Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

[Hal E.]

I have a 62 with the original type acrylic lacquer paint in Roman Red. That is the good news. The bad news is that it has developed some bubbles on the hood and upper section of the driver's side fender and door.

What to do? After this many years could the hood be painted to match IF I could find lacquer??? How about spotting in on the door/fender?? Intuitively I sense a problem here but I'm not a painter so I would be interested in some advice or reference material that might be helpful.

Eventually, I would like to repaint the whole car....just not right now....but again the availability of acrylic lacquer is an issue. I know there has been some discussion of this issue and I guess if I could find my way to the Monterey National Convention Tom Ames could provide some insights...but I doubt I'll be able to make it....soooooo any ideas on how to deal with this problem???

[Duke W.]

Re: Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

You can still buy acrylic lacquer in most parts of the country, and you can either paint whole panels or do spot repairs. It all depends on the painter.

Many collision repair shops don't work with lacquer anymore because it hasn't been used on new cars for nearly 20 years, so you'll probably have to find a specialist who does restoration work. Check around your local area for references.

Depending on how old your paint is, it might be a bit tricky to match the color and patina, but a good lacquer man should be able to handle it.

As far as the door is concerned, it would probably be best to repaint the whole panel. Blended spot repairs can usually be detected by a sharp eye, but a complete panel repaint with the proper mix and techique is the toughest to see, even for an expert.

I would recommend against allowing anyone to attempt the repair with enamel. I don't think it will look right. Find a good lacquer man, and he will likely have gray hair.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

You can still buy acrylic lacquer in most parts of the country, and you can either paint whole panels or do spot repairs. It all depends on the painter.

Many collision repair shops don't work with lacquer anymore because it hasn't been used on new cars for nearly 20 years, so you'll probably have to find a specialist who does restoration work. Check around your local area for references.

Depending on how old your paint is, it might be a bit tricky to match the color and patina, but a good lacquer man should be able to handle it.

As far as the door is concerned, it would probably be best to repaint the whole panel. Blended spot repairs can usually be detected by a sharp eye, but a complete panel repaint with the proper mix and techique is the toughest to see, even for an expert.

I would recommend against allowing anyone to attempt the repair with enamel. I don't think it will look right. Find a good lacquer man, and he will likely have gray hair.

Duke

[don whitehead]

Re: Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

I had my lacquer computer matched in a store in Plainfield NJ for touch up. Hibernia in NJ also does lacquer paint. Check your area.

[don whitehead]

Re: Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

I had my lacquer computer matched in a store in Plainfield NJ for touch up. Hibernia in NJ also does lacquer paint. Check your area.

[Bill W.]

Re: Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

I agree with Duke .there is no reason a blendable match cannot be mixed . and expect the painter to be 50

[Bill W.]

Re: Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

I agree with Duke .there is no reason a blendable match cannot be mixed . and expect the painter to be 50

[Hal E.]

Re: Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

From what has been posted, it sure sounds like there is hope for a lacquer repair. That is good news. I will ask around in my DelVal NCRS chapter and contacts in the Central Jersey Chapter for referrals on painters and paint jobbers who could match the old paint. Except for the bubbles it is in pretty good shape in terms of gloss and lack of fading as the car has been garaged when it wasn't being driven for the last 20 years. Would it make sense to obtain enough paint to do the whole car(in addition to what is needed for the repairs) at a later date. I don't know what the shelf life of the paint is, but I would think it isn't more than a couple of years(which would be OK). Additional comments and advice would be appreciated.

[Hal E.]

Re: Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

From what has been posted, it sure sounds like there is hope for a lacquer repair. That is good news. I will ask around in my DelVal NCRS chapter and contacts in the Central Jersey Chapter for referrals on painters and paint jobbers who could match the old paint. Except for the bubbles it is in pretty good shape in terms of gloss and lack of fading as the car has been garaged when it wasn't being driven for the last 20 years. Would it make sense to obtain enough paint to do the whole car(in addition to what is needed for the repairs) at a later date. I don't know what the shelf life of the paint is, but I would think it isn't more than a couple of years(which would be OK). Additional comments and advice would be appreciated.

[Stephen W.]

Re: Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

Your Bubbles may indicate an old repair or something else hiding in the undercoats. It could be solvent "pop" or moisture that was just waiting to find its way out.
Yes you can blend the finish if its in good shape and you have enough on the car. Do NOT try for a "panel match" It will never happen. Unlike the paints of today that need chemical catalysts to harden lacquer WILL "melt" into the old finish and become one. Thats why the finish needs to be reasonably good and it sounds like yous is. You really need an "old timer" that knows how to spray and blend it. He will get his film build and then accieve a good blend by "Melting " his color with rich ( slow drying) thinners. NO CLEAR is needed for a proper blend. You will also NOT see a blend line because the two finishes become one when melted together properly. The best thing is your eye will NOT be able to detect the small color variations so the repair is undetectable. I've always told people that would say "it will never be the same" You can never see a good body repair... You can only see the bad ones.
Find a jobber that has been around for some time and he will help you mix the color for a good match . Bring him a fuel door or some part with your color on it so he can tint from it. The rest will be painter technique, reductions and air pressure that will determine the final match. Good luck!

[Stephen W.]

Re: Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

Your Bubbles may indicate an old repair or something else hiding in the undercoats. It could be solvent "pop" or moisture that was just waiting to find its way out.
Yes you can blend the finish if its in good shape and you have enough on the car. Do NOT try for a "panel match" It will never happen. Unlike the paints of today that need chemical catalysts to harden lacquer WILL "melt" into the old finish and become one. Thats why the finish needs to be reasonably good and it sounds like yous is. You really need an "old timer" that knows how to spray and blend it. He will get his film build and then accieve a good blend by "Melting " his color with rich ( slow drying) thinners. NO CLEAR is needed for a proper blend. You will also NOT see a blend line because the two finishes become one when melted together properly. The best thing is your eye will NOT be able to detect the small color variations so the repair is undetectable. I've always told people that would say "it will never be the same" You can never see a good body repair... You can only see the bad ones.
Find a jobber that has been around for some time and he will help you mix the color for a good match . Bring him a fuel door or some part with your color on it so he can tint from it. The rest will be painter technique, reductions and air pressure that will determine the final match. Good luck!

[Duke W.]

Re: Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

Fresh lacquer in a sealed can has an indefinate shelf life. You could buy what you need for a repaint now, but you will also need thinner. From what I see lacquer will not be disappearing in the near term, so you could hold off if you want.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

Fresh lacquer in a sealed can has an indefinate shelf life. You could buy what you need for a repaint now, but you will also need thinner. From what I see lacquer will not be disappearing in the near term, so you could hold off if you want.

Duke

[Stephen W.]

Re: Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

If you were to take a can of clear lacquer when new and fresh it will be very "water white" clear. Take that same can of clear and leave it on a shelf for some time and it becomes more yellow. Leave it longer and it will be as dark as amber. Now add minerals and metals used to make the color ( pigments) to the clears and binders. They will age and do have a shelf life. As a paint rep for RM paints I spent a lot of time rotating my jobbers stock to keep it fresh and the body shops happy.

[Stephen W.]

Re: Old Paint/New Paint/NCRS Paint

If you were to take a can of clear lacquer when new and fresh it will be very "water white" clear. Take that same can of clear and leave it on a shelf for some time and it becomes more yellow. Leave it longer and it will be as dark as amber. Now add minerals and metals used to make the color ( pigments) to the clears and binders. They will age and do have a shelf life. As a paint rep for RM paints I spent a lot of time rotating my jobbers stock to keep it fresh and the body shops happy.