Acrylic or 2k? Have your say

[Vombil]

I crossed paths with old skool panel beater yesterday who is doing a resto on an HZ Van. I asked him if he would use 2k or acrylic. His response was period car, period paint. He has loads of old cars and never uses 2k.

Got me thinking that while I agree with him in terms of period should be period correct, 2k is great stuff. Shorter paint time and far less maintenance. Less perfect prep (2k fills better) Longer life etc etc etc. Acrylic is easier to rework and spot repair etc. Boths have pros and cons.

I think when it comes time to paint mine id still be on the fence. AdamPerth posted some pics a year or so back. He was less than pleased with the orange peel in his fresh 2k paint job.

Anyone strictly one way or the other?

[HK1837]

If i'm doing it myself Acrylic, so easy and forgiving. If someone else is doing it, 2-pack as they have access to a booth, but it looks too shiny if you want period correct especialy on vans that are always full of wobbles!

[Taily]

If i'm doing it myself Acrylic, so easy and forgiving. If someone else is doing it, 2-pack as they have access to a booth, but it looks too shiny if you want period correct especialy on vans that are always full of wobbles!

That is the one discussion I'm having with the panel beater across the road who is helping me with the body/prep work on my ute - I reckon the wobbles have to stay as it will look too perfect and too shiny once done otherwise. He, on the other hand is a bit of a perfectionist and wants it dead straight using really old school prep techniques - dolly it to as close as possible, lead wipe then light bog for the final smooth off and coat it in the latest 2K. He reckons that the 2K will well outlast the acrylic even though I/we (mine is a family heirloom from new) got 37 years out of the original paint, which still looked good for the most part) which means to me that this ute will probably outlast me if I can continue to stay ahead of any decay of the steel, which is the main reason we're doing this to it. It didn't have a great deal in it at all, but I decided I wanted to stop everything dead properly in its tracks now and re-treat the rest, hopefully close to 'zero timing' it again.

If I was doing it all myself I'd be using acrylic as it is much softer and easier to cut back to a flat peel free finish.

Regards,

Dave

[hj308]

I had the same discussion with my painter/beater when doing my van, most guys dont want to do acrylic these days, I also agree that if your going for a anal restoration it should be period correct with paint also, My first car was a LC Torana Coupe freshly painted in acrylic and it was like glass, anyone that has seen the Windsor Blue Sandman in Victoria would also have to be impressed the acrylic paint job on that. I hate the orange peel look on new cars and had the painter block my 2 pak back for a smoother/flat look. With the HQ Sandman I have just bought I am seriously looking at period correct, had a conversation with a guy who is Secretary of an Gtr Xu1 Club and his opinion is that 2pak changes the lines on the old cars which I tend to agree the paint looks thicker etc. I've heard the stories as well that acrylic will break down quicker , it chips easier , you dont get the glossy finished around door frames etc, I think if the car is garaged and well maintained with wax/polish that I see no reason why it wont last. My next door neighbour has just painted his LC XU1 in acrylic and it probably looks as good as it did when it rolled of the production line , I dont imagine they were perfect back in the 1970's.

[jbsandman76]

anyone that has seen the Windsor Blue Sandman in Victoria would also have to be impressed the acrylic paint job on that.

Thanks HJ, that Windsor Blue van is mine, and I completely agree with your comments on how 2 pak looks. Looks too thick, and too shiny in the wrong areas. My panelbeater is a 2 pak man, and took some convincing to do the van in acrylic. I wanted an authentic resto so the paint needed to be authentic also. It was only ever going to be in acrylic. It is up to me to look after it, and do the work in polishing it to keep it looking good.

The HQ sandman ute will also be done in acrylic.

[hj308]

Thanks HJ, that Windsor Blue van is mine, and I completely agree with your comments on how 2 pak looks. Looks too thick, and too shiny in the wrong areas. My panelbeater is a 2 pak man, and took some convincing to do the van in acrylic. I wanted an authentic resto so the paint needed to be authentic also. It was only ever going to be in acrylic. It is up to me to look after it, and do the work in polishing it to keep it looking good.

The HQ sandman ute will also be done in acrylic.

jb not sure yours is the one I was meaning the one I have seen is in the Museum at Echuca, I have seen your pictures and yes it is very impressive, you have given me motivation to do the HQ in acrylic.