I put sidepipes on my 66 Vette and had to get a new filler panel without exhaust holes. I painted the car 21 years ago (it still looks super) and I have two quart cans of the original Dupont paint. One was extra & never opened since & the other is about half full & I used a little about 12 years ago for my son's Cub Scout project. The match should be ok because it's down low & I have also kept a small touch up bottle for little chips. etc. and it's ok.

Do you think I am looking for trouble using this stuff? The contents are still liquid when I handle it.

No. The Lucite will be fine and is always solvent reactive. Just be cautious of typical lacquer lifting at the feathered edges.

Lacquer is forever. It really has no shelf life. I have some really odd Corvette colors on my shelf that are over 20 years old, and I still use one of them every so often for touch-ups. Never had a problem. As long as the solvents have not evaporated away, you should be good to go. You may have to reduce it a little more than the standard 125% to accommodate any solvent evaporation.


Regards, John McGraw

I used Dupont Lucite to paint my 68 Camaro back in 1988. I added a GM Cowl Hood and Trunk Lid with a Spoiler in 2007. The paint was a little thick and needed to be thinned out. The color match was perfect. You should have no problems using the old lacquer.

Thanks guys, that's good to hear. I didn't want to have to use the modern stuff.

Time to dust off the old paint gun!

PS: if it is a little thick, for the longer term storage afterwards, would you suggest adding laquer thinner something else or a specific temp thinner?

I store most of my paints and liquid coatings on the shelf upside down. It seems to help extend the storage life. I also have a small tumbler that will accommodate two quart cans. I add a couple marbles or stainless hex nuts and tumble the can for a couple of hours if it is really old. I've added life to a lot of aged material that ended up working just fine.
Squido

Transfer it to a smaller can also. Grab one from your jobber.

Thanks guys, that's good to hear. I didn't want to have to use the modern stuff.

Time to dust off the old paint gun!

PS: if it is a little thick, for the longer term storage afterwards, would you suggest adding laquer thinner something else or a specific temp thinner?


Use the appropriate temp range thinner and just reduce it a little more. Stay away from the cheap lacquer thinners like you get at Home Depot, as they are good for nothing but cleaning up your gun. They are way to hot a thinner and will give almost no flow-out. Raven1 is right about transferring into smaller cans, it will make what is left last longer.

Regards, John McGraw

There is no shelf life on lacquer. If it drys up, all you gotta do is add some more thinner. I have lacquers around that are more than 40 years old and they work just fine. Solvent based paints have their advantages.

Tom