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Remember when we all thought water-based paint was just a passing fad? | Auto Body Repairers - Opinions Matter

Remember when we all thought water-based paint was just a passing fad?

I was sure it was junk when it first showed up in our shop about fifteen years back. The old solvent stuff was tough, it covered well, and we knew how to work with it. This new stuff looked thin, dried weird, and the color match seemed off. Then we got a job for a big fleet of electric vans for a local delivery company, and their specs required water-based. I grumbled through the whole first van. But after spraying a few, I saw the clear coat laid down smoother with less orange peel. The booth cleanup was easier, just soap and water, and my head didn't throb at the end of the day. The real kicker was the color; once you get the technique right, the metallic really pops in a way the old stuff never did. Anyone else have a product they hated at first but now can't work without?

3 comments

3 Comments

williammiller6mo ago

I mean, I get the appeal for some jobs, but I still keep a can of the old solvent-based around for touch-ups. The water-based just doesn't stick the same on older metal, especially if there's any rust or old body filler. I had a classic car panel last week where the water-based just beaded up and refused to lay flat, no matter what I did. Switched back to the old stuff and it covered in one coat. Maybe it's just me, but for restoration work, I don't see ever fully giving it up.

emmaj336mo ago

Yeah, a quick wipe with wax and grease remover first helps a ton, @williammiller.

jenny_coleman6mo ago

Actually, I've had the opposite problem with old solvent paint over body filler. It can lift and wrinkle if the filler isn't totally cured. A good epoxy primer first solves the beading issue with water-based, at least in my shop.