Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

[Joe C.]

Rust-Oleum Specialty Lacquer (NOT Specialty "Lacquer") 11 oz. spray

If so, then how?

See attached MSDS sheet:

Interpretation from paint experts needed.

Is this stuff acrylic lacquer or acrylic enamel????

Thanks in advance,
Joe

[Chuck S.]

Re: Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

Your best answer would be from our resins expert, but as I said before, Rustoleum's Specialty Lacquer probably is lacquer...acrylic lacquer.

The government stands by ready to pounce on anybody that misleads the public with false labeling, so you can be fairly confident that if Rustoleum calls it "lacquer" then it IS lacquer. Further, their product will only be lacquer that is still commercially available, or acrylic lacquer. The only other types of lacquer I'm aware of are nitrocellulose lacquer from early to middle of the twentieth century, and "Japanese" lacquer which is a finish from before the nineteenth century.

It is not likely to be acrylic enamel...Acrylic is a description of a type of paint, like alkyd; basically it means "plastic". It has been used to describe urethane, latex, and lacquer paint types.

If you are comtemplating using Rustoleum's Specialty Lacquer as touch-up paint, then about any type of automotive paint in the correct color will work for blemishes ranging from rock chips to larger scratches. Buy a small bottle of touch-up paint from Pep Boys or O'Reilly's auto stores. Some touch up artists can probably work acrylic lacquer better because it is easier to sand and buff to a point where it is imperceptible.

If the damage is large enough to require a spray can, then anything short of proper preparation and professional spraying of automotive acrylic lacquer is a stop-gap solution. In that case, it really doesn't matter if you have used the exact same type paint used on the car originally...the color likely won't match, the outline of the damage with be visible, and the spray will be obviously inconsistent and amateurish. This is JMHO; try it if you want, and find out for yourself.

[Stephen B.]

Re: Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

Sounds like a Ballard Question.

[Dick W.]

Re: Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

Joe, the key words in the MSDS are "evaporates faster than ether" and contains MEK. It is lacquer

[Stephen B.]

Re: Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

Joe,

Now that these experts have determined that you have laquer, you can go ahead with painting you '65 with a 100 to 200 of these spray cans of paint to best recreate the original finish. You don't even have to dull the door jambs.

[Dick W.]

Re: Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

Hee Heee

[Alan S.]

Re: Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

Stephen,
Do the 100 to 200 cans have to be from the same lot number in order to have a successful color match can to can?
Regards,
Alan

[Chuck S.]

Re: Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

Hee Heee

Sounds like something Bo an' Luke Duke might try to cover up them "barb' war' " scratches from goin' cross-country.

[Stephen B.]

Re: Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

Yes, the spray cans have to be from the same lot number in order to be numbers matching.

[Dick W.]

Re: Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

Ya can always roll the paint on and then color sand and buff. End up with the same result

[Stephen B.]

Re: Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

Dick,

The only problem is that your method might produce a finish better than the GM worker. I guess one has to go easy on the wet sanding.

[Joe C.]

Re: Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

Joe,

Now that these experts have determined that you have laquer, you can go ahead with painting you '65 with a 100 to 200 of these spray cans of paint to best recreate the original finish. You don't even have to dull the door jambs.

Stephen,

Nooooo...........I was gonna use 'er on me door jams incase somebuddy wanted to do a "paint rub". Ooops........those are OUT, aren't they. This is almost like the same c**p that we suggest for painting interior parts (J**n D**re B***z B***k and K****n S**i F**t Black are acrylic enamels.)

Anyway, the nice, friendly chemists over at Rustoleum sez that it's lack-er, alright. But, lack-er ain't necessarily LACQUER. In other words, this stuff, even though it doesn't "cure" like enamel, only dessicates like lack-er, has the correct solvent base to technically (legally) be called "lacquer", and contains the proper "vehicle" to be termed "lacquer", is absolutely not as durable as commercially available automotive lacquer. In my case, I was concerned with gasoline solvency.

The MSDS sheet does not give sufficient information as to contents, to make a determination as to characteristics, durability, or even paint type (ie. lacquer or enamel). Dick: most, if not all paints contain varying proportions of acetones/ketones in their formulation, including enamels. Chuck: your first post was "dead nuts on" as far as suitability is concerned.

The bottom line is: the only way to determine formulation of paints, is to obtain the technical specfications, which will list the specific contents, with their exact proportions. It will also give a more accurate description of the paint's application/suitability. These docs are normally available only for commercial grade products (according to the Rust-oleum representative).

Attached, is a quick primer on paints.

Joe

[Dick W.]

Re: Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

I will keep that info in mind the next time I paint a model

[Chuck S.]

Re: Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

...Anyway, the nice, friendly chemists over at Rustoleum sez that it's lack-er, alright. But, lack-er ain't necessarily LACQUER. In other words, this stuff, even though it doesn't "cure" like enamel, only dessicates like lack-er, has the correct solvent base to technically (legally) be called "lacquer", and contains the proper "vehicle" to be termed "lacquer", is absolutely not as durable as commercially available automotive lacquer...

I began to suspect adulteration later when I read their blurb saying the paint produced factory-like "high luster" finishes; I take the salespeak "high luster" = high gloss, and we all know REAL automotive acrylic lacquer does not cure to high gloss. I figured it was "legally" lacquer, but something was different.

Therein is the reason why I wouldn't consider a complete repaint in present day "lacquer", even "automotive lacquer"...the stuff that's called acrylic lacquer these days is not yer Daddy's acrylic lacquer. It IS...but, it AIN"T.

When dealing with paint, it's usually better to just get the manufacturer's tech service people to answer your questions like you finally did. Users don't have any inside knowledge of the company's products...e.g. "What is the definition of 'lacquer'?" You did good...once you get past the marketing people, you will usually get the truth.

...Chuck: your first post was "dead nuts on" as far as suitability is concerned.

Does this mean that you tried the Rustoleum Specialty Lacquer, confirmed my suspicions, and now you're looking for a good automotive painter? In this case, you really had nothing to lose by tying it...you were going to need a good automotive painter in any event.

[Joe C.]

Re: Is This Stuff Really "Lacquer"???

Therein is the reason why I wouldn't consider a complete repaint in present day "lacquer", even "automotive lacquer"...the stuff that's called acrylic lacquer these days is not yer Daddy's acrylic lacquer. It IS...but, it AIN"T.

YOU SED IT! I was going to, but didn't.
The only way that I WOULD consider it, is if I obtained the OLD tech sheet and compared it to the NEW tech sheet. Maybe, with the help of an expert, could re-formulate the NEW to more closely approach the OLD. Otherwise, the newfangled catalyzed Urethane Enamels are the only way to go IMHO.

Does this mean that you tried the Rustoleum Specialty Lacquer, confirmed my suspicions, and now you're looking for a good automotive painter? In this case, you really had nothing to lose by tying it...you were going to need a good automotive painter in any event.

No, I did not. My jambs/gutters/innards/headlight bezels, etc are painted with black lacquer. The external surfaces are painted with 2 stage Sikkens Urethane Enamel. I was contemplating using the spray bomb for a spot repair in the B/hinge pillar. I'll get some from my painter, who usually has an open quart of black lacquer on hand.

Joe