Paint- Single vs dual stage

bmwmadman

bmwmadman

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I need some help here as I am in unchartered waters.
I'm having a spoiler painted to match my car. My coupe was resprayed Alpine white 20 years ago. It is a single stage paint job as what was offered originally. The first shop I went to said they don't do single stage paint jobs anymore.. They offered to match the color but spray a clear coat as well. Did I just go to the wrong shop or is single stage paint jobs hard to come by? Or do I have them spray the color and NOT the clear coat? Is it that simple or am I missing something?

Thanks
Gary
 
As I understand it, the original single-stage paints required several particular hardeners/solvents which are now either heavily regulated or illegal for paint use. The new single-stage paint products are much weaker, as the allowed solvents/hardeners are not as good. Therefore, because they are so much weaker, most paint shops won't use them, as customers will come back soon with paint flaws, and it doesn't look as shiny.

That said, I haven't done my own research on the topic, I got most of this from my old paint-man and went with it. So, perhaps it is all garbage. I will say the 2-stage paint he did was great, though.
 
Ca. and Single Stage

Gary,

I'm fairly certain single stage is no longer available in Ca. or Nevada with the change to water based paints. I know it's available still in some locations like here in Texas and online sources.

I would think a decent shop could match the finish or also do some minor blending.

Best regards,

Jerry
61Porsche
 
Gary, You will be fine with the clear coat, they are not just used on metallics anymore like in the old days. Even my Malaga has a clear coat and it was originally single stage.
 
I just had a '73tii painted last month and went through this discussion with the painter (I'm in northern CA). He said he could put on anything I wanted, but suggested I go with base coat/clear coat because its much more durable. It will look a little different, but only in the shiny aspect when you're talking about white. Plus, I'm not sure I've ever seen a spoiler look the same as the body even when they're painted at the same time! :cool:

My thinking... since base coat/clear coat is used 99% of the time these days, the technology will continue to be developed in that area, versus spending time and money on a part of the industry that's dying.

And, the tii turned out really nice!

Dan
 
single stages are great for solid non metallic colours, the advantage being, if you damage the paint its easier to touch up, but they will not be as shiny as a 2 stage, and single stage is much cheaper.

good paint is expensive nowadays, you are looking at $300 to $350 a gallon for PPG, and the same for the clear coat, at least a gallon of each to paint a car, start to add up, especially when you add primer, sanding materials, etc you are into $1200 in materials to paint a car with good materials, then you have bodywork and labour, of course there are cheap ways out, but you do compromise on quality when you go with cheaper primers, paint and clearcoats. you can buy paint for $50 a gallon

companies like one day paint and earl schrieb use very cheap and low quality materials, especially the primers they use have a habit of checking after time.
 
Having faced the choice personally,

road car/driver/show car = base/clear (2 stage). More durable and glossier finish. Of course depends on your goals, if you are going for super original concourse winning car, some judges may consider 2-stage too glossy for the car's era. I painted my 2-tone car myself and the clear coat (I burried it!) made it POP! Love it.

race/track car = single stage. Cheaper and much easier to touch/repair after a mishap or off. My brother painted his 2002 racer project this way for ease of repair simplicity and cost.

HTH
-shanon
 
Single stage or two--that's the question--

Kind of like ice cream--some like chocolate--others vanilla--BLUMAX prefers the single stage paint--Glasurit--that was applied and still looks great after 19 years since very professionally laid down--but thats my preference.

Seriously--the environmentalists here in the Socialist State of CA have contributed greatly to the cost and complexity of trying to maintain originality--the underlying culprit is VOC's--volatile organic compounds--too much there from solvents used and are disappearing because they alledgedly contributed big time to the hole in our roof--similar reasoning for the demise of freon--remember the good refrigerant? And why do you think auto paint should be priced at their present levels--you guessed right--due to regulatory demands.

As of Jan 1, 2010 the single stage acrylic enamel that was used on our cars as original paint has now gone by-by. Very recently I had little BLU '02 finished with some of the last batch of single stage paint availble here in Socialist California--I do understand it's still available in AZ.

Where there is a will there is a way--however for those who want original single stage paint--hurry--as paint spray equipment for application of the new coatings are also different and many have tossed out their old guns.
 
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