Paint history article

[vwsamba]

https://benklesc.medium.com/when-paint-jobs-lasted-forever-the-lost-art-of-single-stage-9f99973befaf

[jjeffries]

Samba, thanks for posting this. Very interesting, and a subject I've followed over the past 35 years of working in the automotove industry. That said, IMO there are some minor flaws in the (young) author's conclusions, mostly rather nostalgia-driven as to the superiority of the older paints' characteristics.

Yes, lacquer is beautiful stuff, but not durable for everyday-use cars. Today's Base/Clear finishes are exceptionally durable, due largely to the clears themselves. Yes, single-stage urethanes (where the color is the finish coat; it's catalyzed to drive a chemical reaction for fast curing, shine and durability) can give a luscious, buttery look, but really only in non-metallic hues; industrial companies (trucks, appliances etc) use them because they neither need the appealing finishes that only Base/Clears can deliver (especially metallics and high contrast/flip finishes) and they don't want to be bothering with two steps when one will suffice for a truck or refrigerator.

And the extent to which modern products can be used with quick cycle times are (mostly) a benefit for everyone, from painters to customers (who pay the labor times, either directly or via their insurance rates).

And yes, the isocyanates in modern finishes are extremely bad for one's health. But given the concurrent improvement in personal protective gear, I'd go for the Tyvek suit and filtered fresh air no matter what I was shooting, even lacquers.

And yes, the factory enamel paints of past, in my experience particularly on European cars, can be brought back with careful polishing to an extent that is a) rather mind-blowing*, and b) cannot be done with Base/Clear ... although a good B/C will not degrade that fast in the first place.

I thoroughly admire the writer's interest and expository writing skills. As he mentions, he's a young fellow and relatively new to the industry. We'll all be screwed unless we have more guys (and girls, if they are interested) here to take care of our vehicles in the future. And the fact that he wants to understand history and write about it is fantastic. The history of paint/finishes is something few people in the general population would think about, but to me it's a fascinating story combining chemistry, industry and never-ending development and progress.

John

* my experience bring back factory paint on a throroughly unloved '87 924S in single-stage Guards Red:

Faded and chalky.


Polished by hand, using Norton Ice (pro/bodyshop) products.


Extremely pleasing results ... and yes, "they don't use paint like this anymore".

[vwsamba]

Yes Enamels are my favorite closely followed by old single stage.

[962porsche]

WOW that writeup was bad!
so bad with so much wrong and incorrect info it's not funny
I don't even know were to start so I'm not

[mhurwitz]

The guy that wrote the article had his paint mask too loose. Too may fumes 😂