Auto Appearance Specialist

If an auto appearance specialist is going to pay $80 for a quart of auto paint, the auto appearance specialist better know what the auto paint does, why the auto paint is so expensive and what my alternatives are (competitors selling for less?). Real auto paint is expensive, that is just a fact a of life. Get ready for some serious sticker shock when you go to the autobody supplier. Automotive finishes are a science, that is, "measurements of polyurethane microgel deposition and clearcoats with the oscillation technique to determine the viscosity-temperature behavior correlate well with technical properties of the final films". Huh? Well, I am not an expert, but here is some of what I have learned:

In the beginning there were lacquers, they usually needed to be rubbed, polished, and waxed to have a good luster and shine. Then came Synthetic Enamels. They had a resin base as opposed to a nitrocellulose one. This resin benefited from heat-accelerated drying, or it would remain soft for a long time. It needed no polishing. Acrylic lacquers came next, which used an acrylic resin as a base and a plasticizer to keep the the paint from becoming too brittle. Acrylic lacquers were used extensively by General Motors in the 50s and 60s. Acrylic enamel came next, it is modified with acrylic resin and is insoluble in solvent when cured, unlike lacquers. In roughly the mid 70s., polyurethanes emerged. Their durability over the enamels and lacquers (they are much more "flexible") made them desirable. The technologies were further refined in the development of acrylic urethane single stages, and base / clear finishes which are the most durable paints available today. Modern paint additives for curing and hardening further improve the paint's performance.

But by far, the most important thing for the auto appearance specialist when choosing a paint is this: you must use an auto paint system when you paint your car. That is all of the material, primers, sealers, surfacers, base coats, clear coats, reducers, thinners, hardeners, etc. must all be of the same manufacturer and compatible with each other. This is why you need to consult with a paint supplier as to what is right is right for your car. This is why you can't primer your car with Autozone's sandable auto primer (on sale for $1.99 a can!!) and spray it next year with God-know-what brand auto paint you haven't decided upon yet.

How much will the auto paint cost? Material budget for single stage should amount to $250 - $400, depending on color and size of the car. Now this includes primers, reducers, paint catalysts (if needed) and materials like paper, tape, sand paper, sanding/grinding discs and filler. Yes, you will use filler, no matter how perfect your car is. Add an additional $75-$100 or so for clear coat. Always read the label directions for mixing, application, and safety. Better yet, get your hands on the manufacturers handbook for the paint line. Most all decent paint manufacturers have a book that specifies the mix volumes, "pot" life, drying time, etc. for each product (paints, primers and undercoatings) in the line. Many traditional auto paints such as acrylic enamels and lacquers are still available, but most agree that urethanes are the superior paints today. They are relatively easy to shoot and are very durable. They are also more expensive and typically have more dangerous vapors.