My bodyman wants to use this on my car.

He told me it will cost $1000 for the following:

1 gallon of California Clear
DCX61 Hardener
Enough extender for 1 gallon

Comments? Any paint experts out there?

Price seems awefully high.

I am not a painter, but if it is truely "California clear" it might have something to do with VOC's(volatile organic chemicals) which a California blend would be low on, that's my story and I'm stickin to it.

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Leo Paugh
Maryland Chevelle Club #017
A.C.E.S.#3731
progress has little to do with speed, but lots to do with direction.
Maryland Chevelle Club (http://www.clark.net/pub/chevelle/mcc.htm)

Gene...I know he lurks here...Fellow ACES member and TC member and owner of one of theeee nicest Black 67's in the country...ED Pienta, he can tell you...he's a PPG rep and of course uses alll the products...You can ask him directly..check the members area for his e-mail...I won't post it publicly...don't feel that's my right or anyone elses.

I still say, Good for you!

Mike

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MY 66 SS.COM (http://hometown.aol.com/mysterychevelle/66CHEVELLESS.html)
ACES # 1493
TEAM # 751
MCC # 501
AACA # 112348

His username is BlackRat. Hey Ed, are you out there, this guy needs some help.

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Leo Paugh
Maryland Chevelle Club #017
A.C.E.S.#3731
progress has little to do with speed, but lots to do with direction.
Maryland Chevelle Club (http://www.clark.net/pub/chevelle/mcc.htm)

Are you sure about the 'extender'? I've never heard of extender. And Yes, that seems awefully expensive. Maybe MartinSr or Mickey will chime in also.

I was told the extender increases the pot life as well as allows the clear to flow more by slowing down the chemical reation between the clear base & catalyst.

I trust this guy, he's dome many show winning paint jobs. I told him this would be a driver and he said it does not make a difference with this clear because with the combination of hardener & extender he uses it really makes the clear coat more durable than anything else, but yet not so hard that it can be re-buffed at any point in it's lifetime.

I plan to go with the stuff, unless someone here can really prove to me otherwise.

$1000.00!! What is he going to do with all the change?

I just searched PPG's website for "California Clear" and it returned NO results..

After a search on clear coat I came up with this

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>CeramiClear clear coat, a unique chemistry that PPG officials said achieves unequaled marring resistance and enhances the color coat's brilliance even more than clear coats now in use. It resists such finish-appearance hazards as swirls from car washing, key dings around door locks, and degradation from intense sunlight, acid rain and salt air.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> and here is a writeup of it... http://www.ppg.com/_private/FrameResult.asp?f=/news_corporat/pr_0180.htm

PPG relies HEAVILY on brand name or Number.. if you can get a number (i.e. DTM 837 is they primer of choice lately) you can search for it on PPG's website.. A thousand bucks for clear? I'm still not buying it!

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X-Ray View of my Chevelle :D (http://www.normieschevelle.com/sideview.jpg)
Getting Closer (http://www.normieschevelle.com/passfull.jpg)

I was at a PPG seminar last night and I discussed this with them along with a couple shops that have used it and they say it is a great product. It is "California clear" because of the VOC content as was mentioned in a earlier post. I did not check pricing, but I was told it was a little higher than the last stuff we were using, but 1K is high to me for that material. I can not remember the PPG number for it, I will check and see what we can come up with this afternoon and I will post tonight if nobody answers.

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Micky Hale Restorations
69 L-89 Chevelle
68 Biscayne 427/425
34 Plymouth Drag Car
ACES #134
www.mickyhale.com (http://www.mickyhale.com)

Hello, I also work for PPG and the clear he must be refering to is the special low VOC clear that is required in California. It is not needed elsewhere. The DCX61 is a common harderner, used it many times. I would recommend using one of PPG's concept clears for your car. It spray's very well, lays down nice, and builds film quickly. Also a good clear to wetsand.

Also are you sure he asked for enough "extender" for 1 gallon of clear or was it enought "reducer" for one gallon of clear. Because you will need the correct reducer depending on your temperatures and your booth.

Hope this helps.

Kerry
66 chevelle

Hey, Gene you are right, $1000 seems awfully expensive to me too. Micky is correct in that a "California Clear" gets its name because of the lower than normal VOC's required in California. I would guess that your bodyman is talking about a clear like DCU 2055 which would use the DCX 61 catalyst and a DT series reducer as well as DX84 enhancer or DX87 (I believe) Extender. There are also clears out there that are used only in Califoria that most of us here on the East Coast never even heard of.
If it is the above mentioned clear I would guess it would only cost you in the area of $300-$350 for just the clear and the necessary components. Are you sure he didn't mean $1000 for all the materials?
I also agree with Kerry in that a "normal" Concept clear would provide very nice results for you(DCU 2021) for example. I hope this helps, Ed

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Ed Pienta
'67 Chevelle SS427
'70 Olds 442 W-30
TC#666 ACES#112 LGCC MCC#370

Ok, here we go:

1 Gallon of DCU 2042
1 Qt. DT 860 Reducer
1 Qt. DCX 61 Hardener
Extender (Don't know the PPG number, or how much is needed, he told me this costs $300 alone for enough to mix with one gallon of clear)

If anyone who sells PPG paints can give me the prices on all of the above, enough to mix the full gallon of clear, that would be of great help. I'm going to take this list to a PPG dealer and see how much they would charge me.

