Original Black Lacquer

[RPO580]

I've got a very low mile 1962 Impala with an exceptional original black lacquer paint which under fluorescent lights shows fine swirls and ultra fine scratches how do I dial the paint in to perfection ?

[gb387]

Re: Original Black Lacquer

I've got a very low mile 1962 Impala with an exceptional original black lacquer paint which under fluorescent lights shows fine swirls and ultra fine scratches how do I dial the paint in to perfection ?

This link might be of some help: 1960 Corvette - How To Restore Single Stage Acrylic Lacquer Paint

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Original Black Lacquer

I've got a very low mile 1962 Impala with an exceptional original black lacquer paint which under fluorescent lights shows fine swirls and ultra fine scratches how do I dial the paint in to perfection ?

Hi RPO580,

Whenever you're working with original, single stage paint, and this is key, that's important to you, then you want to always work carefully and with great attention to the task at hand. The reason for this is three-fold,

1. The paint is old
2. The paint is likely soft - as compared to modern clear coats
3. There's a possibility the paint is thin - unless you know the history of the car, it can be hard to know what those who have gone before you have done to the paint and what they have used.

Meguia'rs teaches the philosophy of,

"Always use the least aggressive product to get the job done"

Before we start making recommendations as to which products to use and how to apply them, (by hand or by machine), can you tell us how the paint has been taken care of to date? (as in what product have been used to maintain the paint since it's been in your possession)

Sounds like a beautiful car.

[RPO580]

Re: Original Black Lacquer

Hi Mike,
Thank you for replying. The Corvette post is great. My 1962 has always been properly stored and was actually put away for 25 years. The paint is not thin in any spots, and I have never done anything with the paint since I have owned the car. I do not know what the previous owner might have used.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Original Black Lacquer

Hi Mike,
Thank you for replying. The Corvette post is great. My 1962 has always been properly stored and was actually put away for 25 years. The paint is not thin in any spots, and I have never done anything with the paint since I have owned the car. I do not know what the previous owner might have used.

You are so lucky!

Compared to modern paints, you'll find most of the enthusiast and professional detailers on our forum and others love working with older single stage paints because they tend to be softer and more workable than modern clear coat paints.

When it comes to single stage paints, the type of pigment, or colorant used will have a major influence over the paint hardness or softness, in the case of black paint, the pigment type is Carbon Black, which in simple terms is much like the soot that builds up inside of your fireplace chimney or the hood or top of a barbecue. Because this pigment is very soft it tends to make whatever resin, (paint), it is introduced into softer than the resin was without it.

In other words, in most cases, single stage black paint is the easiest paint there is to work defects out of and bring a shimmering, deep, wet shine to.

Now as far as taking the paint on this car to its maximum potential, you can choose to do this by hand or machine, the 1960 Corvette in the aforementioned thread was polished out using only a few products and our G100 Dual Action Polisher and as long as you are careful around high points, seams and body lines, or if you take the time to carefully tape these off using painters tape, you can remove the defects faster and more efficiently by tackling this job by machine.

Which direction do you think you would like to go and we'll outline a process and then see you through to success.

[RPO580]

Re: Original Black Lacquer

Mike ,
I would like to do it by hand and get it to where there are no swirl marks visible under any kind of light.

[sneek]

Re: Original Black Lacquer

ScratchX ususally can only take a finish so far(i say this, but it scratchx is a really good product), the G100/PC DA will take the finish to the next level. theres an awsome dvd from showcargarage . com that you might want to take a look at it features that same 1960's vette.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Original Black Lacquer

The owner sent me a picture which I resized to 700 pixels wide and have uploaded into our new gallery.

[MaximusZTS]

Re: Original Black Lacquer

that car is beautiful.

[Accumulator]

Re: Original Black Lacquer

Boy oh boy what a great car. To me, the originality of it makes all the difference. Far better an imperfect original finish than am unnecessarily required repaint; I'd be very gentle with it. At some point (and this one's well *past* that point IMO) they aren't so much "flaws" as they are "patina".