Been given a spray gun

In message [snip]

Base and clear usually refers to a metallic base and a clear lacquer sprayed over the top. Lacquer is not generally required on non metallic bases as there is no real advantage because the lacquer is designed to protect a matt base.

You commonly get solid colours in a base only twin-pack.

Twin-pack as opposed to single pack paints require an activator to force drying or curing by a chemical reaction, single component paint becomes a twin-component when an activator is added.

Steve.

Positive. I was with him a couple of times when he was slapping it on. There's no mistaking the smell of cellulose, and it was touch dry within a minute or so of being applied. Took him over 3 weeks working evenings and weekends to finish the job, and he was still using the car daily to get to work and back. Car looked awful when I saw him painting it. Not smooth at all, but the finished result was the envy of a couple of his mates, who also had MG's. Mike.

I understand what 2 pack is, but what I don't know is are there clear over base 2 pack paints, or are they normal 1 pack paints?

BTW, are there any advantages in terms of depth of shine / durability on base and clear for a solid colour (alpine white FWIW).

Apparently not. Mine was originally supposed to be base and clear but because of the lack of correct tints available, was done in solid. TBH, as a layman, I'm damned if I can see the difference. OTOH though, I know that solid is a hell of a lot easier to repair, for minor scratches etc, than base and clear.

A very nice job. Better than I achieved on an Escort van, but it was a workhorse at the time, so I wasn't out to win any prizes. :-) Looks like the same colour as my wifes '57 MM. Fern green? Mike.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Chris Bolus saying something like:

How to make a TV programme...

There were brushing cellulose enamels available with very considerable slow drying properties compared to the faster spraying variety.

Rolls Royce did brush paint their cars originally in synthetic oil base and spirit enamels, but they moved over to spray systems in the 1920's.

Cellulose brushing and spraying enamels where common during that period, a few examples would be Celluloid, Celamel, Sellonite, Cerric and Standlac.

These types of paints also consisted of stove enamels and lacquers. All were single-pack.

Steve.

Clear over base lacquers can be either single or twin-pack, generally speaking the twin-pack lacquer is applied over a matt single pack base coat.

Single or twin-pack solids do not require a lacquer, lacquer was formulated to protect a ver thin vulnerable metallic base coat.

Steve.

BMW for one has used clear coat over solid for many a year.

Tnhe only one I can recall from a good few years ago is Brushing Belco. I don't know what my brother was using, but he was painting it outside in the sunshine, so that probably explains why it was drying so quickly.

Abn old guy I knew used to work for Hoopers. He reckons they were still hand painting in the 40's. Mike.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Conor saying something like:

That is a cracking finish.

Many vehicles were still painted by hand, because customers preferred the hand painted approach like the hand built=better reputation.

Steve.

They did indeed, but the lacquer was sprayed over a matt solid base coat.

Steve.