Well, I just got the fax back:

1 gallon of DCU 2042 $154.45
1 Qt. DT 860 Reducer $31.40
1 Qt. DCX 61 Hardener $64.15
1 Pint DX 87 Extender $33.90

Total $283.90


You guys were right! I guess I need to have a little talk with my bodyman! I hope it doesn't turn ugly!

[This message has been edited by ETD66SS (edited 01-24-2002).]

It doesnt have to get ugly, just take your car somewhere else. If he's trying to over charge you for materials what else is he going to get you for. Your 5 to 6k paint job might be 4k with a honest guy. Shop around!!

Well, I calmly taked it over with my bodyman, and I had the wrong "California Clear"

This is the stuff he wants to use:
www.ppg.com (http://www.ppg.com/refinishftpsite/docs/p-218.pdf)

DCU 2055 3 parts ~$400
DT 898 .5 parts ~$300?
DCX 61 1 part ~$100
DX 84 1oz/RTS qt. ~$100?

He says this comes to a total of around $900.

I'm not trying to be a ***** , but buyer beware!

I can't get this quoted by anyone in my area, because they know nothing about it! How's this possible, they are PPG dealers!

This guy says he called PPG directly for this stuff.

Now I'm confused!

Hey, ETD66SS I'm not sure why you are confused, you answered most of your own questions. If you go back and re-read my post this is the exact clear I mentioned there (DCU2055) and for the most part, all the prices you list for the DCU2042 clear and other components are pretty much right on the money that anyone with the "cabbage" in hand could walk into any PPG Distributor and purchase.
DCU2055 is a great clear, but it really needs the right conditions (downdraft bake booth) to realize any benefits from using it. As I also said it uses the same catalyst DCX 61, the same reducers, DT series reducers and MUST use either DX84 Enhancer or DX 87 Extender in the mix. So there is really nothing to be confused about here,you have the correct prices ($283.90)
You'll have to read between the lines to figure out the rest...... Hope this helps, ED

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Ed Pienta
'67 Chevelle SS427
'70 Olds 442 W-30
TC#666 ACES#112 LGCC MCC#370

Thanks a lot for your help Ed. I'm confused because niether PPG dealer in this area has the 2055, they can't even get me a price.

I talked to my bodyman, and he looked at reciepts for the last car he did, and the DCU 2055 was $390/gallon. The DT 898 was also very expensive. And if you look at the mixing instructions for the 2055, it uses about $100 worth of DCX 61. I'll just have to ask him for all the recipts from all the materials he bought.

This guy seems quite honest, and he came highly reccomended by my brother, so I don't think he'd be trying to screw me.

I'm pretty much set on going with this stuff, I just wanted some expert opinions on the pricing.

Thanks again for your help eveybody!

[This message has been edited by ETD66SS (edited 01-24-2002).]

I know a PPG rep.. I think I'll call him tonight.. If your prices are correct, and the clear is the best thing on earth, why not use it? However, why don't you see for yourself how the clear looks.. Ask the guy for the location for that car he did and take a look at it.. for the price I'd want some VISIBLE results before I bought it!! Sounds like something I would use if it were as good as they claim... Good Luck!

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X-Ray View of my Chevelle :D (http://www.normieschevelle.com/sideview.jpg)
Getting Closer (http://www.normieschevelle.com/passfull.jpg)

Sorry, but I believe this guy is wanting to rip you off. I have a price list and 2055 is on it. I can't tell you the exact price but what you listed is "VERY" close. If he shows you receipts that lists it at $380 a gallon, run, don't walk away because they are FAKE. I don't care how honest he seems, the materials you need should, no, will NOT cost more than around $300.

nough said, do as you want but beware and proceed cautiously!

Kerry
66 Chevelle

By your post you are going to use this guy to paint your car. Why not ask him what other choices you have for the clear? If he has only painted one car with this clear than he was no doubt using something else before this with great results...I am not a painter but I certainly know that clear doesn't cost 900 bucks. If you have the money to throw away than go ahead and pay the 900 bucks for the clear... But if this is not a show car why waste your money on this "show car clear".. I still stick to my recommendation of using PPG Concept Clear and you will not be dissapionted...

Good luck with your choice.


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Jeff
Georgia
69SS Nov'99 Feature Car
67 Elky L-79 4spd

You need to find another painter. DT898 is roughly $45. per gallon. It is available only in gallons, but you will only use 1-2 qts. of it per gallon of clear, depending on the clear. In fact, just about all the clears that used 2 qts. of reducer per gallon have all been discontinued.

DCX61 is around the $65. mark per quart....only one per gallon. Most of PPGs clears are now a ratio of 4:1:1 thats Clear:Hardener:Reducer.

Take the advice of many others above....Quit TRYING to believe this guy, no matter how honest he seems.

I was a Tech Rep for a PPG distributor for 5 years and now own/operate my own paint/collision repair center. I dont hang around here or post as often as I used to, but many here can tell you that I am very knowledgeable of the PPG lines and the industry. To see how hard you are about to get the shaft prompted my response.
I am not in California, but the prices are the same, unless the distributor alters them at their own discretion.

Shannon