Can anyone help me?
Are there any simple tests to to find out what type of paint a car is finished in. ie 2 Pack, Acrylic or cellouse?
I have to repair some paintwork on a non original finish and I know some paint types do not cover others.
I understand 2 pack would cover all other types but rule it out on health (I don't want to die!) reasons.

- Alan

Put some cellulose thinners on an ear bud and draw a line on the paint.

Celly will wipe off, with colour coming of on the bud immediately

Synthetic will crinkle up in about 5 mins

Acrylic will craze in about 20 mins

2k will do nothing at all

If 2k, you need to know if it is clear over base or solid. Get some abrasive paste and poish a small area. If the cloth comes up clean, it is COB, if coloured it is solid

2 pack can be sprayed.... just get one of the cheap throw away masks the paint shops do.

Or spray it in the open air if worried, with mask.

Any of the paints made by Autopaint are low cyanate so a decent carbon filtered mask will do but defo still need ventilation like any paint really.

Just ask the supplier for a low cyanate version of 2pac and they should be able to offer you one - there was a large change in paint about 4-5 years ago due to environmental and health related issues - you can even get water based paint now but it needs to be baked - will spray over ANYTHING though!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by Ben_Copeland
2 pack can be sprayed.... just get one of the cheap throw away masks the paint shops do.

Or spray it in the open air if worried, with mask.

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quote:

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Originally posted by chunkielad
Any of the paints made by Autopaint are low cyanate so a decent carbon filtered mask will do but defo still need ventilation like any paint really.

Just ask the supplier for a low cyanate version of 2pac and they should be able to offer you one - there was a large change in paint about 4-5 years ago due to environmental and health related issues - you can even get water based paint now but it needs to be baked - will spray over ANYTHING though!!!

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Must be a different 2k then to the ones i'm supplied, cos they dont need baking ever. Only if you want it to dry quicker. Confused at that one

2k's dont use a dryer, it is an accellerator component, faster ones have more more active catalyst to promote faster curing, but make the paint harder and more brittle, less easy to polish.

If you are confused by 2k, or have the slightest doubt about methods, safety, procedure, or equipment DON'T USE IT

How did you get hold of the paint in the first place?

It is illigal to sell the stuff to anyone except a DTI registered bodyshop - not without good reason

Thats why i'm thinking it's not the same stuff.....

Cos the local paint shop can sell it to anyone

A simple way to test. Put 4 parts paint and 1 part component in a small pot and leave in a warm place for 1 hour. If it solidifies, it is 2k

If it just skins over it is 2 part paint, basically synthetic with a faster solvent

Thanks Mark for your first reply to my original question. I will do the test and see what type of paint it is.

Your advice to other listers on the subject of paint is very relevent. Listen to him everyone he isn't a bodyshop guy trying to sell you a respray, he's pointing out the very real dangers of airbourne pollutents, whether you are a miner, a flour miller or laying up fibreglass nothing you breathe in does your lungs any good in high concentrations! - Alan

Sorry to sound a bit of a nanny, but you really need to be careful with this stuff.

Iso-cynate paints are nasty --- as Mark already mentioned they have cumulative effect but also it is important to stress everybodies tolerance level is different and there is no way of telling what it is until you exceed it.

Another disadvantage is the overspray carries for a very great distance -- unlike celulose it dosen't dry and remains tacky -- causing damage to property and people.

Autopaint are actually advertising round here that you DO NOT NEED AN AIR FED MASK with their LOW CYANATE product!!!

These guys have all of their training with a good quality 3M Charcoal filtered mask on - it IS LOW CYANATE. BUT only if you ask for low cyanate.

A well ventilated area is Essential but not outdoors as you wouldn't get a decent finnish anyway due to all the crap in the air and it's not the best thing to have flying around where people are not wearing masks.

Obviously it is always best to ensure that you are OVERSAFE but I am telling you now that these guys wouldn't have been in the industry for anywhere near as long as they have if they gave out ridiculously false information like this. It would be dangerous and not just sueable but probably legally prosecutable.

Product on their website - AUTOCLEAR - 1 ltr Non Isocyanate Clear & 1 ltr Acitivator £ 12.50 _ I have used this over and over and never had to bake it.

Saying that and airfed mask will not be a daft idea!!!!

couple of comments.


dont EVER think of spraying a car outside! not only will you get the whole flying wildlife in the area stuck to it, you will get a crap job. you will need to hold the gun too close to stop the spray blowing away, and will get runs.

been there, done that, 20 years ago on my first respray. also taught me not to use a burgess electric gun too!!!!!


second - i think it was a story told by mark that i found scary about 2k. when it does kill you, it does so by shagging the nerves in your lungs. it stops the lungs from working. furthermore, the nerves that tell you that you cant breathe also get shagged. so, for the last min or so of your life, you dont know you cant breathe until everything just goes dark.


nice

atb

steve

[Edited on 13/2/05 by stephen_gusterson]