Paint in a can vs real paint...

[96Lude]

Greetings all,

A good friend of mine asked me to fix one of his wheels which had some pretty nasty scratches on it due to him scraping the sidewalk while parking. I had a question which I am hoping some of you can answer for me. I have basically 2 options for repainting the wheel:

1 - Paint in a spray can (DuPont or PPG).
2 - Paint mixed by a PBE store which has a catalyst mixed in which I will shoot with an HVLP paint gun.

Basically the PBE store can match the exact color for me, even if I order the paint in the can, so that's fine.

My question is this:
What is the advantage of the paint mixed in with the catalyst as opposed to the paint in the spray can? They can mix the exact same paint only it will come in a can. I want the paint to be as durable as possible when it has cured.

Do any of you know the difference?

Thanks.

[Mike Phillips]

If the same paint mixer at the PBE store you're doing business with is mixing the paint for either method of application, it would seem that you would be comparing similar products... for the most part...

I've seen soft catalyzed paints before so I don't know if anyone can categorically state that because a paint is catalyzed that that automatically means it's the hardest and most durable.

Did you try asking the paint mixer what his thoughts on the topic are?

[96Lude]

Hi Mike,

I haven't had the chance to stop by the place and speak to someone yet. I know that the most important thing about painting is how you do the prep work. The last time I had purchased some paint, it was Dupont paint with the clear coat already mixed in and it cost me about $20 for it to be put in a spray can. I recall having asked for paint with a catalyst that I would need to mix myself and it was somewhere around $60 for the smallest quantity. So it seems like it is much more expensive for the 2 part paint with catalyst.

There is another PBE store in my area that sells PPG paint so I will go check there as well.