[Healeys] Paint

john spaur jmsdarch at sbcglobal.net
Sun Jan 27 13:49:55 MST 2013


The metallic flakes in the particular color I choose are very fine. 
The final finish is not achieved until the clear coat is sanded and 
polished. When I watched the finishing process there did not seem to 
be a half-hour limitation.

John

At 12:30 PM 1/27/2013 -0800, Bob Spidell wrote:
>If my antediluvian memory cells are functioning at all, I believe 
>that's because modern metallics use a larger 'metal' flake, thus 
>needing the clear to smooth and protect.  Single-stage metallics of 
>long ago used a more finely-ground flake and, possibly, could even 
>be sanded and polished (not sure about that).  Of course, the 
>earlier metallics could not be made as garish as some of the modern 
>stuff.  Metallic paints were around a long time before 2-stage paint systems.
>
>I believe, but can't prove, that 2-stage paint systems became 
>popular not just because of the glossy look, but they allowed the 
>manufacturers to use much less base/color paint which is more 
>expensive, due to the solids, than a clear.  A new car's paint is 
>primer, just enough base to cover the primer, and a thick coat of 
>clear that can be sanded and polished if necessary.
>
>In a 2-stage job, the clear has to be applied within a half-hour or 
>so after the base--if you've got orange peel or fisheye in the base 
>too bad, unless you wait until it dries to sand it off and start over.
>
>Bob


More information about the Healeys mailing list