The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Can paint go bad?

This my seem like a dumb question, but then again, i've never been short those. I've got 2 gallons of paint that were mixed by a local Dupont jobber to paint my 1950 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup. The paint is Dupont Lucite acrylic laquer and was mixed on 8-11-98. The cans have been in the basement of my parents house since that day and have never been opened. My question is, given that the paint is 8 years old, is it still good? And my second question is, would 2 gallons be enough to paint the truck?

Kens 50 PU,

I would think the paint would still be alright, and I think that two gallons would do the rig without scrimping....my only hesitation would be using lacquer.

Many newer paints exist today, and I think they all are much more durable and easy to apply than lacquer. Even 2k acrylic enamel has lacquer beat by a mile in my book.

You have it, and it's paid for, but that still
might not be reason enough to use it

I am not a body man or painter, so this is just a unprofessional opinion.

Stuart

my painter buddy often uses paint that's well over 10 y/o,,should be OK,,brian

I would take the paint to the local jobber and have them re-shake it, and buy new reducer and hardener for it. Old reducer looses some of its properties from evaporation of the solvents, and old hardener just doesn't harden.

Try a bit of the paint on a scrap piece of primed metal before you bother the spray the truck to make sure it sprays right and sticks ok. Let it dry and make sure it stands up to a fingernail scratch test.

I don't think the old paint will be a problem. However, since you are going to have to buy new reducer and hardner, an extra 100 or 200 for new paint isn't that much.

You might consider clear coating the laquer to get more UV protection for the paint, otherwise soon you'll be having to polish and wax your truck several times a year to keep it shiny.

nm51, lacquer just needs lacquer thinner-no hardener or reducer is used-just thin & spray away,,brian

Brain,

I think reducer is a acronym for thinner. I also believe that acrylic lacquer could be catalyzed...2k!

I was under the impression that lacquers dried 'flat', and had to be buffed to achieve a shine...this is much more work.

The reducers (thinners) used with lacquers were much more volatile and any coating applied before the paint went on had to be sealed to prevent lifting.

This info might be bogus as I am only a hobby painter.

Stuart

Staurt,i thought acrylic lacquer was just synthetic, not nitrocellulose as really old lacquer was made from, never heard of lacquer being 2k, thought all lacquer was air dry. I also feel lacquer will dry somewhat flat & msut be polished,,there is a parts warehouse near me that still carries lacquer-kinda funny to see all those old containers. I am also just a garage painter myself, I usually use 2k enamel only. Lacquer thinner is really cheap, I use it to clean up after painting.brian

Lacquer is only thined with lacquer thinner no hardner involved.It must be wet sanded then buffed for it to shine.You will at some point get what are known as lacquer cracks in the finish.It takes about 10 years for this to happen.I would use this paint for the jambs and other small things if you plan on keeping the truck. Todays paints are much more durable.

I stand corrected, I didn't know there was no hardener with laquer paint.

I've only ever repainted cars that came with laquer paint after getting tired of having to rubbing compound and wax them every month or two after they've been in the sun.

lacquer is pretty old school, although I would have used it on my interior, the 2k enamel is a little too shiny. sunlight & fuel are real hard on lacquer, I remember the old "stripes" of faded paint down the side below the fuel caps from spillage on old cars/trucks. brian

anybody out there want to buy 2 gallons of Dupont lacquer? It's seacrest green and real pretty Thanks for the input. What clinched it was "dad6timz"'s comment about lacquer cracks. we restored a '48 chevy coupe back in '78 and painted it with lacquer. it lasted 15 yrs before I noticed cracks in the finish. Didn't have a clue that it was the paint, not the painters!

Hey Ken,
I am interested in your paint. Email me @ [email protected] thanks

will do on monday. my home email is toasted

shooting lacquer sux. put it on ebay and get some enamel.

I have to tell you, lacquer is old school, I agree. But if done properly it will last a long time and not "check" or anything else but fade or "die" but can be buffed up to a show car shine. I painted my truck lacquer in 1979. It is stitting out behind my garage right now where it has been for the last ten years and it's paint still looks good. I have looked at it close because I am amazed at this after hearing how bad lacquer is over the years but I guess all the things one of my mentors taught me about spraying it was right. It can be polished to a shine just like it was almost thirty years ago.

The trick is to not apply a lot like those thirty coat monsters years ago. And not shoot it with a super slow thinner to make it "flow". I put five coats on, sanded it and then four more, that was it.

But in the real world with todays super products I would certainly recommend a urethane system.

Brian