Restoration Paint


         One of the largest challenges to the restoration process is an ever-dwindling supply of

         original parts and materials. In the case of parts, as demand increases people start

         reproducing needed parts. The fact that a part is a reproduction is not necessarily a reason

         to disqualify it. The degree to which it matches the original is what determines its

         validity.



         The same holds true in restoration paint. If the truth were told all repaint is reproduction.

         None of the paint processes used in the refinish industry are the same as OEM including

         the lacquer finishes. The original lacquers used by OEM were baked to reflow the lacquer

         to flatten it and improve gloss without color sand and buff.



         Aftermarket lacquer finishes are an air-dry system, which use faster thinners without a

         bake and generally require sanding and buffing. These are still only an approximation of

         the OEM finish. Very often we find lacquer finishes sanded and buffed far beyond what

         normally would be found in factory production. It is very normal to find clear coat added

         to the topcoats to improve the even dispersal of metallics. OEM metallics very often

         showed a great deal of striping and mottling (a collection of metallic particles in areas to

         cause dark spots). Seldom do we see striping or mottling in restoration paint. After all,

         who wants to pay that much for something that looks that bad?



         All this is to say that what's important "in my opiniorf' is that the finish appears like the

         OEM finish not necessarily what the actual chemical composition is. There are many of