I am considering re-painting an 81.
Looking to keep it original color.
Is lacquer paint still available?
If so in Canada?

Barry

 

My understanding is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Excited States is slowly phazing out volatile lacquer automotive paints but, as yet, it's not been banned. However, many States have banned it at the local level.

Here in Canada, to my knowledge, it's not banned as yet. I checked the Environment Canada website and searched their regulations without any luck. My suggestion would be to contact your local paint supplier and enquire.

 

Hi Barry,
Last summer I tried to get some lacquer paint to do some touch ups.
NO LUCK. I even called Dupont Canada and they do not have it in Canada.
Dupont Canada transferred me to a very nice lady in Dupont U.S.
She worked in distribution.
She said they don't ship lacquer anymore, however, she did provide names of some of their customers that they had shipped some to in the recent past.

They were in the New England area. I called these shops and they said they did not have any left and would not be getting any more.

There were some stories going around that it was a controlled substance in Canada, and that you could not import it.

I called Canada Customs (or whatever they are called), and they said, no problem importing to Canada. Lacquer is less toxic than some of the newer paints.

I think you could find some in the U.S., you just need to do a lot of leg work.
Maybe someone from the Forum knows of a shop that supplies it and could ship to Canada.

Good luck.
Barry

 

If CCRA (Canada Customs and Revenue Agency) says it's not illegal to import, then maybe lacquer paint could be brought in from countries other than USA as well. Many substances which are not sold in Canada or USA are still manufactored around the world.

You're absolutely right about the safety aspect- the volatile organics in lacquor paint don't hold a candle to some of the other products out there---- epoxied primers for instance!

 

The paint itself is still available here in Florida....then again anyone can carry a gun here :jester however it is next to impossible to find anyone to shoot the stuff, all want production base / clear
If I can be of help let me know
jer

 

Jerry is absolutely correct. Nobody wants to shoot lacquer and a lot of them don't even knows how! Lacquer though, is and always has been the ideal paint for a person to shoot themselves. It requires no paint booth, is easy to repair your mistakes, does not require a supplied air respirator, and most importantly, it is the correct paint for old corvettes if you are looking for minimum point deduction at judging. That being said, a driver car would benefit from the much greater durability of BC/CC.
I will be the first to admit that I am a dinosaur, and I do love shooting Lacquer on a restored car, and as long as it is available, I will be using it on restorations. Daily drivers however, are a much different animal and I don't want to be repairing rock chips every time I turn around.
As of right now, there is no problem getting lacquer in Texas. A bigger issue than legislation is simply the law of supply and demand. You will find a lot of suppliers that simply do not stock lacquer because they sell very little and it is taking up shelf space. There will come a time when all lacquer will probably be purchased from a few specialty suppliers who do enough volume to justify selling it. The EPA is probably not going to ban it, as they realize that the usage is shrinking rapidly and in the future hardcore restorers will only use it. They have exempted other uses for lacquer such as Architectural metal refinishing, as there is no good substitute for it at this time.
:seeya

 

There are NO federal laws I know of that prohibit the use of laquer paints in Canada. There's lots of specialty paint shops here in the Montreal area that would be willing to do it if the $$$$$$$$$ are there.

You might want to start in the yellow pages for your area and ask.

Mike

 

Here's a good question (like all of my questions!! :p:) was GM still using lacquer paints in 1981?

I thought they'd gone to base/clear in the mid-70s.

 

Nac:
I believe by 78 they had left lacquer behing but I am not certain that the end did not preceed 78
I also agree whole heartedly with John, lacquer is a very forgining paint, screw it up...wait ten minutes , wet sand it and try again, sounds as if it were designed with painters like me in mind
jer


[Modified by 3X2-427, 6:28 PM 7/5/2002]

 

Thanks for the replies guys!
Yes... lacquer was still used in the early 1981 models.
Barry

 

Hey, Barry- my aunt used to run a health food store in P-L-P before she & the hubby split. If you're a granola cruncher, you may have met her. If you'd met her, you wouldn't forget her- she's a beauty by the name of Wonita! Sound familiar?

