Mopar Muscle Association UK

Having trouble getting a solvent-based base coat for my engine bay re-paint.....

Is it possible to paint water-based products without air-dryers etc

Is there any offer special equipment / techniques require to apply water-based paint products?

All the big brand professional refinish paints have moved over to waterbase and ypou reall need a nice warm dry atmosphere to have any success with the basecoats (clears are no problem, they are just low solvent).

However, you can still get solvent based materials from some distributors as they are still perfectly legal to use if you are a recognised vehicle restorer or you are refinishing motorcycles.

Alternatively there is a company up in Liverpool specialising in supplying solvent based materials, I think they are called Autopaint International.

If you don't have any lluck Dusty, let me know and I'll see what I can sort out for you, you don't want to be applying waterbase in this weather, in your shed!

Hi Ivor

I was talking to a my ex-boss who restores old Renaults and he was saying that as he understood it as production of non-water-based paints slowed-down/stopped then some colours would no longer be available at all in two-pack or celly because the tints would run out. Is this true do you know, or had he got the wrong end of the stick? When I was working full time on Practical Classics we covered this legislation when it was first brought in, and I spoke to a couple of suppliers who were confident they would be able to continue to supply older paints for restoration use, as you say.

I know you know this stuff, so would love to get your opinion

Cheers Paul

Yes and no Paul!

The fact is that the big names manufacturers will still be manufacturing solvent based colours for all thos countries in the world that don't have to comply with the epa legislation...and that's a lot of countries, so no real problems with pigments and tinters for the foreseeable future!

Thanks Ivor

The last base I bought was a De Beers BeroBase from Morelli's - would the mix codes transfer to another manufacturer?

Morellis are a very good refinish paint distributor and they'll be able to match anything, regardless of the manufacturer of the original material.

Cheers Ivor, that's interesting stuff - I'd forgotten there was a 'rest of the world' out there

I'll tell my mate he doesn't need to panic so much

Mark, Leonard Brooks in Harlow still supply solvent based paint.

http://www.leonardbrooks.co.uk/

Thanks for that Blue, I didn't know myself, always useful as I prefer to use solvent based materials at home.

However, I notice that they have put a warning up on the web site regarding EEC regulations saying that classic car and bike owners should keep there own colours in stock.

IMHO there will be those companies importing solvents for a long while yet, if not we'll find a way around any problems with using waterbased materials at home.

Dusty, Ivors right Autopaints are good cheap company , theyve Distributors all over country now, only draw back is theyre colour matching isnt same as the other big names , but engine bay be perfect fer it

Psst,
If you use a 2 pack , drop a bit of plasticiser in with it , what they used fer painting plastic flexble parts, gives it that extra sheeny gloss look , str8 from the nozzle

Thanks Ivor / Blue

Managed to pick up a litre of solvent base today from Movac

I used Leonard Brooks years ago - branch at Harold Wood, and will try them for my Clearcoat. Movac / Morelli's completely out of Clear, as they appear to have returned all their stock and are awaiting 'Compliant' finishes to arrive.......

I kinda like me WB paints.. Just come if from basecoating a GEETAR!

Doug wrote:Psst,
If you use a 2 pack , drop a bit of plasticiser in with it , what they used fer painting plastic flexble parts, gives it that extra sheeny gloss look

Doug, can you do the same with 1K Acrylic