Product compatibility is just as important today. Reduces the viscosity of the paint. This paint is typically used on muscle or sports cars to give it an extremely glossy look. This is an especially desirable look today. Up until the mid-1960s, enamel paints (followed by polyurethane) weren’t being heavily used in the automotive industry. $4.48 $ 4. Pros: If you’re looking for a good shine on your car, lacquer remains one of the best paints to achieve it. Hey don’t forget to grab your free manual if you still haven’t: https://learnautobodyandpaint.com/free-autobody-manual, Hi Tony. 1. thinner reduces the ratio of solids to liquids in the paint. In general, paints are classified as enamels and lacquers. 2. Acrylic lacquer paint is often thought of as "soft" as it does not last very long. Reading a post about paint can be a lot like, well, watching paint dry. Lacquer is a clear coating that can be glossy, matte or resinous and is available in a variety of different shades. If you do not want to bother with all of the hard work involved with painting your car, then enamel car paint with acrylic lacquer in it will suit your needs. Hey Mike! Automotive paint is paint used on automobiles for both protection and decoration purposes. The original pain seems sound but is obviously very dull. Don Yost Paint Part II--Enamel vs. Acrylic.... From last time...I am experimenting with airbrushing enamel paints, something I have done very little of since returning to this hobby. While most paint shouldn’t be applied in colder weather, lacquer can be applied in temperatures of 65 degrees. Remember, applying mismatched coatings to an existing finish can potentially ruin your whole paint job. 4.4 out of 5 stars 401. But if the color wipes off onto the white cloth only after vigorous rubbing, it is a sign of lacquer paint. Lacquer is a fairly strong substance, that's why it can actually attack and wrinkle bare plastic when airbrushed over. Acrylic enamel paints being quick and easy to work with, generally covered in one or two coats and didn’t require any clear coat or rubbing out. In addition, you will also be able to determine the exact type of paint and color from the vehicle identification number (VIN) on older vehicles or from a separate paint and options tag on newer vehicles. Cons: While quick drying is a benefit, the use of chemical hardeners makes urethane paint toxic and harmful to your lungs. Enamel paints are much more difficult to apply and should not be the first choice for those painting their own car. He's helped tens of thousands of people just like you from all parts of the world. While Birchwood Credit Solutions says red and blue are the most popular bright colors in the world, you can choose any paint color and type you want. On one of the other lists I'm on had a discussion of Enamels vs Clear Coat Base Coat paints. The role of a thinner (includes the lacquer thinner) in a paint formulation and application is listed below. Cars with metallic paint can also hide minor surface blemishes because of how reflective the metallic paint is. Lacquer paint is the least recommended paint to use on cars by most experts. While enamels dry and also cure the surface over which they are applied, lacquer paints just dry to leave a solid film over the surface without curing it. While the paint may dry faster, lacquer paint requires six to eight coats, so it will take more time to complete the project. Now in his 30's Tony pours his everyday passion into LABAP VIP to help teach this amazing skill to anybody who want's to learn auto body and paint. Because acrylic paint is lighter than urethane, careful consideration should also be used when selecting a primer. The drying process is much slower than urethane paints and leaving a coat to sit for 24 to 48 hours before applying another coat is recommended. About the only exception to this rule is when a totally new paint system has to be taken into consideration after bringing the vehicle body down to its base metal. A matte finish is another way to make a statement with your car, and the trend continues to increase in popularity today. Lacquer paint is also commonly spray painted on, as opposed to painted on directly, so you would need to invest in a paint sprayer. For example, the paint job on a car vs. the paint on a toy that’s made of metal. Getting your car painted with Urethane may require you to get it done by a professional, which will cost more than doing it yourself. There are many ways to customize your car and make it your own, from additions to changing the color. Matte paint can also be difficult to clean and limits what you can use, as some methods may interact with the paint. Did you enjoy the blog? Urethane paint dries quickly and doesn’t tend to run like enamel paints can. Enamel paints use a process that allows polymers in the paint to set and bond together so when the paint hardens, it will not soften again. Bye! Waiting for your car to dry is a tedious prospect, though, especially if you don’t have a garage to avoid damage from the elements. Saturday, January 19, 2013. However, applying acrylic lacquer auto paint over acrylic enamel paint will almost always result in wrinkling or other severe surface blemishes. Urethane paint is one of the most popular types of automotive paint used by manufacturers and professionals. 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,767. Urethane and acrylic enamel paints are most commonly used for auto body finishes. Each offered its own unique characteristics. Scratches tend to stand out more because it’s not glossy, so a Mercedes Benz touch-up paint kit will only do so much to fix damage to the finish. 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