[jrosx91]

So i recently signed a client who carries many antique cars, when i say many i mean well over 50 vehicles. But i understand that since cars were first built they did not get clear coat paint jobs. So my assumption is all my current products i have for modern cars will not work on antiques, am i right?or wrong? im really worried to apply clearcoat products to the paint of these cars and damage something, if anyone knows about antiques, owns any, or has detailed them in the past i'd really appreciate your help, thank you

[Reflect]

They'll work if you're referring to polishes. You're going to want to use a paint depth gauge to figure out how much paint you're working with. Single stage paint is generally softer so you'll use a less abrasive combination.

[pektel]

And all of your pads will have paint transfer. Don't know how re-useable they will be. May want to figure that into your pricing.

[richy]

The cars that still have their original paint (ie unrestored) will have the single stage paint to which the others have referred. If the car HAS been restored however, it will have base/clear as it is illegal to use the original laquer paint that had been on the car originally...at least it is in Canada. It is easy to see..take a mf with a compound and rub an inconspicuous area and look for colour transfer. IF none..base clear. I have done a few and they both had base/clear.

[togwt]

Single stage paint - When you use an abrasive product (polish) on a vehicle with single stage paint, you will notice paint transfer on your pads; this paint system is “softer” than conventional paint systems and tends to oxidize more readily. When polishing or wet-sanding use caution because if you're not careful you could make an irreversible mistake that will require re-painting.

Single stage paint has a glossy clear actually mixed into the paint Single stage paints include "Acrylic Enamel (most common), Acrylic Lacquer, and Synthetic Enamel". These types of paint were most commonly used in automotive paints up until the late 1980’s until the release of two stage paints, although some manufacturers still use single stage paint, often on black, white and red paint finishes.

Single stage automotive paint compositions have a low volatile organic content (VOC). These low VOC compositions are made from a metallic base resin, tint base, reducer, hardener and a metallic base booster. The metallic base booster provides superior metal control and a very low VOC. Single stage paint when mixed is mainly three parts (coats); base (pigment or colour), reducer, and hardener.

The hardener acts in the similar way to a conventional clear as it has a clear additive and is used at times to trim out interior doors, under hood panels, and door jams. So yes it has a clear mixed in, but it does not serve as a protection for the pigment base coat. With all vehicles there is a paint code and when the mix is done, there is a line where it says to add 350A or something similar which indicates it has a hardener/clear additive.

Dark, Single Stage or Soft Paint Finishes - PO 85 RD 3.01 Super Intensive Polish (F) black or dark coloured paint surfaces, and 'soft' paint - 1200 RPM -White primary (softer less dense foam (70 PPI) with a light abrasive cutting action) LC CCS foam pad followed by a secondary Blue finishing (very soft 100 PPI) LC CCS foam pad - 1100 RPM

Repainting will negatively impact a vehicles resale value as well as affecting its ‘as original’ finish, its future resale value depends on its all round condition, including the original paint. The proper use of a paint thickness gauge (PTG) is highly recommended

An extract from one of a series of in-depth detailing articles © TOGWT ™ Ltd Copyright 2002-2008, all rights

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