Dupl-color Paint Shop paint

[larry408]

I am going to paint my 73 Dart Sport with the dark blue Dupl-color lacquer Paint Shop paint. I have never painted a car before so any let me know if you have any suggestions. Do I need to buff out the paint brfore I spray the clear or buff out the clear???

dartsport73@hughes.net

[rjsjea]

I havent been around this paint product before, but buffing the base is not done.  Wet sand...yes, depends on quality of the job you want.  The manufacturer's instructions is probably available on-line if the paint rep you bought it from doesn't have it for you

Sorry couldnt be of any help

Did you already buy it?? You paintin the car in a booth?? Or garage made booth??

There site has a video demo...............just checked

[larry408]

I work part time at the local NAPA and I bought the paint through them. The paint is only $20.00 a qt. I am paiinting it in a garage made booth.

[rjsjea]

$20/qt is very inexpensive and the their site says it doesnt need to be reduced or any hardner's used.  I hope it turns out good for ya

ADvice.....make sure the area is super clean and your car is prepped well.  Oh yeah wear a respirator too.

[flyboy01]

I have used the stuff, I did some test spraying. Here is what I came up with.

1. It does need to be reduced a little, about 10%, its a little too thick to spray as is. To do an A-body mopar, you need about 3-4 qts primer, 4-5 qts color, and about 4 quarts clear. Sp thats about $240.

2. If you are going to make to body straight and block sand it before you paint, you will want to spray a high build primer. I reccomend Featherfill G2, it is laquer compatible, if you skip this step you will need to seal the old paint if it is anything other than original laquer. You can use the Duplicolor primer if it is the original laquer. If its a repaint, chances are its enamel or urethane, both will react to the laquer paint. If you want to stay cheap, Eastwood sells a mixed 2 part epoxy primer that can be reduced to sealer for about $110, which gives you about 1 1/2 srpayable gallons.

3. The Duplicolor stuff will orange peel no matter how you spray it or what you use to spray it with. You will have to wet sand it  to get it smooth.

My assesment: I bought all the primer, paint and clear, but I decide not to use it. After I sprayed a few test panels, I was not happy witht he gloss of it, and it had way tooo much orange peel. It also did not buff very well. Also, Duplicor can easily be damaged by fuel, tree sap, bird droppings, etc. Its not very durable. Also, laquer chips very easily.

I ended up buying Base/clear Urethane, which was just as cheap and the duplicolor. Even cheaper was single stage urethane. You can buy 1 gallon of sprayable single stage urethane for $89 with activator. I learned too late that the Duplicolor stuff actaully came out more expensive than quality urethane.

[larry408]

The Sport still has the what is left of the original factory paint on it. I do not have to worry about getting gas on it as there is a fuel cell in the trunk.I have a gallen each of primer, base and clear. I am going to paint my motorcycle the same color. I have a guart of base and clear for it. Will I need to wet sand between each base coat? I will reduce the paint if you think that it needs it. Do you reduce it with acetone?

[flyboy01]

You do not need to sand between coats, the laquer will re-flow when you spray the next coat. It will have the texture of the last coat you spray.

I had better results when i reduced the black with acetone. I sprayed the red with no reducing, heavy texture, next coat of black was reduced, it sprayed much better, then to test the theory, I sprayed the clear unreduced, it came out with heavy texture.

You will have to wait a week or two to wet sand it because the paint will shrink as it dries, then you can wet sand (1000 or 1500) and buff it out.

















Final wet sanded and buffed, the black looks a little hazy, a lighter or brighter color should look better.

[rjsjea]

That's pretty heavy orange-peel there..............

[flyboy01]

Yup, thats why you have to wet sand and buff it. I talked to Duplicolor about that, no way around it, just the way their laquer dries. Thats why you have to lay the clear on so heavy, so you can sand it down.

[rjsjea]

I see why you didnt paint your car with it........Good reference w/ the spray-outs,

[flyboy01]

Larry, this is what you should do. Don't spray anything on the car without trying it, especially if its your first paint job.

Go to home depot, lowes, or tractor suppy and buy some sheetmetal squares.

Do one like I did with the same primers and duplicolor paint.

Go to the locat paint supply and ask them if they have any single stage goof-up cans of paint, get a pint and some reducer.

After you spray both, look at the results, go ahead and wet sand and polish the duplicolor, see if you are happy. I did taht and I'm glad I did, I would not have been happy with the black on my car. Even though I spent around $200, It would have been worse if I didn't. I call it a $200 learning experience.

[larry408]

I have a 1980 Honda CB900C motorcycle that I am going to paint first to see how the paint does.

[flyboy01]

I have a 1980 Honda CB900C motorcycle that I am going to paint first to see how the paint does.

Good idea. WHere do you live?

[larry408]

I live in NW Arkansas.

[flyboy01]

if you were closer, I would have donated my paint to you.

[kudah440]

Ok, I have been planning to try it for a few months, but im glad ya'll are discussing it.  Ive always been a little intimidated by the if its humid do this if it warm do that aspect of painting, so I was going to play with this stuff on the Duster (more track that show side, its not really critical)  but these are some good thoughts.

Im still interested to find if enough patience with the wetsanding could make it have a presentable appearance for a daily driver at least.

Well i have the urethane sitting on the shelf still that i bought for it but ive been too afraid to shoot. (dont think black + red mica metallic will be a good first time paint project)

Decisions...decisions

[blown71duster]

 Here is a link to SPI paint, The perfect paint job article is interesting, never used their products but did searches on them and they have good feedback and decent prices ,just limited color choices.

http://www.southernpolyurethanes.com/homepage.htm

[flyboy01]

I have also heard that this stuff is good:

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=1426&itemType=CONTENT