So here we go! If you read my last blog you now should have a pretty good understanding of single stage paint systems and the basic applications of them. Now its time to move on to base coat/ clear coat systems.
Let me start off by saying that I am only giving you the bare bones basic information on these systems. They can be pretty complicated so if you have any serious questions let me know. Base coat systems vary from urethane to waterborne to polyester resins that each have their own pros and cons. The most common type of base coat is urethane. Most urethane base coats can be hardened or catalysed to help durability. Most, but not all! As with anything, quality varies and you get what you pay for! A lot of painters will buy the cheaper or less expensive base coat thinking that they are saving money. But if you have to go around a project 4 or 5 times to get coverage, not much money saved! I guess what I am saying is, you can save money buying a cheaper or less expensive base coat, but my time is just too valuable to waist going around a project twice as many times as I have to! And don't misunderstand me, less expensive base coats have their place in the industry, and some colors cover better than others.
I my self prefer to use polyester base coat. It dries much faster that acrylic and allows for tape over in only a few minutes. When you are painting 4 to 5 colors on one project that helps. Every painter has their own preference, and trust me I have sprayed about every product line out there at one time or another, and polyester is my preference. These are really the most common base coat systems. Waterborne base coat systems are relatively new to the industry. They are required for use in most parts of California and a few other states, and they are going to be required for use everywhere, its just a matter of time.
I don't really see the need to continue with the technical break down on waterborne base coats, since they are not required here and only a small handful of painters in the whole state even use them. But, like I said.... If you want to know about them, I will let you know what I know!
Well that's pretty much it for base coats! Tomorrow we will discuss clears and get way more in depth with what they are and what they really do!
Until then,
H
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Let me break it down for ya!
Boys and girls its time for me to give a basic explanation of materials used in the automotive refinishing industry. I am doing this so that people will understand the differences between base coat/clear coat and single stage paint systems.
Well here we go, The basic difference in the 2 systems is pretty simple. To put it in layman's terms... A single stage paint has a gloss in the paint, a base coat system needs a clear coat applied over it to provide gloss. Pretty simple huh? well now we will get a little more technical. Lets start with single stage paints. There are several different single stage systems. They range from a synthetic alkyd resin to acrylic, acrylic urethane, polyurethane, and so on. Basically they are manipulated forms of plastics resins. They all have their place in the industry, and here are a few basic examples. Trailers, Industrial equipment, and farm equipment are usually sprayed with a synthetic enamel. Not much gloss retention. What that means is the color will get chalky and fade.The color doesn't last as long as higher grades of paint such as urethane's.
Now we move into the standard acrylic enamel paint job. Basically if you have your car painted at MAACO or Earl Scheib and go tone of their basic paint jobs, you got an acrylic enamel paint job. Holds gloss much better than a synthetic but the color will fade sooner than that of a urethane. The price is usually much cheaper than that of a urethane.
Now on to urethane's, Acrylic urethane's are very good single stage systems. They are usually used in production shops that paint a large amount of cars in a day. They are also very popular in the fleet side of the industry, semi trucks, delivery trucks, etc. They are good quality paints that last a very long time! Some systems are better than others, but we will get into that later. Polyurethanes are usually considered the "cream of the crop" in the realm of single stage. there is a little controversy over which line is more durable and easier to work with, and everyone has their own opinion. Again, we will discuss this later. So what are the most common uses for polyurethane finishes? Well the applications vary,finishes used in they range from semi trucks to aircraft. In fact polyurethane finishes are the most common systems used in aircraft finishing and refinishing.
These are the basic single stage systems and their properties and applications. There are also modified polymer finishes and lacquers but these are coatings that are rarely used and you would just be bored hearing about them. I hope this gives you all a basic overview of single stage coatings. I think I will let you digest all of this mumbo jumbo and I will explain the principals and applications of base coat/ clear coat systems tomorrow night!
email me if you have any questions at howard@triggermanairbrush.com and I will be happy to answer what questions I can.
Peace people,
H
Well here we go, The basic difference in the 2 systems is pretty simple. To put it in layman's terms... A single stage paint has a gloss in the paint, a base coat system needs a clear coat applied over it to provide gloss. Pretty simple huh? well now we will get a little more technical. Lets start with single stage paints. There are several different single stage systems. They range from a synthetic alkyd resin to acrylic, acrylic urethane, polyurethane, and so on. Basically they are manipulated forms of plastics resins. They all have their place in the industry, and here are a few basic examples. Trailers, Industrial equipment, and farm equipment are usually sprayed with a synthetic enamel. Not much gloss retention. What that means is the color will get chalky and fade.The color doesn't last as long as higher grades of paint such as urethane's.
Now we move into the standard acrylic enamel paint job. Basically if you have your car painted at MAACO or Earl Scheib and go tone of their basic paint jobs, you got an acrylic enamel paint job. Holds gloss much better than a synthetic but the color will fade sooner than that of a urethane. The price is usually much cheaper than that of a urethane.
Now on to urethane's, Acrylic urethane's are very good single stage systems. They are usually used in production shops that paint a large amount of cars in a day. They are also very popular in the fleet side of the industry, semi trucks, delivery trucks, etc. They are good quality paints that last a very long time! Some systems are better than others, but we will get into that later. Polyurethanes are usually considered the "cream of the crop" in the realm of single stage. there is a little controversy over which line is more durable and easier to work with, and everyone has their own opinion. Again, we will discuss this later. So what are the most common uses for polyurethane finishes? Well the applications vary,finishes used in they range from semi trucks to aircraft. In fact polyurethane finishes are the most common systems used in aircraft finishing and refinishing.
These are the basic single stage systems and their properties and applications. There are also modified polymer finishes and lacquers but these are coatings that are rarely used and you would just be bored hearing about them. I hope this gives you all a basic overview of single stage coatings. I think I will let you digest all of this mumbo jumbo and I will explain the principals and applications of base coat/ clear coat systems tomorrow night!
email me if you have any questions at howard@triggermanairbrush.com and I will be happy to answer what questions I can.
Peace people,
H
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Its On!
Well here it is guys... The new TRIGGER MAN CUSTOM AIRBRUSH "Trigger Talk" Blog! Never blogged before but, I think this will be a great format for me to give explanations and examples of what we do, what materials we use, and what projects we are working on at the shop on a day to day basis.
Not to mention this will give me a platform to rant!
Peace people,
H
Not to mention this will give me a platform to rant!
Peace people,
H
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