Water versus Solvent Based Paint

[Ferret II]

Hello. I've almost got a body shop picked out for some work on my '95 SE. They have gone to water-based paint, which, as many hear may know, is better for the environment, has been used in Europe for years, and is often OEM on newer cars.

Is there any downside, though, with using it on a 17-year-old car with existing OEM solvent-based paint? A couple things I'm wondering about are ability to color match (my car is electric currant red, and of course solvent based) and rate of fading. I really like this shop and think they'll do a good job, and they don't have concerns, but I thought I'd run by you all.

Very appreciative of any light anyone might shed! I really want to put any concerns to rest and book the work.

 

[skunk]

Nothing wrong with water base and it color matches better. My 21 y/o car painted with water base 2yrs ago.

No problems at all. holding up well on 21y/o urethane bumpers/skirts. prep is key, the paint will be fine.

 

[contour_r_us]

Yep, I hear that "prep" is key in the application of water-based.....but then when wasn't it all about "prep" ? Nice Fox body, btw.

 

[Ferret II]

Cool car! From the pics, nice-looking body work, too. And thanks for input skunk and contour_r_us I don't find a lot to worry about googling water-based or waterborne paint, so I'm not too concerned. One reason I'm leaning toward this body shop is my referral says they have a really good painter. Hopefully prep is good, too! Picking a shop and getting body work is a bit stressful, based on past experience... On the other hand, there are more important things in life than Contours -right?

 

[Eliteman76]

From what I've seen, main thing a shop needs is the right equipment, to move alot of air over the primers/base coat as it dries.
The clear is still the basic solvent based type clear.

Personally, I cut my teeth spraying Dupont Chromabase and single stage enamels along with hard as hell Emron truck {semi} paint.

I've got no experience, at first I was screaming bloody murder, much like alot of the old timers did when Laquor paints were kicked off the market.

Main game it to get rid of the VOC polution.
*shrug* I've sprayed my share, but I'm just not qualified to say NOT to worry about it.

Basically, boils down to the shop...and the painter. If you are spending hard earned money, ask if you can see some other cars he's sprayed.
Make sure it's a quality set up. {Then again, I've shot cars in 2 car garages and had stuff come out better than some booth jobs}

My painter, for example has 17 guns. The rack in his paint room has 17 guns. The filter system on the booth is insane.
Look at how clean the shop is, how clean the booth is. Do the guys wear suits? etc etc.

I know when I had my GTS shot, I had my painter go with solvent based.

 

[TourEnvy]

They also would should be able to backup their work.

Nice Torino, My Dad has been restoring his for the last 30+ years. Ground up on a 10 years old car at the time. He's a little bat crazy, but from what I read it will be worth it. His is a '71 Cobra Torino with a 351C. Dark Green.

 

[Ferret II]

Thanks Eliteman - good info that I plan to follow up on. I visited the shop I'm most confident in on a Saturday when there wasn't much activity, but the owner did show me the work area, which was very large and free of clutter, with some very nice-looking cars being worked on. I may return to check it out once more on a work day, now that I know more what to look for. Gorgeous car, by the way! Am curious why you opted for solvent-based paint, given the choice.