Who's paint, PPG, Dupont, ???

[427v8]

OK so I'm going to paint my own car, bakyard kinda stuff. I will build a plastic enclosure inthe garage with a vent and filters, but you get the idea.

I've used PPG mostly and it seems to go down nice if I have the temp right, but I am wondering if there are better paints to be using. BTW cost is the last of my concerns, performance, ease and looks of use is more important to me

So I want a good looking, easy to spray basecoat / clearcoat system.

Which system?
Electron blue if it makes a difference.

Thanks for your opinion!

[nitrovette]

Ive used pretty much everything out there but i stick with glasurit now,i really like there clear.

gm code 21
wa-779j electronblue
Just a hint,electronblue is very transparent and it takes alot to cover,so try and keep everything uniform all one color,no spots,and if you can use a darker primer to cover easier.I used dp-21 tintable primer and tinted it blue.

[MuscleRodz]

If cost is not a concern, then I would go Sikkens or another top notch paint company. Otherwise I prefer Dupont over PPG after using both for many years.

Mike

[socalfandabodys]

I had my chevelle painted a few months ago with ppg. Body looks strait and paint gets compliments, but all other painters told me dupont is better because they can put more clear on. The ppg took lots of color sanding to get it to bring out a good luster.

[third base]

My vote is for DuPont.

[Happyfunballs]

PPG, DuPont, Sherwin Williams(no joke), Spies, Glasurit......etc. I'd don't care for Auto Color or Omni, but they will work fine for someone on a budget.

[c.schulz]

Sherwin Williams great paint at a great price.If not that go for PPG.

Chris

[68protouring454]

i would go dupont or sherwin for someone who does not paint alot, the clears are alot thinner and alot less finicky then spies/standox/glassurit/sikkens, by finicky i mean the european clears are so much thicker that they need to be reduced perfectly and you always reduce differently depending on weather ,temp etc, where as the duponts, etc you just go 4-1 any old day
goodluck
jake

[427v8]

Nitrovette,
I remember you talking about Glassurit of Corvetteforum, but my two local suppliers do'nt carry it.

So it looks like I'll try Dupont, If it's easier to use I'm happy!

Thanks guys

[68protouring454]

go with it, use the chroma premier base coats and the chroma clear, 7500 for overall, goodluck
jake

[nitrovette]

Go with what your comfortable with,ill have some new pics this week,im in the middle of buffing it right now.

[BRIAN]

I agree with using the Sherwin or similar thinner clear. If you see a car side by side painted with either the non euro thick clear will always look flatter. Actually try House Of Color clear it is cost effective and flows like glass. You can block Spies clear all day but when you eye it down there will be a rolling type of orange peel. Look super deep but on dark cars it just looks thick for a lack of a better word. Also the HOK clear is non booth friendly and will flow out without being baked. Good luck.

[ProdigyCustoms]

I am not a big fan of the "thick look" either. Nothing looks slicker then a single stage, cured and blocked, a light coat of base to set the color, and some good non high solids clear.

[BRIAN]

Couldn't agree more. I actually just had problem with this own my Rambler with letting a buddy do me a favor to save time. Turned out to be not such a favor. If you see the panels that were done with the different clears it is amazing. They both look good until you do the comparison. Let's just say that I am pissed as all that block sanding went to s@#$ in an afternoon. Oh well as they say the next is always better. Oh yeah and if you want it done right do it yourself.

[427v8]

Soo much good info here Thanks Guys!

So out of curiosity, how does the dupont clear compare to PPG clear? I've used PPG and it seems to spray pretty well and not TOO horribly temperature sensitive.

Also someone mentioned HOK clear. Is it ok to top Dupont with HOK? Is it worth it? Which one would be the least finicky?

Oh one more thing, Would I be crazy to spray the front clip before the rest of the car?
I'd like to get the front clip painted and put back togther so I can drive it, yea I know it would look funny for a bit. I don't really want to drive around with just primer on the front, seems like asking for trouble...

Then I would do the doors and rear clip together.

[68protouring454]

not sure i follow i agree out of the gun it will be textured etc than a thin clear, but as far as being not flat when its blocked out i have to disagree, at least the clear i am using will block out flat and buffs flat, i will take some pics of 67 stang i am doing, will be a few weeks until painted and buffed, i have never buffed thru standox's clears, i had it happen more than once or twice in duponts, cause either way you will be sanding buffing if its a nice job, but i do know how much of a hardon i get when i spray a thin clear out and its flat as all hell.

[yody]

i like PPG way better than Dupont, dupont is soft as hell and chips super easy. A lot of the body shops around here also don't like Dupont. Although I have heard it is way easier for beginners to use. My car is painted dupont but we sprayed the firewall with PPG, the PPG looks way deepr and glossier and doesnt' chip nearly as easy. We did use the really good PPG clear though

[Happyfunballs]

You can top virtually anything with HOK clear. It's a good all around clear that is very competitive in price. I use it more than anything.

