The Best 2-Step Menzerna Application

MobolWerks said:
Apparently I'm retarded... Is a European Car in the US not considered an Import???

You said Green on European Cars (i.e. BMW, Mercedes) and White on "Import" cars

Feed back please
Click to expand...
LOL!! I thought the same thing.

However, when normally referring to the term "imports", I think of rice rockets, therefore, asian companies. Shade will chime in..

EDIT: judt realized Shade responded before me. We have the same thought process, though..LOL
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
LOL!! I thought the same thing.

However, when normally referring to the term "imports", I think of rice rockets, therefore, asian companies. Shade will chime in..

EDIT: judt realized Shade responded before me. We have the same thought process, though..LOL
Click to expand...

:iagree:
 
By the way Shade, I'm assuming that white Toyota 4-Runner is your company vehicle...

..Mine is a white Toyota Sequoia:)

Thought about getting a van, but vans are boring.......
 
However, I remember reading somewhere that one guys CHEVY colorado had some of the softest paint ever!! So, I think shade is generally speaking, which is true. Best to do a test spot. If you're working with a light colored vehicle, you have MUCH more leniancy with polishing. Correct?
 
MobolWerks said:
By the way Shade, I'm assuming that white Toyota 4-Runner is your company vehicle...

..Mine is a white Toyota Sequoia:)

Thought about getting a van, but vans are boring.......
Click to expand...

Yeah, I picked this up for 3K last Summer. A good detail and a few parts changed out and it runs as well as anything else. A little over 203K and it looks like new ......

Sequoias are awesome!! SUV over a van any day .....
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
However, I remember reading somewhere that one guys CHEVY colorado had some of the softest paint ever!! So, I think shade is generally speaking, which is true. Best to do a test spot. If you're working with a light colored vehicle, you have MUCH more leniancy with polishing. Correct?
Click to expand...

Correct, lighter colors are very forgiving which is why I like them so much. I have a Jet Black BMW 550i coming up soon .......... at least I know my way around the color. :D

By the way, GM is implementing the water based painting process more so with the newest vehicles on the market so soft paint is going to become a more common hurdle for us detailers.

Thank you EPA.
 
Shade Tree said:
Soft paint mainly includes water based manufacturer paints.

Metallic paint will typically be a harder base than say a solid color. 90% + of the European vehicles are going to have the softer paints because they use a water based paint system rather the more common oil based paint system.

Domestic paint will be more durable and more forgiving when polishing.

Domestic & Import paints are going to be the most durable.

European paints softer.

Metallic are usually harder/more durable, but still consider the origin of the car when polishing.

Water based paints are becoming more widely accepted in keeping with the environment so eventually you will see all manufacturers going to this system (if they haven't already!). Older European, Domestic and Import paints are oil based and can handle a deep polishing without reservation of deterioration.
Click to expand...

I just want to point this out to you but what type of paint being use such as in water based paint does not mean the paint will be softer or harder. Water based paints are now implemented but they are only used on the base color coat. The clear coats are still 2 part catalyzed paint and the specific type of clear they use dictates the paint hardness not whether its metallic or flat, or water based or "solvent(oil)" based.
 
Lasthope05 said:
I just want to point this out to you but what type of paint being use such as in water based paint does not mean the paint will be softer or harder. Water based paints are now implemented but they are only used on the base color coat. The clear coats are still 2 part catalyzed paint and the specific type of clear they use dictates the paint hardness not whether its metallic or flat, or water based or "solvent(oil)" based.
Click to expand...

While that most likely is true; my comments are based mainly upon my experience in working with these paints over the past 15 years plus.

It's a generalization (as I'm sure you're aware) that when "paint" is mentioned here it refers to the clear coat or 2 stage paint.

I'm not sure what your background is with regard to polishing, wrt sanding etc. Metallics are more durable than the solids, period.
 
Just to clarify; I understand you're referring to the clear coat as to the hardness/softness ...... density.

I'm not sure why the metallics are more durable. Maybe a stronger bond between the base & clear coats? I do know the metallics are able to take much more abuse with regard to chipping & scratches.
 
My have a few friends that are painters so I know a bit about paint. Metallics or flat again its all dependent upon the clears they use. The way metallic paints are applied are: Base Coat, Clearcoat w/metal flake, and plain clear over top again. The metallic clearcoat mix is sandwiched between the BC and CC.
 
Lasthope05 said:
My have a few friends that are painters so I know a bit about paint. Metallics or flat again its all dependent upon the clears they use. The way metallic paints are applied are: Base Coat, Clearcoat w/metal flake, and plain clear over top again. The metallic clearcoat mix is sandwiched between the BC and CC.
Click to expand...

And that would be the reason they are more durable, harder than the solid colors. The solid colors are reliant on an extra layer of base/color coat and then the clear whereas the metallics are actually getting an extra coat of clear.

That would make sense then.
 
Shade Tree said:
And that would be the reason they are more durable, harder than the solid colors. The solid colors are reliant on an extra layer of base/color coat and then the clear whereas the metallics are actually getting an extra coat of clear.

That would make sense then.
Click to expand...

I dont really want to drag this on but there arent really extra coats of clear. The metallic coats of clear are just replacing the first few layers of clear. They are not additional coats. If you measure the paint of a car(same make/model) with one metallic and flat color the thickness should be the same. When painting, more clear is not better. Making the paint layer thicker increases is brittleness and chances of chipping. Its almost like body filler and glaze. You want to pop out the damage as much as you can and use as little fill as possible to prevent the possibility of stress cracks.
 
We're so far off the original subject now ..... moving on.

I know what it takes to recondition these paints & how easy and/or difficult each type can be to work with. You know the technical makeup of each.

Moving on .....
 
Shade Tree said:
Imports - harder paint structure (solid & metallic colors)
Toyota, Lexus, Infiniti, Honda, Acura, Nissan etc

Domestic - harder paint structure (solid & metallic)
GM, Ford, Chrysler products

European - softer paint structure (solid colors mainly, but metallic somewhat harder)
BMW, Mercedes, Rolls Royce, Range Rover, Audi, VW and all exotics

I'm sure I missed lots of manufacturers, but you get the idea.
Click to expand...
Shade,

Did you mean to say European cars have harder paint and Imports have softer paint? This is how I've always understood it.
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
Shade,

Did you mean to say European cars have harder paint and Imports have softer paint? This is how I've always understood it.
Click to expand...

No, this is based on my experience with working on each particular paint as well as other feedback I've picked up from other detailers over the years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top