Paint Code/Question

[doubledd]

I want to have my Ghia paint in two-stage after all body work, primers etc are done. In the paint codes for VW's, as in L-319, the L = combination lacquer, according to the charts. My question: is this a two-stage paint base coat with the clear coat added later? I don't quite understand combination lacquer.
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[glutamodo]

Well, the original paint was just single stage paint. Base/clear systems didn't become popular, really, til the 80's. I'm pretty sure that for many years VW used alkyd paints on their cars. And it was just single stage gloss paint. So when you go with a base/clear system these days, you'll end up with a slightly glossier finish than was original. I'm no expert on this stuff, I'd have to ask my brother, who sold auto paint for many years before becoming an auto painter himself. When he painted my 62 Bug last year, I asked him if there was even any paints available in single stage, he said there were but he very seldom used them anymore. He painted my car in base/clear. And he didn't go by a paint code, he's a got a pretty good eye for mixing color and just mixed it up himself matched to what I had before. I don't think it's quite what you'd get had he gone by the code for "L87 Pearl White" but I liked how it turned out anyway.

andy

[Teeroy]

The L is just part of the code , doesn't determine the type of paint . You need the whole thing to bring up the formula to miss the color in whatever type of paint you use . Depending on paint brand and the year of the car , the jobber may not be able to mix the paint from the factory code , and yo will then have to use a color eye computer or a color map book to find a close formula . Sikkens and Glasurite have most of the old formulas for modern paint , single and two stage . TROY
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