How much paint is needed?

[Kapteenikosmos]

Hi.

Because the  EU (or was it the US and other countries too) is banning the real paints next year I have to buy the paints now for my challenger even though the body work is far from finished.

How much paint is needed to paint the whole car? trunk, outside, engine bay, inside? I'm going for plum crazy so I need the approx. amounts of base coat and clear coat (hopefully my terminology is right).

I'm going to paint the car by myself and because never painted any top coats I might need some extra paint too 

Thanks.

[moparnut]

That depends largely and what brand and type you use,some clear goes further than others,always buy the really good stuff.Call the paint store and they can give you a better idea.

[hotrod98]

If it's going to be a problem getting paint in the future, I would buy twice as much as I needed. For starters, it always seems to take a little more than you think in the first place and you never know, you might accidentally spill some of it or ruin some of it in some way. Then you have to think about possible repairs in the future. I would buy at least 2 gallons of base with the corresponding amount of proper reducer and also 2 gallons of clear with the corresponding amounts of reducer and hardener. This should leave you some for future use. We use PPG DBC base which doesn't use an activated reducer so we can simply pour the unused amount back into the gallon can. When you finish painting the car, store the unused paint in as small a can as possible, label it, tape it shut, and store it in a spot where the temperature stays at a reasonable temp. If you ever have a fender bender, you will have the correct color when you need it.

[fishn4cuda]

If it's going to be a problem getting paint in the future, I would buy twice as much as I needed. For starters, it always seems to take a little more than you think in the first place and you never know, you might accidentally spill some of it or ruin some of it in some way. Then you have to think about possible repairs in the future. I would buy at least 2 gallons of base with the corresponding amount of proper reducer and also 2 gallons of clear with the corresponding amounts of reducer and hardener. This should leave you some for future use. We use PPG DBC base which doesn't use an activated reducer so we can simply pour the unused amount back into the gallon can. When you finish painting the car, store the unused paint in as small a can as possible, label it, tape it shut, and store it in a spot where the temperature stays at a reasonable temp. If you ever have a fender bender, you will have the correct color when you need it.

[torredcuda]

Also depends on if you are using an HVLP or reguler spray gun as an HVLP will use a lot less paint.2 gallons of base and clear might be close if you are painting it inside/outside and completely underneath.

[Kapteenikosmos]

I'm propably going with dupont paints, asked the prices today and seems like there aren't much difference between dupont & ppg deltron and as far as I know the dupont should be bit better paint? I'm not going to paint the underneath in body color, only por15 + por 20 as top coat on there.

As for the spray gun I dont know if I am going to use the medium priced spray gun I invested or borrow the very expensive gun from my coworker, but in either case I think that the spray gun's are regular type not HVLP type.

Allthough I'm not painting the underneath with body color, I have two hoods which I'm going to paint both because the flat hood I have is in excellent shape and need nothing more than a new paint and the RT hood I got is from a wrecked car (needs lots of work to get it straight so I will propably go with the flat for starters).

But anyway I should be within safe marginal with about 7 litres of paint --> almost 900$ ouch. But in long rung mayby it is best to store enough paint and forgot the costs.

[Bullitt-]

Does anyone know what the deal is with paint being banned? In the U.S. or just a Europe thing? 

[Stacked440]

what paints are they banning?
 

[Kapteenikosmos]

Atleast in EU the only approved top coats are water based starting from the next year although the water based base coats are still coated with dissolvent based clear coats so I'm not sure if there is any point in this legislation. And I also heard rumours that the manufacturing process for the water based paints is far more toxic and harmfull for the enviroment than the current paints.

But in anyway, I'm going to stack enough 'real' paint so I don't ever have to use those frigging water paints with my challenger.

[moparnut]

You might want to also look at Valspar paint,Excellent Paint and cheaper than PPG

[farmboy70]

Bullit99
The paint is not going to be banned in the US as much as there is a big push to licence auto body shops to buy paint.Meaning if you don't have a licence you won't be able to buy automotive paint.
It seems to be on a state by state basis so far.
  To me it is kind of silly as most people will get someone they know who has a licence to get it for them anyway. Unless they require the shops to document the usage and then there would be a problem for the DIYer

[1 Wild R/T]

Bullit99
The paint is not going to be banned in the US as much as there is a big push to licence auto body shops to buy paint.Meaning if you don't have a licence you won't be able to buy automotive paint.
It seems to be on a state by state basis so far.
  To me it is kind of silly as most people will get someone they know who has a licence to get it for them anyway. Unless they require the shops to document the usage and then there would be a problem for the DIYer

  Not meaning to offend anyone but depending on where you live the are so many paints that are no longer avalible here in the US, No Lacquer, No Acylic Enamel, allot of BC/CC systems are going away, waterbased paints are a reality...I have six gallons of Delstar set aside for my Coronet...

[farmboy70]

Not meaning to offend anyone but depending on where you live the are so many paints that are no longer avalible here in the US, No Lacquer, No Acylic Enamel, allot of BC/CC systems are going away, waterbased paints are a reality...I have six gallons of Delstar set aside for my Coronet...

Not affending me  :grinno:but all the paint you mentioned are available here in PA.  guess the point I was making was the difference between a ban and availablity. The bigger problem will be if the licences go through then it will be more difficult to get any paint.As long as you don't need activator for that six gallons you should be fine.

[ntstlgl1970]

I think 2 gallons would be reasonable. Stock up while you can because I bet once the inventory of good paints start to diminish, the prices will go up accordingly. In California we've been on water based paints for a while. I remember 20(!) years ago you used to have to travel to another county from where I lived to get the good high VOC content spray paint! It's pretty rediculous now. Some guys I know used to travel to Nevada to get good paint too!

[1 Wild R/T]

Not affending me  :grinno:but all the paint you mentioned are available here in PA.  guess the point I was making was the difference between a ban and availablity. The bigger problem will be if the licences go through then it will be more difficult to get any paint.As long as you don't need activator for that six gallons you should be fine.

On the good news side, I have all the activator I need, on the bad news side, if its been banned in California, Texas & likely a few other states I'm afraid it will be gone from Pa. someday soon...So buy it while you can..