Clear over single stage paint?

[BoostedEvIL]

Hey guys,
I'm slowly looking into getting my tb painted and one of the shops I talked to said that they would use a single stage paint and the put a clear coat over that. And then wet sand it to a high gloss.
Can you do that? I thought single stage was a single stage?

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Not sure why they'd do that, unless they have some left over single.
Base coat is the preferred product. It's best to stick w/ 1 paint mfgr, from primer to clear.
A quality single stage can be color sanded and buffed. Depends on what you want to spend. It should cost no more to use the correct base/clear, than to use a single with clear...

 

[03FatBoy]

Reminds me of years ago when Imron was still available. I painted my Firebird with DuPont black lacquer, with an Imron clear coat. The DuPont guys said don't do it, you can't do that, etc. I sold the car maybe in 1990 , I probably painted it in the late 80's, it has been sitting pretty much ever since in the guy who bought it's driveway, hasn't moved, but, the paint STILL looks good! Can't say much for the car itself anymore.
Point is, yes you can, but when I get around to painting my GN, it will be BC/CC.

Just another opinion...

 

[TURBOV8R]

Clear over single does work,and when done correctly looks great.But like the saying goes whats underneath is key,same goes here.If the painter lays out the color stage and doesn't lay it down correctly,whatever "defects"are in the color will be embedded and sometimes magnified by the clear.Most of the time it's thin paint in areas or orange peel in the lower half of the panel.Timing and technique are important here.

 

[jdpolzin]

Using a single stage under clear works well. The single stage paint is much stronger than base. I've done it on a GN and it turned out absolutely awesome!

 

[forcefed3.8's]

As stated above, clear over SS works great on solid colors. You will have a more durable finish. You can also add clear to the SS for the last coat or 2. Either way will give a great shine. I pretty much use SS for black on bikes, it is easier. For a whole car I still use BC/CC just because SS runs easy if you are hammering it, and you will usually get a run on a rocker edge, or on these cars, I am famous for a sag just below the sail panel body line. You can't clear over a SS run, you will break through into the SS and it won't look right. If I had a black car, SS and clear would be the way to go.

 

[BILL HAINES]

"run"????

No...no...no... They Are Not Runs!!!i Call Them "flow Indicators"'

 

[BoostedEvIL]

Thanks for all the input guys. I saw one car he painted like this and I couldn't tell it was a single stage at all. I think i'll go with the SS.

 

[forcefed3.8's]

No...no...no... They Are Not Runs!!!i Call Them "flow Indicators"'

Yeah, if your not running it, your not pushing it. I get too used to the faster production clears, and then when we bust out with the slow overall clear, I put on afew paint on door edge gaurds or add some extra paint on the rocker. Flow indicators, signatures, peaks and valleys, tears, the running man. I think the fumes are starting to get to me.:biggrin:

 

[TURBOV8R]

Plus,I still believe that SS gives a much more deeper/rich color than BC.Go with an Acura or Mercedes black those formulas don't have as much brown in it as GM's if I remember correctly...

 

[BIGPSI]

single stage looks much deeper than clear,i painted mine 9yrs ago still looks great,but wish i would've used ss instead of bc/cc.ss will look better than clear if done right.my buddys 68 chevelle is ss,he put 4 coats on it.then wet blocked it with 800 grit then applied 3 more coats.sanded and buffed is amazing.

 

[BoostedEvIL]

Astro Roof

I forgot about my Astro Roof. Its a factory roof.
There is some rust inside the astro roof rails. Its not rotten, just surface rust. What are some common issues painting a astro car and some tips also.
Thanks