[race-rodz-inc]

i mostly paint harleys, some street rods/ restos, i use hok clear on a weekly basis.... it has pros and cons.

UC35 & UFC35, the UFC being the "flow" clear, they both spray out great, perfect for clearing over edges of graphics, the down side is the take forever to cure....even when baked. i always wait a couple days after spraying, "cut" the clear and let it sit open for a couple more days before finsh sanding and buffing.... best results come from sitting another few days before final polishing.

i started using PPG hi end (2021 i think) clear on my quicky & repair jobs, gun finish is way better than the HOK (sata NR2000 1.3mm) after baking and cool down can be polished same day..... and never dies back

Dupont clear sux, have never liked it, dies back really bad, seams to be "soft" for a long long time... just dont like it compared to other brands.

as for basecoats... i am really fond of the hok shimmirin line, but this really only works if you are goin with a complete... in one of their colors. valspar owns hok, however, their basecoats are way diff, i really dont like vlaspar. PPG works great, but i have just started using their bases, and im still not used to the funky mixing ratios. dupont base works great...colormatching seems to be very accurate... as long as you use another companies clear over it. RM is another product line i use a lot, clear is great, base is ok.

just remember, you get what you pay for, goin the cheapest house brand works on quicky jobs, but do you really want to paint you own car with something you know is "cheap"

my $.02

[mikesz]

i mostly paint harleys, some street rods/ restos, i use hok clear on a weekly basis.... it has pros and cons.

UC35 & UFC35, the UFC being the "flow" clear, they both spray out great, perfect for clearing over edges of graphics, the down side is the take forever to cure....even when baked. i always wait a couple days after spraying, "cut" the clear and let it sit open for a couple more days before finsh sanding and buffing.... best results come from sitting another few days before final polishing.

i started using PPG hi end (2021 i think) clear on my quicky & repair jobs, gun finish is way better than the HOK (sata NR2000 1.3mm) after baking and cool down can be polished same day..... and never dies back

Dupont clear sux, have never liked it, dies back really bad, seams to be "soft" for a long long time... just dont like it compared to other brands.

as for basecoats... i am really fond of the hok shimmirin line, but this really only works if you are goin with a complete... in one of their colors. valspar owns hok, however, their basecoats are way diff, i really dont like vlaspar. PPG works great, but i have just started using their bases, and im still not used to the funky mixing ratios. dupont base works great...colormatching seems to be very accurate... as long as you use another companies clear over it. RM is another product line i use a lot, clear is great, base is ok.

just remember, you get what you pay for, goin the cheapest house brand works on quicky jobs, but do you really want to paint you own car with something you know is "cheap"

my $.02


I have used the dupont Chroma system. I buffed/sanded through it a few times. It also "dies back" after a few months on me too. Looks like funky orange peel, but still shiny. It really sucks because the car is black.

Your comments on the PPG clear sound great to me, but I dont have a booth to bake in. Can I still get the same results? How has the PPG treated you in the past two months, base and clear. Why dont you like valspar?

Id like to paint my truck a pewter color. I have no booth to bake in. Id prefer a harder sanding clear and more work than breaking through. What do you recomend?



Mike

[StRacerDuke]

Having back yard experience with both Dupont and PPG I would highly recommend the Dupont Chroma system. I found it much easier to get right the first time. The Chroma clear is a lot deeper than PPG's product. I did find that the dupont is a little softer overall though. Just my 2 cents as usual.

[68protouring454]

ryan is right, duponts chroma 7500 clear is softer which makes it easier to buff, but also makes it more prone to scratches, in the long term, this is why i like a clear that gives you a week or two to buff but then gets rock hard to resist these things. you have to step up a level in paint to get these attributes
jake

[Stupidnewbie]

Is anyone familiar with PCL (Pacific Coast Lacquer)? I asked the owner of the body shop my work uses and he said it's the best stuff he's found on the market. It seems like the specialize in CA-compliant paints, so maybe they aren't the best thing for a home-paint job?

[shoddy_f-body]

Since no one mentioned RM i will. I have been using RM Diamont. DC 92 clear looks like a million bucks and is tough but it is finicky.Runs easy and is expensive. Dupont 7500 clear is my all time favorite to spray. You can lay it on nice and wet and it stays put.Some clears look greatwhen you spray them ,then come back in ten minutes and its on the floor. Die back with Dupont that some mentioned has more to do with the undercoats and a impatient painter than it does the clear. I wait until its 'hand slick' before applying the next coat. Dupont is the best mix of price and ease of use.

[ufo69chevelle]

i personally would say to go with glassurit. it is generally a few dollars more, but from my experience, you really get the best finish. dupont does a good job if your painting a fender on a 94 cavalier for john doe. but for the real high quality show finish i would assume you are looking for, go with glassurit.

PS- sherwin williams whould stick with exterior paint for garage doors