3 stage, tri colors, etc.