Paint Stuff
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 49
Likes: 8
Paint Stuff
So, about paint...
"Back in the day" when I did this full time, I was using mainly Ditzler products and am quite familiar with them.
My specialty was using Deltron basecoat/clearcote and achieving glass like, lacquer looking finishes but of course, ending up with the durability of urethane.
While I didn't purposely try to fool people, I recall that one of the cars I did was entered in a regional Corvette show and was not downgraded for using non-original paint.
I talked to the owner of the car later and he said that he was told by a judge that his car was one of the better "lacquer finishes" he'd seen. That's the capability I'm looking for all this time later; a urethane paint that can still be worked to look like lacquer.
Fast forward over 25 years, I'm seeing lots of references to new paints from PPG (Ditzler) so I'm wondering what the "new stuff" might be that will give me the look and durability I was used to with Deltron.
"Back in the day" when I did this full time, I was using mainly Ditzler products and am quite familiar with them.
My specialty was using Deltron basecoat/clearcote and achieving glass like, lacquer looking finishes but of course, ending up with the durability of urethane.
While I didn't purposely try to fool people, I recall that one of the cars I did was entered in a regional Corvette show and was not downgraded for using non-original paint.
I talked to the owner of the car later and he said that he was told by a judge that his car was one of the better "lacquer finishes" he'd seen. That's the capability I'm looking for all this time later; a urethane paint that can still be worked to look like lacquer.
Fast forward over 25 years, I'm seeing lots of references to new paints from PPG (Ditzler) so I'm wondering what the "new stuff" might be that will give me the look and durability I was used to with Deltron.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
For what this worth:
I also was in the generation of when lacquer was the primary system used and the 'new' basecoat/clearcoat system as coming out and being used by GM.
It was still so new...that when I had to paint and old Corvette there was no paint formula derived yet in the DELTRON BC/CC system so lacquer had to be applied with the urethane clear on it because everybody heard about his new system and wanted it with the protection of the new urethane clear.
I can say that the current clears that are more of the top of the line stuff are really a glamour clear and will have such a high shine and depth to it (depending on how much you apply) that it will not match that clear you used way back then due ot improvements in the clearcoats of those past 25+ years.
Now there are still clears out there that are urethane that are not so high gloss. where they can actually have that slight dull/hazy look to them much like the old lacquer paint had and the texture is very close to what a lacquer job can have. which is controlled by the grade of hardener you use or reducer you use for they temperature you are shooting at.
Some of the 'new' clears can gave lot of flow characteristics to them so when you shoot it..you do not want to shoot it how you want it to look but rather leave it with a bit textures so the clear can flow out and get really slick.
As for what clear to tell you to use.. that is really hard due to your painting style and mine may be totally different and thus what works for me to achieve the look of an old lacquer paint job may not work for you and vice-versa.
I do know this...or at least form what I have fun into. Even with me using the high solid glamour clear...if I time the final 'dust' coat of clear that I can dust on my last coat of clear if I time it right so I know it wills till link up...I can dust it in a way that that coat can flow out and NOT like glass and leave the finish of the clear a nice lacquer look..
I remember using DAU-82 clear for long time until new clears came out. Then I shot the NCT clear which worked very well also. Then the 2001 clear which we called '2001 runs' because it would want to walk or flow on you and you could have major runs if you shot it too slick like I previously mentioned....then the CONCEPT clear which was good but was getting more into the realm of the glamour clears at his point where everybody wanted blistering shine on there car where it looked like you dipped it in baby oil.
I am sure you have guys in your area you may be able to talk to that can further advise you or when you look at their work and like what you see ....see what they are using because the only other thing I can say it to buy some clear and test shoot it to get it to where you want it.
DUB
I also was in the generation of when lacquer was the primary system used and the 'new' basecoat/clearcoat system as coming out and being used by GM.
It was still so new...that when I had to paint and old Corvette there was no paint formula derived yet in the DELTRON BC/CC system so lacquer had to be applied with the urethane clear on it because everybody heard about his new system and wanted it with the protection of the new urethane clear.
I can say that the current clears that are more of the top of the line stuff are really a glamour clear and will have such a high shine and depth to it (depending on how much you apply) that it will not match that clear you used way back then due ot improvements in the clearcoats of those past 25+ years.
Now there are still clears out there that are urethane that are not so high gloss. where they can actually have that slight dull/hazy look to them much like the old lacquer paint had and the texture is very close to what a lacquer job can have. which is controlled by the grade of hardener you use or reducer you use for they temperature you are shooting at.
Some of the 'new' clears can gave lot of flow characteristics to them so when you shoot it..you do not want to shoot it how you want it to look but rather leave it with a bit textures so the clear can flow out and get really slick.
As for what clear to tell you to use.. that is really hard due to your painting style and mine may be totally different and thus what works for me to achieve the look of an old lacquer paint job may not work for you and vice-versa.
I do know this...or at least form what I have fun into. Even with me using the high solid glamour clear...if I time the final 'dust' coat of clear that I can dust on my last coat of clear if I time it right so I know it wills till link up...I can dust it in a way that that coat can flow out and NOT like glass and leave the finish of the clear a nice lacquer look..
I remember using DAU-82 clear for long time until new clears came out. Then I shot the NCT clear which worked very well also. Then the 2001 clear which we called '2001 runs' because it would want to walk or flow on you and you could have major runs if you shot it too slick like I previously mentioned....then the CONCEPT clear which was good but was getting more into the realm of the glamour clears at his point where everybody wanted blistering shine on there car where it looked like you dipped it in baby oil.
I am sure you have guys in your area you may be able to talk to that can further advise you or when you look at their work and like what you see ....see what they are using because the only other thing I can say it to buy some clear and test shoot it to get it to where you want it.
DUB
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 49
Likes: 8
Pretty much word for word, it looks like we both went through the same era and with similar experiences.
My old supplier looks to be still in business but I doubt if any of the people I dealt with are still there, still, I guess I need to mosy by and chat with the guys so I can get caught up with stuff.
I kept a few of my old spray guns from back then (Binks, DeVilbiss, a paint pot and a couple of HVLP guns), so I have an excuse to drop by to pick up some seal kits for them.
Do you have a favorite paint brand and system you're using today more often than others, or is it just as things warrant?
Thanks
My old supplier looks to be still in business but I doubt if any of the people I dealt with are still there, still, I guess I need to mosy by and chat with the guys so I can get caught up with stuff.
I kept a few of my old spray guns from back then (Binks, DeVilbiss, a paint pot and a couple of HVLP guns), so I have an excuse to drop by to pick up some seal kits for them.
Do you have a favorite paint brand and system you're using today more often than others, or is it just as things warrant?
Thanks
