paint question

[Nopantz]

Whats the difference between single stage and dual stage paint...thanks guys

edit: sorry about the thread title...i'm an idiot

 

[87_stang]

Single stage is paint only, dual stage is paint then clear coat.

 

[Nopantz]

thanks man so our cars came with single stage? Planning on painting mine soon and i guess i would want dual stage...should look better.

 

[87_stang]

Depends on you're budget. If you're doing it yourself and not used to painting you can go with a good single stage paint. Sure dual stage is better cause you can get that "deep" look to it and it lasts longer. A good single stage can also look very good if the car is kept up and gets it's regular waxing to keep it nice. I have sprayed Sherwin Williams Sunfire which is a single stage paint on boats,my old motorcycle and the Mustang in my avatar. When I did the bike w/ single stage paint, I went back and sprayed a red pearl clear-cote on top of it. Hope that helps, if you need any more info just ask.
Brandon

 

[ryan218]

thanks man so our cars came with single stage? Planning on painting mine soon and i guess i would want dual stage...should look better.

no they came with the dual. primer paint then clear.

2 coats of each from the factory i believe some where more depending on color.

a way to tell though if your car has clear on it is take some paint thinner on a cloth and rub for a sec. if there is paint on the rag then it was not cleared. if the rag is still white then it was cleard

 

[87_stang]

a way to tell though if your car has clear on it is take some paint thinner on a cloth and rub for a sec. if there is paint on the rag then it was not cleared. if the rag is still white then it was cleard

Dont go and do that! If you really want to check, buff your car and if the buffing wheel turns the color of the car you have single and if it dont you got dual. Don't go rubbing your car with thinner. It could cause more harm and buffing it would only help it.
Brandon

 

[stykthyn]

a way to tell though if your car has clear on it is take some paint thinner on a cloth and rub for a sec. if there is paint on the rag then it was not cleared. if the rag is still white then it was cleard

advice from the master. good way to eat a hole in your paint and get stuck with a dead spot. I agree with buffing.

 

[Aaron]

Our cars were originally single stage. They were not dual stage.

Why would anybody tell another person to put paint thinner on a car?!?!? That is about as smart as throwing a match into the interior to see if it's flammable

 

[MAC'n89Blckstng]

I am a body man so here it goes. In a "dual stage" paint (base clear) the color dries to a non gloss finish. Then you clear it and the color becomes shiny. Single Stage is color that has clear mixed in with it, so when it dries it dries shiny. Clear also is a UV protectant that will protect the color longer than single stage will agaist the sun. As for color, single stage usually comes in a one color shade, metallic single stage is a pain and very hard to spray. Base clear is much more sophisticated and can be used with special metallics and pearls an all that fun stuff. Our cars, from the factory if they are, white, black, staight red are most likely single stage colors. Your metallic colors will most definitly be base clear. If you wax your car and the residue comes off the color of your car, then you know its single stage. If its white, then its clear (unless the car is white, you people can never tell what it is) ALSO, our cars do not have enamel or laquer paint on them. They have a hardened paint. Instead of it "drying" it cures with a hardener that cross links the chemistry of the paint and locks it in place forever (it works like an epoxy), thinner wont hurt it, nothing will unless its of coarse aircraft paint stripper, or sand paper hehe. If yall gots any questions just ask me and I should be able to answer them.

 

[Nopantz]

thanks guys for all the responses....very helpful ...im planning on eventually doing the whole exterior over probably in the factory white with alittle something else (ex. stripes) im probably gonna just take it to a really good body shop here in town that has a great reputation and have it done right.....i want it to have a real deep glossy looking finish...if that makes any sense. thanks again guys!!

ryan218 i'll be sure to try that little paint thinner idea out once you try it on ur car first