Thinking about painting my truck...Wondering what type of paint to go with. Single Stage or a Base/Clear. Dont know much about this stuff so input would be helpful. Wondering the pro's and con's of each.
If you're going for a "factory" or better refinish job, base/clear is what you'll want to go with. If you're doing a "quickie" repaint, single stage will be fine.
Single stage paints (and I'm going on the assumption you're talking a catalyzed single stage) work well on almost anything. Their relative ease of application makes them desirable for many industrial applications such as trailers, farm equipment, etc. Of course, their main selling point is you put your 2-3 coats of product on, wait until it dries, and.....you're done. What happens in a single stage system is the clear is already in the color (and as paints are getting higher priced, there is more clear than color in the paint...not really a good thing when you stop and think about it.) What you're relying on with a single stage system is this: as it dries, the clear "floats" to the top of your color. Using the correct reducer for the temperature of your material and surrounding area is critical to get a quality finish with single stage because of the chemical make-up of the paint. It's not rocket science by any means, but it does take some planning and some practice to get it right.
(This is a tractor done in single stage.)
http://www.competitiondiesel.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3920&d=1185059244
Base clear systems are 2 different components as the name suggests. Your base is simply raw color with no protection in it. Simply spraying a base coat and failing to follow with clear will leave a dull, "soft" finish that will not stand up to the elements. The clear coat is what has the catalyst (hardener) in it that makes the finish durable.
Applying base, what you're looking for is uniform coverage. You simply want the color to be the same across the entire surface of the vehicle. Keep in mind, there won't be a shine to the paint when you spray it.
Your clear, as mentioned earlier, is your protection (and your shine). As with single stage paints, clear is often reduced or catalyzed according to temperature. Here again, some planning and preparation is required so you have the right components for the environment you're going to be in.
(This car was painted in Base/Clear)
http://www.competitiondiesel.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2414&d=1172793309
It is very difficult, if not impossible, to tell the difference between a well-sprayed single stage and a well-sprayed base/clear finish. Overall, base/clear will most likely hold up longer against the elements and be easier to take care of. (Wet sanding and buffing single stage can be very tricky and often leads to disaster when done wrong.)
If you're planning on doing this job yourself, get tech sheets on every product you buy from your paint supplier. If they won't give you a tech sheet, shop elsewhere. Tech sheets give you all of your drying, sanding, reduction, spray psi, product compatibility, and other information that are critical for getting your job done right....the first time...