Questions and opinions on buying paint

Don't buy quarts, buy the gallon, and then blend the gallons if you buy more than one. Reseal and store where they won't get major temperature changes and can't go low enough to freeze. I keep mine in a semi-heated basement and they will last longer than he will and not degrade. When you reuse them mixing them very well becomes extremely important because of the metallic, iridescent, and pigment separation over the years. I had to judge a great restoration of a red, not sure what the actual red was, and he used two gallons. As can happen he buffed through the top fender, quarter ridges, not to worry, he has another gallon. They were mixed at the same time and were not metallic but they sure were different colors. I'd have re-shot the entire car, I could see everywhere he had re-shot the edges. I shot a removable hardtop with paint that was 26 years old last summer and it came closer than his did new.

Most important keep the type of paint, where or from whom it was purchased, mix code, the color, and color number along with the mix date where it can't be lost or destroyed. That same information should also be in the car in more than one place.

Last but not least, where are you getting good lacquer these days?

Thanks, Dad.

So you think he should buy gallons? He is painting a '68 with hardtop red. How much do you think he really needs? He will do under the deck, the door jams, and so on.

He was figuring about 2 qt, maybe 3. the 4th would be for touch up later.

I painted a '56 several years ago and did not have a hard top for it at the time. I bought a single gallon of paint and it was insufficient to do the job properly. I really think this is a case where buying a couple of gallons and storing what little may be left over properly for later use is a better decision.

Charlie

Last January DuPont discontiued lacquer paint all together because of new technology in the industry. This means that if you find any it has most likely been sitting around for a long time...and its even more likely that you will not find any at all since the most common tints are all used up at this point. If by chance you do find someone still supplying lacquer they will probably not have all the correct tints to make your color.

Mike Gallagher

He is getting PPG Duracryl and up until this last time in a couple of days ago, they said no problem. However, he said they had heard rumors they might be losing it soon and so that is why he was trying to stock up on paint to cover his projects for the next couple of years.

I'm about ready to do the same, buy a gallon or two. Regardless of the BC/CC is better/lacquer is original arguments, the fact is that to correctly restore these old ones is to use lacquer. And those truly after the NCRS/Bloomington Gold standards, and the really high bucks, want them all original.

I haven't seen DuPont lacquer in a year and a half, although I heard a year ago you could still get black, white, and possibly red. However, most stores weren't supplying it.

A total strip and good body prep he can get it done with one gallon and have paint to spare for some repair later. Probably nowhere near a full uncut quart. Good body prep includes all one color primer so he's not trying to cover shade changes as the color goes on buy applying more paint I would buy in a gallon, store remaining paint in a quart can.

Still would like to find out where he gets his lacquer.

Hi Dad,

Here's his note on the paint.

AYECARUMBA! Have I been that far out of touch or was this stuff in the $70/gal range just 5 years or so ago. Me thinks that if there's any market for the stuff at this price, someone will continue or begin making the product for the specialty market.

Are there other materials needed specific for spraying lacquer that may also become unobtainable? Like must you use a lacquer based primer, spot putty, etc.?

Here's waving to ya - \||||

Owen ___

'67BB & '72BB

-- not affiliated with JLA forum in any way -- alt.autos.corvette is original posting -- ___

"To know the world intimately is the beginning of caring." -- Ann Hayman Zwinger

About 1991, I bought a gallon of DuPont Centari acryl enamel for around $50 in NJ. of course, I couldn't find anyone to shoot it for less than $2500 due to the EPA problems, after the place I was renting dropped on me just for fiberglass repair. The thought of spraying paint had them ready to toss me out.

I finally found a couple of kids that destroyed their parent's basement garage with close to a quart of overspray. :-)

Around the same time, a friend found he could get Econo Paint to spray his race car for $99 as opposed to him paying $70 for a gallon of paint and doing the work. For a race car, it was good enough.