Question for the Paint guys???

Although, I'm not currently planning on doing anything like this in the near future I was wondering how well flatteners fold up when used on exterior pannels?

If someone was going for an "as found" look (older car that has been setting for a while) would it be possible to use something like a single stage urethane with some flattener to give it the look of an older paint job? And how well would it hold up?

They do have flatteners for the paints. Supposedly you add it to the paint and that is about it. As long as it's good quality paint it should be fine. I have not done it but go to The HAMB and a lot of guys there use it (of course) and I hear them talking about it all the time.

Here is an example of flattener added to single stage. This is the total flat mixing ratio, using PPG DX685. You could also mix it with clear, and shoot that over any color.

I can't imagine anything that would last longer than this combination. The urethanes are very tough.

this is the semigloss mixing ratio. I had problems with areas that were spayed a little heavier being more "shiny".

I would think the UV inhibitors in the basic paint would continue to do their job. Just start with one that's shown good performance. You have a greater challenge in Az than most other places in the country. Another alternative might be to give it a gentle scuff with a gold scotchbrite just to knock down the sheen a bit.

I'll just add that I would not use really dark colors, if you want the look of age. Colors tend to turn lighter or more gray, as they get chalky. Some vertical airbrush streaking would also help the illusion, if you choose to use the flattened clearcoat.

HRP the semi gloss pickup in the second picture is what I was thinking about about. It has more of a vintage than primered look. I'm assuming both are your work, I really like the flame styles on both.

Bobs right about the challenge here in AZ. I'm still waiting to see how well the urethanes are going to hold up. So far the first job I've done in urethane seems to be doing pretty well (my wifes black Mustang), but then again the paints only about a year old.

Mike, My experience with urethanes in Arizona is that, the first line paints seem to be good for 10-20 years minimum, but if you use the second level paints, and the car has constant sun, it will start dying in as little as 5 years.


I had an interesting experience in the last couple years, regarding old lacquer jobs:

An 88 Vette that I did graphics on, as a new car, showed up at a Corvette event. It still looked fresh after 17 years.

Just before that, a lead sled '56 Chevy truck, that I painted in '87, showed up in Truckin' Magazine, for the second time. (It was on the cover the first time) It also looked really fresh. I even called the photographer, Don Emmons, to see if the photo was recent. It was.

Both of them were done at a time that I was using lacquer, and adding a small amount of flex agent to the paint, in an attempt to make it live longer. I guess it worked. Flex agent, as you may know, is a cross-linker, like the hardener in urethane paints. It must have contributed to the unexpected durability of the lacquer.

HRP,
I really like the 32 pu you posted.
That is the look I would like on mine, is this something for a novice to painting could atempt?
Would it be possible for you to email me a picture of the truck? For inspirational purposes:)
Also any additional info on obtaining that look would be great.

Thanks, Mark.