Ron:
As with all things, there are tradeoffs.
A two pack enamel is simple, original, and can be buffed out
easily if there is a scratch.
The base/clear gives a deeper shine, is more durable in the
sense that it will look good longer than an enamel, as the color coat is
protected from oxidation by the clear coat. It is considered to be a
more modern, durable technology than the two pack enamel.
Deeply saturated colors like reds and yellows are very prone to
oxidation as the pigments participate in the oxidation of the enamel in
the presence of UV. By clear coating the color coat, this reaction is
all but stopped, and the paint retains its color and luster for many
years.
I agonized over this exact choice when I had my car painted 2
months ago. In the end I opted for the modern technology and did
base/clear. It looks great, but if my buddies look at it and say "Hey,
that's not correct!" then I will regret my decision. But only a little.
=:-)
Vance
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-6pack@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-6pack@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of ronald weber
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 9:49 PM
To: 6Pack
Subject: Single Component Paint vs Clear Coat & Base
Well, I've just finished a 7 hour marathon session stripping undercoat
in preparation for my TR6 trip to the body shop on Friday. During this
process, I had a lot of time to think about everything that I still need
to do. One item that I had rattling around is whether or not to paint a
single component paint or go with a basecoat and clear topcoat. Since it
is now 12:45 AM here in PA and I'm in no condition to decide, I thought
I'd pose a question to the group. Are there any pros or cons for going
either way? I'd appreciate hearing which direction others took on the
paint type.
Once again, I greatly appreciate any feedback you can provide!
Cheers,
Ron Weber
'71 TR6 (soon to be signal red)
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