Acrylic Lacquer Brand

[Robert S.]

Any suggestions on brand (PPG, DUPONT) of lacquer paint for best color match-74 mille red.
thanks. Thanks.

[Kenny C.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer Brand

I don't think you can get Acrylic Lacquer anymore or at least we cant in California, we even need to use water base as of the first of this year, no more solvent based. If you could or if you have some you saved from the past the process of topping over another product can be very challenging. My suggestion would be not to. Or if for some reason you think you must then you need to check the info sheets from whatever product you will be using and with the one you will be covering to avoid reaction between them. Generally Lacquer does not play well with enamels or urethane's.

[Robert S.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer Brand

Thanks Ken. It is available for ordering from certain states. I was informed since the lead has been removed from lacquer some brands don't match the original colors as well as others.

[Donald T.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer Brand

Lacquer is still available in California and every other state for that matter. Just place your order and it will be on your door step within a few days. The company is even located in California. Not sure why folks think this stuff isn't available anymore.

http://www.tcpglobal.com/autocolorlibrary/

[Robert S.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer Brand

Don- any suggestions on the brand for the most accurate color (mille red)

[Donald T.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer Brand

Don- any suggestions on the brand for the most accurate color (mille red)

TCP Global carries PPG and their own house brand "Restoration Shop". Both brands are high quality with the Restoration Shop being less expensive. They have the codes to match any stock color. Give them a call. I think you will find they are very knowledgeable and helpful.

Good luck with your project!

Don

[Kenny C.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer Brand

Don
I suppose it may be available from some mail order source but you sure cant walk in a paint shop here anymore and buy it over the counter. Furthermore if you get caught with it in your shop by the City inspectors or the AQMD you will see your fines starting at the 10,000 level and going up from there.

[Robert S.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer Brand

Does anyone have suggestions on a brand of acrylic lacquer (ppg, dupont) for the best color match for 74 mille red. thanks. Any suggestions for returning the car to its acrylic lacquer finish would be helpful. I am aware of the new laws. Thanks in advance.

[Jim D.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer Brand

I can walk into any body supply store and walk out with as much acrylic lacquer as I want. That being said, no way would I buy what is available today. Yesterdays lacquer was very good (with lead). Todays lacquer is very poor at best.

[Paul J.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer Brand

My suggestion would be not to. Or if for some reason you think you must then you need to check the info sheets from whatever product you will be using and with the one you will be covering to avoid reaction between them. Generally Lacquer does not play well with enamels or urethane's.

Kenny, I'm not sure but I think that a modern sealer would prevent any reaction. Perhaps some painters can chime in.

My car was painted with enamel over the lacquer 35 years ago and it still looks pretty good. In fact, the designs in the hood teardrop were sprayed with lacquer and the clear coat over them is lacquer. All over the fresh enamel, as the car was painted in one day. The lacquered clear coated areas are in better shape than the rest of the paint job. My painter was my neighbor, who was a painter at the local Ford dealership and did custom paint jobs on the side. He was very proud of the work on my car, especially spraying enamel over old lacquer and then new lacquer over enamel. After he explained to me what he had done he told that "you can't do that".

As for painting over the old paint, I'm with you. I think Robert should strip it first. After all, it is a vette and not a pickup truck.

[Michael M.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer Brand

Robert the correct way is to remove the paint that's on the car now. Next I would never paint a car with today's lacquer. I am not familiar with your red but if it's a solid red with no metallic your can use a single stage paint. The single stage red will rub off with compound on a rag for judging.

[Robert S.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer Brand

Why shouldn't I use lacquer? I thought the ideal here is to return the car as close to factory specs as possible. single stage enamel does not look like the original finish regardless of its bleeding characteristics.

[Kenny C.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer Brand

Enamel over lacquer is doable but not he other way around. That being said, yes I could shoot something like sealer 70 over the base very dry a couple of coats and then the top coat again the first being on the dry side. Let the thinner flash off enough so it doesn't go through to the base. SO I suppose if a person just had to do something it is possible with the right prep and a slow application. The question Begs WHY? Modern paints are better plain and simple. Going on top of crap is a problem waiting to happen and the end results will likely be crap. I know there are some out there who have the opinion that only the same paint the cars were painted with originally should be applied but that's simply not possible. As noted the lacquer of today is not the same so you really aren't using the same product as the factory used anyway. So once you get your head around this fact then why wouldn't you choose the best products available to protect your car and to enhance its beauty and also be more durable? If the factory used poor quality engine oil because that's what was offered in 1957 would you want the same garbage in your car today even though superior protection is available? Just my opinion but I have a difficult time accepting that less is more mentality.

[Michael M.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer Brand

If you have a very good painter he can make the single stage paint look like lacquer. Also if you use single stage paint you will get a more long lasting and durable paint job. Just make sure your jams and under hood areas are dulled out.

[Robert S.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer Brand

Point taken but I read about a C3 owner who had his car redone recenty in lacquer and he said it looked like his new car when he bought it. He said he knew and remembered what his lacquer finish looked like and his recent refinish on his current C3 looked the same as his new C3 did. Why is everyone against this. lacquer looks different because it is different than enamel..current or not. I'm not convinced (yet) Even though the lead is out of it lacquer still looks original and different than any enamel. Not as durable but if well cared for and kept out of the sun, it'll hold up. Also, unsure if stripping is really necessary. proper sanding and sealing should be fine. Stripping costs as much as the applied finish. Doesn't seem worth it if the body is properly sanded and sealed.
As far as oil goes, I use synthetic...Oil comparison not useful here. We are talking about a factory look. I have a 73 Vega GT (5k miles) with its original factory acrylic lacquer paint job. never left outside. It looks better than any one or two stage enamel job. check cars domain.com ...the orange vega third down the list of 200 vegas. the other 71 vega I have (also on that site-#2 down the list) was painted in two stage enamel/clear. doesn't cut it for originality, though that wet look shine doesn't need wax. six years later there are a couple of cracks in the paint on the liftgate of the enamel job '71 so 2 stage is not immune to age damage. (It's been indoors half the time). I'd have to go acrylic lacquer for the 74 red Corvette if it can come anything close to my 73 orange Vega lacquer finish -factory orange-peel included. It looks great, really. check it out...
They still paint guitars with nitro lacquer and they cost three times more than if they're painted with poly paint. They offer you a choice, but the lacquer job is much more on guitars.