Who has oldest non-peeling clear coat?

[DeadheadNM]

Getting ready to have my K20 painted. Will likely go single stage over base clear as I'd rather have an old faded (patina) truck than an old peeling truck down the road. But, I'm not sure what the "life expectancy" is for base clear so curious: what's the oldest clear coat on the board and was the truck always garaged after paint or not?

[sameyrasmea72]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Getting ready to have my K20 painted. Will likely go single stage over base clear as I'd rather have an old faded (patina) truck than an old peeling truck down the road. But, I'm not sure what the "life expectancy" is for base clear so curious: what's the oldest clear coat on the board and was the truck always garaged after paint or not?

You don't even need to know the answer to that question. Just don't use clear coat.

[Stocker]

I'll start by saying I'm going for the crappiest clear-coat, not the longest lasting. If memory serves, it started failing at 7 or 8 years. Sure looked good for the first few years, though. Truck always sits outside year-round so that helps to explain it.

[special-K]

There are paints that take clear in the color coat. But,I'm done with clear coat,other than on my MC. They make single stage urethane and it is durable as he!!. That's what Dupont Imron is and it had a great reputation way before 2-stage became the rage. Those pint jobs still look good from 30 years ago. These trucks never had clear coat and never had urethane. Some of them still look good.

[DeadheadNM]

Anyone with ten year old clear coat?

[DesertCat]

Originally Posted by special-K

There are paints that take clear in the color coat. But,I'm done with clear coat,other than on my MC. They make single stage urethane and it is durable as he!!. That's what Dupont Imron is and it had a great reputation way before 2-stage became the rage. Those pint jobs still look good from 30 years ago. These trucks never had clear coat and never had urethane. Some of them still look good.

Tim, Imron is a polyurethane and is/was a beast! Very nasty (or at least was...) catalyst in that - don't even THINK of spraying this at home or without a fresh air hood. It will kill you.

Biggest problem with Imron besides the toxicity is that it is very fickle what it goes over and will "lift" in a heartbeat. Probably more of a problem back when I was painting as uncatalyzed undercoats were common.

The other big problem is that it is a panel spray only (whole panel, no blending) which makes a difference when it's a couple years old and you get a dent.

All that said though... you are right. One of the best paints ever made. Would I paint a bike with it? Yup. A car or truck? Nope, not mine. YMMV...

[JimKshortstep4x4]

My 69 El Camino was painted with base coat/clearcoat in 1993 and it still looks as good after 20 years. I drive it a lot in the summer but it is kept in a garage most of the time, (especially in the winter).

Jim

[black_sheep454]

There us nothing wrong with either system, single stage or base/clear. Both will last a long time if done right and as long as you use good products. I painted my 87 monte Carlo in my driveway with dupont base clear and it's still holding up strong 10 years later and it sits outside everyday. A good polishing and it would shine like new. if your spraying a metallic color the only way to go is base/clear, solid colors you could do either way. All in all the most important part us good prep work and following the proper steps, along with using well known reputable products.
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[zeeklu]

My trucks paint is 11 years old and looks like the day I painted it. It's Dupont Chromabase paint. Most cars on the road today have basecoat clearcoat paint.I don't see too many peeling around here. I do remember when they started there was a lot of problems. Chris

[Dale99]

The grand prix I had started pealing at about 10-11, factory paint. I hardly waxed it either. If you wax it often and take care of it, park it inside. It will last longer.

[dirtwork]

Mine was painted in early 1994. Urethane clear coat. Other than a few chips, still looks new.

[DeadheadNM]

Good clear coat survivor stories!

[knsmodels]

My Chevelle was painted 20+ yrs ago with Base/Clear and it is holding up just fine....it is garaged most of its life but is holding up fine.....Truck was restored 7yrs ago with single stage and has held up well but the top of the truck did start to fade out on me....I polished it back but it stilll requires occasional waxing to keep it unfaded....it spends most of the time in the garage now but was used daily for the first 3yrs after resto.....

[Hubscrub]

we don't own a vehicle that the clear isn't peeling my wife's 02 hood is my 97 bedside is and my 86 monte lasted long time (was taken care of good) now peeling my 85 has been peeling for years (repainted not factory)