Anyone seen a full deduct for paint lately in judging?

[Joseph S.]

Re: Anyone seen a full deduct for paint lately in judging?

Mike, Not to throw a BOMB on your beautiful photo of Dupont Lucite, but that paint is not what GM originally used on Corvettes. It also is not what you would have bought over the counter back in the 60's or 70's. GM used a formula that was suited for Bake drying. That Lucite you photographed is for air dry. Now add the fact that you can't get a slow enough reducer to lay that paint down like "back in the day" and the fact that the paint will never fully reach the hardness of "Old school" lacquer, you are left with an inferior surface finish. So I guess it brings us all back to the reason we are painting cars with other paint systems. Oh, forgot to mention this, it is illegal to spray that paint in most states! Regards, Joe

[Tracy C.]

Re: Anyone seen a full deduct for paint lately in judging?

Mike,

There are a few professional painters that can still shoot acrylic lacquer. I believe the paint in those cans is in fact the same formulation used by GM. The date appears to be from the early 90s. The lead was pulled out in the late 90s. Some feel this made the paint less durable. The factory did roll the painted cars through a drying oven, but this was to accellerate the drying time so they could be buffed, not because the paint formulation required it. With a build rate of nearly 100 cars a day, there was no time to wait for the paint the dry on it's own.

Acrylic lacquer is inferior to paint systems today, but I shot it on my car anyway because I wanted to be original as possible. Solid colors are easy for the do it yourselfer, but I think Glen Green is a metallic color and it is above my skill level. I had some trouble keeping the paint wet, but I was shooting in 90 - 100 degree weather in my shop. I finally gave up and waited until the temps dropped back into the 70s. It works nice in that range with a high temp quality thinner. Humidity levels will also give you fits. 40 - 70% humidty is good, anything higher and the paint can cloud up on the surface as the thinner evaporates. Evaporation cools and condensates the moisture in the air which translates to the cloudy appearance.

If you want the original "look" on your Corvette, nothing beats acrylic lacquer. I would do it over again because I will not drive this car everyday, nor will I keep it parked outside in the elements.

Good Luck either way,
tc

[John H.]

Re: Anyone seen a full deduct for paint lately in judging?

The factory did roll the painted cars through a drying oven, but this was to accellerate the drying time so they could be buffed, not because the paint formulation required it. With a build rate of nearly 100 cars a day, there was no time to wait for the paint the dry on it's own.

Tracy -

Each body got at least three trips through one of the (4) gas-fired ovens during the paint process. The Prime oven was 60 minutes at 280*F, the 1st Color oven was 20 minutes at 160*F to harden the paint just enough so it could be handled/sanded/repaired, and the Final bake oven was 45 minutes at 250*F.

[Mike E.]

Re: Anyone seen a full deduct for paint lately in judging?

Mike,

There are a few professional painters that can still shoot acrylic lacquer. I believe the paint in those cans is in fact the same formulation used by GM. The date appears to be from the early 90s. The lead was pulled out in the late 90s. Some feel this made the paint less durable. The factory did roll the painted cars through a drying oven, but this was to accellerate the drying time so they could be buffed, not because the paint formulation required it. With a build rate of nearly 100 cars a day, there was no time to wait for the paint the dry on it's own.

Acrylic lacquer is inferior to paint systems today, but I shot it on my car anyway because I wanted to be original as possible. Solid colors are easy for the do it yourselfer, but I think Glen Green is a metallic color and it is above my skill level. I had some trouble keeping the paint wet, but I was shooting in 90 - 100 degree weather in my shop. I finally gave up and waited until the temps dropped back into the 70s. It works nice in that range with a high temp quality thinner. Humidity levels will also give you fits. 40 - 70% humidty is good, anything higher and the paint can cloud up on the surface as the thinner evaporates. Evaporation cools and condensates the moisture in the air which translates to the cloudy appearance.

If you want the original "look" on your Corvette, nothing beats acrylic lacquer. I would do it over again because I will not drive this car everyday, nor will I keep it parked outside in the elements.

Good Luck either way,
tc

Tracy, That's correct the paint was mixed in 1996, with that date it might or might not have lead. Actually I painted the car myself about 36 years ago when I was in my early 20's. (See Recent Picture Below) I was honestly considering doing it myself again. I have more experience with acrylic lacquer than BC/CC but it was 30-35 years ago.

I have noticed how temp and humidity effect how it dries. I think when I painted it before I used high temp reducer to get more flow, then finished with a extremely thin mist coat. But I too had issues with clouding in high humidity. I agree about the polychromatic or metallic colors, solids would are much easier but it is what it is. Personally don't think I could be fooled or happy with a BC/CC paint job, they look wonderful. Just not like factory paint.



Mike

[Tracy C.]

Re: Anyone seen a full deduct for paint lately in judging?

Go for it man... I am no professional but have painted about a dozen cars for myself and friends. I cut my teeth shooting Acrylic Enamel and graduated to Polyurethane (nasty stuff). When BC/CC came out as the newest thing, I painted my Mom's Caddy with it and it was a DISASTER for me. I could not get the clear to flow right. I'm sure, todays paint is more forgiving, but I don't care to find out. I've seen too many crap jobs with the clear flaking away on newer cars.

My Corvette is the first and only Acrylic Lacquer job I've done. I struggled some at first and learned alot but I do love the final results. I haven't buffed it yet, but it looks great as is. I cannot wait to wax it. I remember when that job was fun and I expect this car to bring that joy back for me.

Black is Beautiful Baby!

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