I was just wondering if anyone has used or is still using PPG lacquer paint system and how is it? How does it compare with the old lead stuff. I called a paint shop in Nevada and they still sell quit a bit it.

I'm still up in the air on Delton base/clear or Duracryl Lacquer. I went to a car show yesterday and the nicest paint job was a red 70 judge with a 20 year old lacquer paint job. The depth and shine was just unbelievable! I've seen some nice base/clears to but this will be my first paint job and after speaking with PPG it sounds like lacquer is much easier to shoot and lays down flatter.

I'm not worried about durability. The car will be garaged and a part time driver.

John

I started painting cars 36 years ago when there was only enamel, nitrocellulous lacquer and acrylic lacquer available. I began using the catylized enamels and urethanes when they were introduced. Use lacquer today for a complete paint job? NEVER AGAIN!

Lacquer is easy to apply, but hell to polish and you will have to sand and polish it. It requires painting techniques all it's own. It has almost disappeared in many markets and is illegal in quite a few states because it contains such high VOCs.

FWIW, stay away from it except in spray cans for useful little touchups.

I painted my 70 ss 396 back to factory color 6-7 years ago with ppg duracryl lacquar autumn gold did at home and it turned out great but i would never use it again because it does not hold up like a good base/clear coat.I have checking in many places and it seems very easy to scratch and finger and hand prints seem to go into the paint and dont come out.Something to think about.You can see my Chevelle below.It looks ok but not has good as my 56 210 that is base /clear in 70 chevelle red.

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My 70 Chevelle SS & 56 Pro Street Chevy (http://www.angelfire.com/oh5/56_70chevypower)

Brian L34,

Did you clear it and was it garaged? How long did it take to start checking?

That was good info thanks from both you guy's!

John

If you want to use lacquer use Dupont Lucite, it's the best there is and it will go the distance if it is kept in a garage.

Does Dupont still make lucite? I went to there site but it was a pain to navigate and I couldn't find any info!

John

Yes Dupont still makes Lucite. I bought some about 6 months ago. Some states outlawed lacquer. When I bought the paint I asked if they will continue to make it and they told me yes, I guess the EPA decided it was mostly used by hobiest and not used enough to completly outlaw it.

cool! How did you like it? Was it hard to cut & buff? Did you paint it yourself and how does the depth and gloss compare to the average Base/clear job.

Did it go on flat or did you have orange peel?

thanks
John

[This message has been edited by hilljack (edited 09-25-2001).]

Hilljack, using lacquer paint today is for the birds. You stated this will be your first paint job! Lacquer does dry alot quicker and lays down alot better, I guarantee while you are wet sanding and buffing your car you will be wishing you had used b/c. B/c is much easier to use and produces a better finish. There is a reason why car manufactures dont use lacquer and use b/c instead. Go to any body shop whether it does insurance work or restortions and base clear is what is being sprayed. Why do you want to use lacquer in the first place? The Deltron system is one of the best base clear systems out there, its time tested and honored. Lacquer just doesnt hold up, its shine slowly disappears, fade back is also a problem with lacquer. Clearing lacquer doesnt really help much either. In my honest to god opinion as a body man and painter using lacquer today is just a waste of time and money. You WOULD be so much farther head and happier if you forget the lacquer idea and use a base clear system, its your car, but I know what I would use if it were mine!
Good luck with your project...Eric

Hilljack, I would have to agree with the rest here, laquer is a dated product and using it, the only advantage you will have as a new painter is ease of sprayablity. It MAY lay on the car well without runs and sags, but will take 3 times a long to cut and buff because of the orange peel and dry spray. The durability is not as good as the eurthanes either, I would personally try the deltron, sikkens or glasurit. Also, if you are not spraying metallic, stick with a single stage paint, avoiding the clear on the non metallic. I did my first job on my Velle too, painted it with laquer, looked great for a couple of years, when the paint started dulling and scratching (had to wax almost every week to keep shine), I decided to do a repaint. In the end I had to strip the whole car before I started bodywork. The laquer was flaking off and checking in areas, and once that starts happening, putting a new top coat over it is pointless, the new paint will check too. The new paint I used was a single stage 21 line glassurit toner red. Even after 10 years now, it still looks almost new. Good luck whatever paint you chose, it is a great learning experience.

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My70ChevelleSS (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1551080&a=11764957) "Together we stand, devided we fall"

Oh, and if you want to, hook up with the Sac guys and think about attending the BBQ this Saturday at my house, it is going to be lots of fun. I believe Sasquach lives in Citrus Heights.

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My70ChevelleSS (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1551080&a=11764957) "Together we stand, devided we fall"

Based on the feedback I got from you guy's and some local body shops I'm going Base/clear. I was thinking about the PPG Deltron DBC. I'm planning metallic indigo 39.

What about generics like Nason? Is it identical stuff in a different can? I want the best quality.

Oh Yeah! When and where is the BBQ?

Thanks
John

Hilljack, the BBQ is in Turlock at my home this Saturday. A couple of Sac members are caravaning down, I will send you a link to the e mail. If you do show up, we all can give you good advise on paint, and check out a few rides. Hope to see you there. On the better quality paints, use PPG, Sikkens, or Glasurit BASF. There are others out there, but these will be easy to find with the local paint suppliers, and these will provide excellent long lasting quality.

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My70ChevelleSS (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1551080&a=11764957) "Together we stand, devided we fall"

Hilljack,whatever you do take this advise.I have sprayed indigo blue a lot.Make sure you use a black or very dark gray sealer or primer with no cut thrus before you spray your base.It is so transparent when you spray you will never cover a light gray prime,or a bunch of primer spots.I had to repaint a tailgate on a new blazer,i had a medium gray primer spot about six inches.It took FIFTEEN coats of color to cover it!Dupont has a Valushade system that uses a sealer or primer matched to the shade of the color.Indigo uses Valushade 7 which is very dark gray.If you use that you can cover in three coats.Or you could always lay down a black basecoat on your first coat.Whatever you do make sure you have a solid dark base to start with.Good luck.