Low cost basecoat/clearcoat? Is it possible?

Anyone know a source for some lower cost auto paint?

I painted cars and bikes 20 yrs ago so I know the benefits of the good stuff. My latest trips to the pro paint store are scaring me. I'm planning 3 or 4 colors with a clear coat. Many hundreds of dollars! Even PPG's low end Omni is brutal.

Today I thought I was going to buy a simple one stage paint for my frame, but a quart of omni with hardener and reducer is almost $100!! And that's 5 or 10 times more paint than I need.

So I'm reluctantly considering using spray cans for the frame and Omni for the body work. I suppose I'll have to use Duplicolor engine paint on the frame in order to resist gas, etc.

For the body stripes - What if I used spray cans for the color coats and then Omni clear on top?

Any other ideas?

Iwas just at the paint store the other day. got a price for nason base clear with all redusers everything for 73.00

Is that only the clear, hardener and reducer? or colors also?

NAPA will most likely be the cheapest. Personally I only use PPG DBU base cote and "Concept 2002" I have some other PPG clears such as "Omni AU" I can sell you enough to do your bike both clear and hardener. It is a good hi volume production clear. That will save you a lot of money. You should only require about a half pint to do the whole bike.

buyat.ppg.com/refinishProductCatalog/Ser...c5-b523-6b9f1f9277e5

Thanks otakar
Are u offering to sell clear, hardener and reducer only?

What I need is this:

For the body-
3 colors of basecoat in very small quantities.
1 clear with hardener and reducer. 1/2 pint? or pint

For various parts it would be nice to have some one stage black, silver and red with hardener and reducer. But I may end up doing those things with spray cans.

I don't know if you live in a rural area, or a town or city.
I live in Buffalo, NY.
You should check with a local collision supply warehouse.
See If they have samples from a supplier. Like a quart of clearcoat and a half pint of hardener. For a 4 to 1 system.
Urethane clear is the only way to go. They make products that dry in 5 minutes.
Or go to a local collision shop and ask for a cup of sugar LOL!
Paint stores, Home Depot, sell empty pint or quart cans, get a couple of empties and ask to buy some product at a local shop.

My next project is GM, White Diamond Pearl, The Caddilac color!
$158 dollars!!! for a PINT!!! of mid coat,the pearl, metallic.
White base, midcoat, then clear!

I started with laquer 30 years ago. Now you have to be a chemist with a degree to paint. I have put mixed clear in my pyrex cup, then in the microwave oven to warm it like tea. Then run out to the garage to spray it, with a pot life of only 1 hour.

Wonder why I was divorced 15 years ago, parts in the dishwasher, painted parts in the oven, chemicals in the microwave!

Here is about a $1000 worht of material!
Yes, you can use paint product for years after you buy it! I have! As long as it does not freeze or gel up.

Got to love it!

otakar wrote:

NAPA will most likely be the cheapest. Personally I only use PPG DBU base cote and "Concept 2002" I have some other PPG clears such as "Omni AU" I can sell you enough to do your bike both clear and hardener. It is a good hi volume production clear. That will save you a lot of money. You should only require about a half pint to do the whole bike.

buyat.ppg.com/refinishProductCatalog/Ser...c5-b523-6b9f1f9277e5

i was gonna suggest napa also,make sure they give you fresh materials though

Nelson wrote:

Thanks otakar
Are u offering to sell clear, hardener and reducer only?

What I need is this:

For the body-
3 colors of basecoat in very small quantities.
1 clear with hardener and reducer. 1/2 pint? or pint

For various parts it would be nice to have some one stage black, silver and red with hardener and reducer. But I may end up doing those things with spray cans.

I buy base cote dependent on what I paint, so I don't have any color selection. But I do have clear because I buy that in much larger quantities and have that on hand. So I figured that I could save you a few bucks and offer you at least that much. I have a FedEx has-mat account and can ship these in the US. I have clear, hardener, and reducer.

I paid $16/pint for the base coat that I just used on my wheels. It was from NAPA, Crossfire was the product line, but I can't recall the brand.

The 73 dollars included all hardener and redusers for 1 pint base and 1 pt clear. I thought that was pretty good. I was expecting at least 100

Try a home paint store like Sherwin Williams. I'm planning on using a black epoxy maintenance enamel. It's designed for industrial metal railings and such.

As far as the body parts go. I have tried lost of Auto paint But I have always had the best luck with Dupont base clear.

I almost jumped over the counter at a PPG salesman because the book was wrong, the color didn't match and they didn't want to make it right.

Valspar is weird paint. I used the auto paint and It had a funny satin like finish, acceptable but weird. I used the home paint and it had the same weird type of finish.
I thought that was pretty odd.

Valspar paint, it was probally base coat.
Which needs clear coat.
I like Dupont chromabase best, it mixes 50/50 with basemaker.