Paint Experts - Shine on Acrylic Paint

**101RRS** · 14th March 2013, 05:27 PM

I have to do some painting on some panels on a car I have - the paint will be acrylic base coat with no clear over the top. Normally the coat off the gun will lack lustre and will maybe be sanded with 1200/1500/2000 paper then cut and polished to bring up the shine.

It will be difficult to do this type of work in the areas I am painting and I do not require a high lustre but don't want flat either.

I have heard of two methods of getting a bit of shine to the off the gun paint.

1. Standard paint mix is 50% paint 50% thinners but I have heard that if the mix is 40% paint 60% thinners the paint will come off with a bit of a shine - though extra time between coats is required.

2. Mix clear with the colour and mix the new colour mix 50% paint and 50% thinners. Not sure how much the colour should be watered down with the clear.

Those in the know can you please advise.

Thanks

Garry

**123rover50** · 14th March 2013, 05:33 PM

I wanted a bit of a shine on the Royal Review. The blokes at Autobarn said spray clear over the top then polish.
Be interested in other replies.

**northiam** · 14th March 2013, 06:58 PM

Assuming yours is Acrylic lacquer, it can come as single stage top coat or two stage base coat then clear over. I used Protec 330 without clear coat with great results.
Automotive Tech Sheets Individual | Protec - Paint, Value, Support

**DoubleChevron** · 14th March 2013, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by 123rover50

I wanted a bit of a shine on the Royal Review. The blokes at Autobarn said spray clear over the top then polish.
Be interested in other replies.

We need to know the colour before we can advice, you need to take a different approach if it's a metalic.. Acrylic laquer is the easiest paint for DIY but the most work by far to apply to a good standard..... The main drawback is it's doesn't last for ***** and everything stains it. I've probably painted 10cars over the last 20years with Dulon (quality acrylic laquer). Last car I painted I managed to find a cheap air fed mask so painted it with PPG cobra base coat, and authone high solids clear................. Absolutely brilliant :dance: Never again would I bother using anything other than a quality urethane.

This is the last car i did in acrylic laquer ... being .... gee's it would have to be 8years ago... the paint if well and trully stuffed now (it doesn't last unless the car lives under a cover in a dark shed).

edit; i just noticed you subject line say "paint experts" ........................ I'm far from an expert and generally screw up everything I try at least 10times before I get close to right, so don't take anything I say as "expert advice" LOL

**northiam** · 14th March 2013, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

We need to know the colour before we can advice, you need to take a different approach if it's a metalic.. Acrylic laquer is the easiest paint for DIY but the most work by far to apply to a good standard..... The main drawback is it's doesn't last for ***** and everything stains it. I've probably painted 10cars over the last 20years with Dulon (quality acrylic laquer). Last car I painted I managed to find a cheap air fed mask so painted it with PPG cobra base coat, and authone high solids clear................. Absolutely brilliant :dance: Never again would I bother using anything other than a quality urethane.

Totally argree but you can't spray that stuff at home in the burbs

**clubagreenie** · 14th March 2013, 07:58 PM

Only way I've gotten good results is either to spray 50/50 and then last coats at 40/60

OR

Spray enough to cover with a solid color then start to dilute out with clear coat, starting at say 50 thinners, 40 paint, 10 clear and slowly bring it up to fully clear. Gets some great depth but will still need a good buff to shine but will look good.

**northiam** · 14th March 2013, 08:10 PM

This one I did earlier in a 2pak urethane single stage
Im no expert either!
Off the gun finish

**uninformed** · 14th March 2013, 08:30 PM

northiam, more on your Ford please

**101RRS** · 14th March 2013, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by northiam

Assuming yours is Acrylic lacquer, it can come as single stage top coat or two stage base coat then clear over. I used Protec 330 without clear coat with great results.
Automotive Tech Sheets Individual | Protec - Paint, Value, Support

Thanks - that Protec 330 looks like it might be the go.

**101RRS** · 14th March 2013, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

Acrylic laquer is the easiest paint for DIY but the most work by far to apply to a good standard..... The main drawback is it's doesn't last for ***** and everything stains it. I've probably painted 10cars over the last 20years with Dulon (quality acrylic laquer). Last car I painted I managed to find a cheap air fed mask so painted it with PPG cobra base coat, and authone high solids clear................. Absolutely brilliant :dance: Never again would I bother using anything other than a quality urethane.

This is the last car i did in acrylic laquer ... being .... gee's it would have to be 8years ago... the paint if well and trully stuffed now (it doesn't last unless the car lives under a cover in a dark shed).

Originally Posted by northiam

Totally argree but you can spray that stuff at home in the burbs

No you cannot - and I will not use the stuff without using the correct booth and gear.

I do not agree about acrylic not lasting - if it does not last it is because the owner is too lazy to look after it. Here in Canberra with its high UV I painted a series 3 landie in 1992 (no clear) and now with a decent polish it would come up pretty well, a red Subaru in 1993 (no clear) and it was still good in 2006 when I sold it - it was my run around car and lived outside permanently.

Cheers

Garry

Thread: Paint Experts - Shine on Acrylic Paint

Thread Tools

Paint Experts - Shine on Acrylic Paint

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions