In the last few years, paint products have been changing faster than Clark Kent changes into his Superman suit. Every year, paint manufacturers have to formulate paints to meet the ever-changing EPA VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) mandates, which are constantly getting more stringent. Just when the manufacturers come out with an excellent paint product, and automotive painters are getting comfortable using that product, it's pulled off the market because it no longer meets the EPA guidelines. When that happens, all of the automotive painters have to find another product that works as well, and experiment until they are comfortable with the product. Unfortunately, the vicious circle continues, so painters are always experimenting with new paint formulas.
Most of the paint companies have programs that teach painters about the new products, but let's fact it, training every automotive painter in the country is a very difficult task. There are thousands of painters all over the country in small shops that can't afford to take a few days off, travel to a manufacturer's school, and attend a seminar once a year. That doesn't even take into account all of the automotive hobbyists that use the products on their cars. Without this special training, the chances are excellent that some paint-related problems will arise.
What we're going to try to do is help you deal with some of the problems that may arise when you decide to paint your street rod or custom. We can't possibly cover them all, but we'll try to provide some insight on the most common problems a painter can run into. With a little luck and practice, your paint jobs can look as good as the ones on the cars in the lead photos. The information and charts are courtesy of PPG.
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