Why did single stage paint become obsolete?

[Ryan L.]

I know that some manufacturers still use single stage, I believe Lexus. But why did clear coats become more popular? Correct me if I'm wrong but clear coat cars seem to have more problems. Clear Coat failure, Orange Peel, etc, while single stage doesn't really have those problems. And also, single stage paints are a lot easier to "correct" as in paint correction.

Just seems like it would be easier to have single stage paint. Any body know why they changed over. Obviously there are plenty of good reasons or else they wouldn't change, but I just can't see the reasons.

Ryan

[RDVT4ME]

Re: Why did single stage paint become obsolete?

I'm sure Mike can give the details, but I think 3 letters sum it up...EPA.

[VonLego]

Re: Why did single stage paint become obsolete?

Remember... single stage paint looks horrid years down the road. Clear coats look tolerable forever.

Now you remember that badly swirled car the other day? Yeah, now imagine it with an inch think layer of dead paint.

[Lydia]

Re: Why did single stage paint become obsolete?

I beg to differ! Clear coat failure IMO looks much worse than oxidized single stage paint. Plus once a clear coat has failed, there is no fixing it short of a repaint. Oxidized SS paint can be buffed back to a good shine even when it's really far gone.

JMO though. As for the reason, I think Bob summed it up: EPA.

[Ryan L.]

Re: Why did single stage paint become obsolete?

Yea...I agree with Lydia and differ with VonLego. Like Lydia said, you can restore Single Stage paints fairly easily and make them look new or better than new. Just look at some of the red single stage paint makeovers that have been done at the Meguiar's garage. I took part in a Red Civic and I must say that 1 pass on single stage paint is a lot different than 1 pass on clear coated paint. Of course I mean that the single stage paint is much softer and easier to work on/with.

Ryan

[Ryan L.]

Re: Why did single stage paint become obsolete?

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12988

Theres 1 example...all the threads on the old CS Forum don't have pictures, but they are great examples.

[Heatgain]

Re: Why did single stage paint become obsolete?

I lived and worked in Detroit for 8 years and can answer your question in one word....MONEY!
I'm guessing but....it's probably cheaper for the manufacturer to use 1 thin coat of color and 3 coats of clear than multiple coats of color as in "single stage" paint.
Detroit always thinks like this.....if a manufacturer can save, let's say $3.00 per vehicle, and they put out 5 million vehicles, they save $15 million dollars. So, a dollar saved here, and a dollar saved there, you're talking about billions.

....Just seems like it would be easier to have single stage paint. Any body know why they changed over. Obviously there are plenty of good reasons or else they wouldn't change, but I just can't see the reasons.
Ryan

[ZoranC]

Re: Why did single stage paint become obsolete?

I beg to differ! Clear coat failure IMO looks much worse than oxidized single stage paint. Plus once a clear coat has failed, there is no fixing it short of a repaint. Oxidized SS paint can be buffed back to a good shine even when it's really far gone.

Exactly my feelings too.

Also, beside EPA, I think there might be one more contributing factor: Putting clear coat gives manufacturers lifetime of paint that is long enough to push headaches of failure from them onto you.

[tguil]

Re: Why did single stage paint become obsolete?

Here's a little more information:

http://www.meguiars.com/faq/index.cfm?faqCat=Paint%20Questions

http://www.mobileworks.com/clear-coat-paint-finishes.html

Tom

[Larry A]

Re: Why did single stage paint become obsolete?

Clear coat became popular because back in the 1970s metalic colors were dull. So to make them shinny the factory could buff them out or spray them with clear.Because of labor cost they deceided to use clear coat. The Japonise were the first to use clear to make metalic cars shinny . Before 1924 some cars were cleared with clear varnish.In 1924 lacquer was used and that had to be polished. Enamel came out in the 1930s , so all they had to do was bake it, although GM still used lacquer.