This is a question for the REAL top notch guys out there. Twenty years ago, when I did my own work I always used lacquer....Why? because no matter how bad you screwed it up, you could wet sand it and buff it out and it would look like George Barris himself did it. Straight and flat. No dirt, No waves, No muss, No Fuss. Buff through? No problem... just blow some more in..all you had to invest was some time. Buff it the next day or next month...didn't matter.

Now I have a car done for me [many cars actually] Stripped to bare metal, painted, cleared, sanded buffed, and no matter who does it, what brand of paint or how much time we spend it NEVER gets as flat as those old lacquer jobs. Stand back and focus your eyes just right and your looking at shiny oatmeal.

Guys in there 30's can't even tell the difference because they've never even seen a nice lacquer job.

What's the deal?

Wal, I dunno if I can live up to the "REAL top notch" thingie or not and I'm only 60 years young, only been painting for about 38 years.

Frankly, I'd say that your memory about how good you(or anyone) could do a lacquer job is being distorted by the passage of time. I've done my share of lacquer jobs as well as every other type of paint and most brands on the market past or present. You will never, ever convince me that lacquer is/was better using any standard except ease of application.

Maybe you've had the misfortune of only seeing/paying for less than decent examples of the newer paints. Every time I go to a large show or auto gathering, I see some absolutely fantastic paint jobs. Yeah, I see some of those "shiny oatmeal" versions too, but it's not the paint itself that is to blame.

Before you buy another paint job, shop around, you'll find the guys/shops that can and will do the jobs at the same or better price than you've been paying and will put any lacquer job to shame.

You remember lacquer could be wetsanded and buffed using 600 grit.These new paints are too hard for this,so... a lot of guys just use 2000 or so.This does not flatten the paint as it should,you must sand first with 1200 or so then go to the 2000 to get that really flat look and still make it easy to buff.
I remember when I first started painting bikes,I was one of the first to start using the centari with hardener.Guys loved it,stayed shiney,no more waxing constantly AND you can even spill gas on it! They thought I was magic,and only 14 years old!!Found out later my brother(who worked at a harley shop) was takin all the credit AND payin me half the price. :eek: Mike

Respectfully I couldn't disagree more. Now I'm not talking about orange peel. This phenomonom is deeped than that. Tha paint is just not ''flat'Its wavy down deep. Some body men have told me it's from wet sanding with too fine a paper too soon let's say 1200/1500. I've been told to start with say 600/800 to 'file' the surface flat first, then go to the finer stuff later. Sorry to disagree...

69 ss mike and I were typing the same thing at the same time! How does that go 'Great minds still put their pant's on one shoe at at a time...''someting like that right?

Ya L-78 it prolly took me an Hour to type all that so I'm sure a lot of people are posting the same time as me LOL. That also goes the same with blocking primer,start with 180 or so and work your way up. Mike graemlins/beers.gif

L78. I hate to take sides, but I'm a "seasoned" guy, too. Not quite 60 years young, but I have to agree. I think "the good old days" of lacquer is much overrated - they really weren't that good!! Give me heavy clear anyday!!