A rule of thumb test for the different Paint Types.
Some things to try before attempting to paint or touch up over an unknown substrate. And what can I overcoat what with!
Not everyone wants or needs to do a re-spray on their classic car, however sometimes it pays to know what sort of paint is on the job that you are trying to work on.
You will need some 'good' quality Acrylic Lacquer thinner, a pair or two of nitrile gloves (boxes at Bunnings fo about $6 per hundred) a good quality respirator (Sundstrom) and some terry toweling or the like about the size of a face washer.
The easiest, cheapest and quickest way to find the style of substrate is to pick an area that is about to be repaired or better yet, replaced like a stone tray or the like. Take the panel off the car and lay it on a trestle or panel stand which is standing on plastic in the shed or shade(keeps your floors clean, grass alive etc).
Once you have this area set up, slip on your respirator, open the thinner and liberally pour some into a wad of the terry toweling, then simply sit this on the panel or area you are repairing or discarding. Give it a good amount of time, you know, a nice cuppa or a soft drink, no not a 'smoke' or a beer both can give differing results to a simple test. After about ten or fifteen minutes remove the wad of cloth, If nothing has happened except possibly a 'dulling' effect of the colour, the panel is finished in either Baked enamel or two Pak. If the panel has pickled or fried in the area or around the edges it is Alkyd Enamel (Spraying Enamel for the Novice). If the panel has had the colour 'wash' off then it is in Acrylic Lacquer. If the primer shows similar effects, then it too is either Enamel or Acrylic Primer. The importance of these tests in the Spot repair or touch up process is that it virtually determines what style of product you will need to use to rectify the repairs. If your car is in either Baked Enamel or Two Pak you can virtually touch it up with most products, although IMHO I am not certain why you would. However, here are some things you should never do if you wish to only do the job once:Never put two Pak or Baked enamel over Acrylic Lacquer or Acrylic Lacquer primers. Both products have vastly different chemical make up and likewise different elasticity. No matter what you do eventually the two pak or Acrylic lacquer will move at different rates and cause tearing of one or more of the layers, ugly really ugly.
Always select the right products for the whole job. All Automotive Refinish suppliers are happy to help with guidance, but please try to follow one golden rule;
1; Use like branded products, if you choose cheap then use their Primer, their thinner hardener etc, the same with Quality use the one companies advice and products start to finish.
Many things will happen, they will supply if asked all the TDS sheets, with thinning, coating, gun set up and air pressure recommendations - these are always accurate. These companies spend hundreds of thousands creating these products and documents and they do know more than you and the majority of "I have always done it this way painters'.
Use quality - the two grand spent on products on for a full Resto will add ten times that to the value and ALWAYS look good. And you will always have fallback if something is not right with the manufacturer.
You will need some 'good' quality Acrylic Lacquer thinner, a pair or two of nitrile gloves (boxes at Bunnings fo about $6 per hundred) a good quality respirator (Sundstrom) and some terry toweling or the like about the size of a face washer.
The easiest, cheapest and quickest way to find the style of substrate is to pick an area that is about to be repaired or better yet, replaced like a stone tray or the like. Take the panel off the car and lay it on a trestle or panel stand which is standing on plastic in the shed or shade(keeps your floors clean, grass alive etc).
Once you have this area set up, slip on your respirator, open the thinner and liberally pour some into a wad of the terry toweling, then simply sit this on the panel or area you are repairing or discarding. Give it a good amount of time, you know, a nice cuppa or a soft drink, no not a 'smoke' or a beer both can give differing results to a simple test. After about ten or fifteen minutes remove the wad of cloth, If nothing has happened except possibly a 'dulling' effect of the colour, the panel is finished in either Baked enamel or two Pak. If the panel has pickled or fried in the area or around the edges it is Alkyd Enamel (Spraying Enamel for the Novice). If the panel has had the colour 'wash' off then it is in Acrylic Lacquer. If the primer shows similar effects, then it too is either Enamel or Acrylic Primer. The importance of these tests in the Spot repair or touch up process is that it virtually determines what style of product you will need to use to rectify the repairs. If your car is in either Baked Enamel or Two Pak you can virtually touch it up with most products, although IMHO I am not certain why you would. However, here are some things you should never do if you wish to only do the job once:
Enjoy your ride! Spray gun selection and set up coming soon.