Thread: paint confusion, what to use?

Enamel is relatively cheap and safe to use; gives a gloss similar to the original paint; tends not to last well especially in the sun; gives a nice finish off the gun; needs a mist-coat first to help the topcoat stick and not sag.

Acrylic is usually more expensive; requires more thinner, which adds to the expense; is a very durable finish and in that respect is better than enamel; needs cutting back with wet & dry paper and power-polishing to get a smooth finish and shine; is generally more time-consuming than using enamel; is safe to use, provided that like enamel, one follows the safety directions.

Two-pack paints are very durable; give a brilliant gloss off the gun; have nasty isocyanates in them especially when using a hardener and therefore are dangerous to use without a full-flow air supply to the face. Not recommended for home use!

Cheers Charlie

Thanks Chazza, there is no rush so acrylic it is. I will look into it more. thanks for your help.

We do all ours in two pack with a charcoal filtered mask. I would recommend it over anything else. We paint our cars in the home workshop btw.

Cheers
Will

Originally Posted by MR LR jnr.

We do all ours in two pack with a charcoal filtered mask.

I have had a refreshing read of the National OHS Commission MSDS here http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/...socyanates.pdf

I recommend that anyone who is using, or wants to use isocyanate paints, has a read of it in particular pages 4 and 9. I had forgotten that isocyanates irritate the eyes and skin, as well as being a toxin.

Unfortunately Will, your charcoal cannister is not removing the poison before it gets into your lungs,

Cheers Charlie

I used Rustguard paints with a roller for the blue ute.

the army use alkaloid enamel

so did i...

Originally Posted by MR LR jnr.

We do all ours in two pack with a charcoal filtered mask. I would recommend it over anything else. We paint our cars in the home workshop btw.

Cheers
Will

NNNOOOOooooooooo...... 2pack it really bad stuff, it's not just breathing it, it's absorbed by the skin, particularly the eyes. Don't even dream of painting this stuff in a closed up shed...

The biggest problem however is acrylic laquer is crap. No-where else in the world seems to use it except for Australia (I think it's pretty much outlawed in industry due to the amount of overspray).

My suggestion is to make yourself a small builders plastic booth. Pressurise this with a blower. I grabbed a charcoal mask a few years back and modified it so I could blow fresh air into it. My fresh air ?? An cars radiator fan in a box, blowing air down a hose to the mask. It worked amazingly well. The force applied by the fan wasn't enough to open the exhaust valves on the mask, but supplied fresh untainted air. Of course you also need to wear fully sealing painters goggles... I wear double nitro gloves (not latex that dissolves) too. Painters suites are really cheap, and you can chuck 'em or clean them when done.

2pack paints really are the only thing worth using, but whatever you do, do NOT under any circumstances paint them in a closed up shed without a fresh air supply. Protect your eyes and any bare skin.

Have look around autobody 101 forums. The seppos really do know there sh!+ They sure do argue about everything though.

http://www.autobody101.com/forums/


On these american forums:

single stage == 2pack urethane, but it's the glossy colour that doesn't require a clear ( So there's only "one" stage to apply). I think the local paint shop here refers to it as "common".

BC/CC == Base coat (a satin finished coating) ... this offers no protection at all and usually has a tiny recoat window for clear. You then must apply clear over this coloured base coat. They also refer to it as "2stage" ... base and clear.

seeya,
Shane L.

When I said workshop, I meant that we work out of home, painting occurs on the driveway...

Have to look into all the safety stuff though, I thought panel beaters only used charcoal masks, dad does all our painting I'll get home to read it.

Cheers
Will