 

Hey Mac,
I am not a granola cruncher...... but i will try anything once!
I have only lived in Portage for 4 years.
What is/was the name of the store?

Barry

 

Good question- it was "Naturally Good" or "Natural Goodness" or something equally sappy.

I never saw the store. We ran into each other at a family reunion a couple years ago. At that point, she was still happily married. Since then, she moved back to Prince Edward Island (where we were both born & raised- we're close to the same age) so if you haven't met her, you won't likely now.

So tell us all about the 81- are you going factory or having fun??

 

Laquer was still being used on some GM car lines as late as 89,90.

 

Mac,
I haven't decided what to do with it!
Picked it up last fall.
It has 50,000 original kms on it.
It is metalic maroon ..... considering painting it bright blue, bright red or leaving it the original color in lacquer!!!!
Where do you buy your parts from?

Barry :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

Although this Forum is called Factory Correct, there's a good number of us who have stepped "outside of the box", so to speak. What you choose to do with your car is really between you and your bank account. Cars in general (and Corvettes in particular) are an expensive hobby.

When you're deciding what to do, work out a 'cost benefit analysis' of the various ideas you have for your Vette, including what work you can do yourself, etc. Some may disagree but I suggest mechanical work should take priority. If you can't drive it, there's not much pleasure to be had.

Lacquer paint is great because repairing the assorted oops's is relatively easy but lacquer has it's downfalls as well. The newer paint processes (Base & clear enamels) are more durable, shinier, easier to maintain, etc. There's a reason why lacquer is becoming rare- several actually.

As for parts, it depends on what you're looking for. Some stuff is easier to get from GM, some aftermarket. It may be possible to build a Vette from aftermarket parts. There are many suppliers, including a number 'linked' to CorvetteForum. There are numerous sources for used parts as well.

 

Well Barry,

Look at it this way. If you decide to change the color, your car will no longer be original. The choice between BC/CC or Lacquer is moot. If you intend to have the car judged, go original.

 

Guys, my question is, how can a paint that requires you to use a fresh air system be better for the enviornment?? I guess the people who came up with it don't seem to care that it will kill you first. To me it even seems like somewhat of a marketing ploy to take the job of painting your car out of the hobbyists hands and into the professionals.

My daily driver is a 1984 Cadillac that still has it's original coat of lacquer paint on it. I'm not going to tell you it looks great, but I don't do anything to it and it doesn't look terrible either. As for the durability of BC/CC, a couple of my other cars that I drive pretty regularly have a LOAD of rock chips on the nose and hood, enough that they should be repainted to look good again. Does anyone else have this problem? I agree the BC/CC holds it's shine longer and is easier to maintain and is also better if you spill something on it, but the rock chips drive me nuts!! My Vette still looks decent even though it was painted about 18 years ago by my dad in black lacquer. When I go to refinish my cars, I'll do them myself which means I'll use the lacquer again, and if doesn't come out right, I'll spend the bucks and have someone do the BC/CC job.

 

<< Guys, my question is, how can a paint that requires you to use a fresh air system be better for the enviornment?? >>

Because it has far lower VOC emmisions. VOCs are big greenhouse contributors. Modern catalyzed paints have lower VOC, but are more immediately hazardous to your health if you breathe them because they are temporarily more poisonous. But they dissipate (catalyze, actually) and become harmless, unlike VOCs.

Incidently, in California (and any other states where guys with names like Bubba aren't in elected positions) it's not legal to shoot lacquer outside a paint booth either. And if you're smart (and want to remain that way), you'll wear a quality respirator while shooting it, too. Just a tip from your designated forum tree-hugger! :)

- Mike Greene

 

58Mike,

Good info there guy..........I knew the VOC's were lower, but I didn't realize they dissipate in the process. I agree I'd wear a respirator with whatever I'm spraying, sometimes even just spray paint. It isn't worth the health risk and I'd like to be around to enjoy the car. I would even rent a spray booth if it was affordable............anybody have any ideas on pricing?