Is automotive paint all water based now in California?

[MarcDeSoto]

I was just told by a friend that he thinks acrylic enamel  auto paint is no longer sold in Calif.  He said he thinks it's all water based clear coat, base coat paint.  Can anyone shed any light on this?     Can a hobbyist still buy acrylic enamel, or has it gone over to water based only in California.  And can a hobbiest still buy automotive paint in Calif.?  

[Plymouthy Adams]

would it not be just a simple phone call to your paint jobber and get the real skinny...?

[MarcDeSoto]

Yes, you're right.  I'll do that.  thanks.

[desoto1939]

I was told that when using water based paint there is a totaly different method of applying the paint especially with the clear coat application.  They told me that with th eold clear coat you started fromthe front and then worked back and did the over spray of the clear onto the next section of body.

 

But with water based you now start with the good panel such as a front door and then work from the door and go to the front fender if that is what is being recoated.

 

So if you are going to water based make sure you know what the new process is for this newer style paint.

 

 

Rich Hartung

desoto1939@aol.com

[Bob Riding]

Oil based paint in rattle cans are still legal. For larger jobs, some Californios will buy out-of-state oil based paint to save money and be able to apply it themselves without having to learn new skillsets. Our county (Fresno) is very strict and as part of the 8 County "San Joaquin Valley Air District" has created rules, mostly for VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) including the following "Form Letter to a Residential Painter" :

Dear Mr. ,

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has restrictions against spray- painting of vehicles in residential areas. If odors affect a significant number of people or overspray from your painting causes property damage, you may be in violation of Rule 4102 – Nuisance, and be subject to penalties.

Also, if you use more than one quart of paint per day or 8 gallons of paint per year you would be in violation of Rule 2010 – Permits Required. Due to your location, zoning restrictions, and fire marshal regulations, you would not be able to obtain a permit from the District.

Further, regardless of the amount of paint you use, you could be subject to the requirements of Rule 4602 – Motor Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Coating Operations. This rule specifies VOC limitations in coatings, coating application methods, and
record keeping requirements.

If you are found to be in violation of one of these rules you could be issued a Notice of Violation and be subject to substantial penalties.

If you have questions please call the Compliance Division at (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Sincerely,

(NAME)
Supervising Air Quality Inspector

[Dodgeb4ya]

Glad I don't live there.?

[Plymouthy Adams]

56 minutes ago, Dodgeb4ya said:

Glad I don't live there.?

I am going to take that icon above as not so much as a thumbs down on policy but to reflect local government thumbs-on your every actions....

[Frank Elder]

14 minutes ago, Plymouthy Adams said:

I am going to take that icon above as not so much as a thumbs down on policy but to reflect California lifestyle thumbs-on your every actions....

There I fixed it for @Plymouthy Adams, you used the “G” word which is a thread locker......

[Frank Elder]

Imron Industrial one stage paint rocks!

[Marcel Backs]

It's all water based paint up here and the finish as well as drying leaves a lot to be desired. I purchased the paint that the painter recommended in upper NY state. He used "Concept" single stage black on the body with amazing results.The extra expense for this paint is well worth it compared to water based base/clear  option. 

[Hamilton]

If you get busted for exceeding the one quart per day/eight gallons per year threshold just claim than any excess is actually a peaceful protest.

 

If they don't believe you, keep breaking things and lighting fires until they do.

_

Edited January 26, 2021 by Hamilton

[Plymouthy Adams]

1 minute ago, Hamilton said:

If you get busted for exceeding the one quart per day/eight gallons per year threshold just claim than any excess is actually a peaceful protest.

_

 

tell them due to the fact this style product is forced on you by regulations newly written, it comes with a learning curve which often cause rework issues.....as it would normally take but 8 ounces to do the job and when finished I have 8 ounces on the panel.....the 10 times to get it right still only reflect 8 ounce on the panel....(PS when arrested, update you forum profile)

[MarcDeSoto]

I just called my local auto paint jobber and got a clerk who really knows his auto paint.  In Calif. they don't sell the old acrylic enamel anymore.  He said most new cars and new car repairs are painted with the new water based paint.  But you can still buy solvent based paint and urethanes.  The solvent that is used is a blend of acetone and PCBTF.  They still sell the isocyanate catalyst for this paint, which is required.  I asked doesn't the isocyanate hardener violate the Calif. VOC laws.  He said no.  Isocyanates if used improperly will kill you, but not the trees, and that's fine with Calif.  So they recommend an air supplied mask to use it.  Also they still sell epoxy primers.  they also sell the old lacquer primers.  

[MarcDeSoto]

If you don't know what PCBTF is, here is part of an article on it from the Internet.

 

PCBTF — also known as Oxsol 100, Parachlorobenzotrifluoride and p-Chloro-a,a,a-trifluorotoluene — is the most widely used solvent in the coatings and adhesives industry. PCBTF is used in field applied architectural and industrial Maintenance (AIM) coatings; marine coatings; auto-refinish coatings; factory-applied metal, plastic, and wood coatings; and in adhesives and consumer products, including paint thinners.

The extensive use of PCBTF in industry products is largely because, in 1994, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exempted PCBTF from its list of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). In addition, PCBTF has more favorable characteristics than other exempt compounds, for example it evaporates slower and has a higher flash point and therefore is less flammable than exempt VOCs including acetone.

[allbizz49]

So, to answer your question, no. Basecoat (color) is waterborne. Clears are still urethane. The thing about the new clear is they take just an activator, no.more reducers. A lot depends on where you live. I painted in a small shop in Amador county and we can still get laquer there. Paint is like a lot of stuff, people are giving out a lot of disinformation. Waterborne basecoat does spray completely different than solvent based. You shoot basically one wet coat. More like one and a half coats. You do a light dropcoat after the first wet one. It takes longer to flash as well, especially if you don't have a lot of air flow. Air movement is key to it drying. There are still solvent based basecoats you can buy. I shoot them regularly along with custom paints like house of kolor. It's still solvent based. If you're painting a solid color, look into single stage urethanes. They are great for solids. Here is a hood I did in base/clear with water based color and urethane clear. Right out of the gun, no buffing yet. You can get good results with it. All depends on what kind of finish you are looking for. Good luck.

[Plymouthy Adams]

those are very complimenting colors

Edited January 27, 2021 by Plymouthy Adams

[Los_Control]

Those are crap colors and not worth posting about. ... makes me think about what my wife would want ... crap colors!

 

[Plymouthy Adams]

5 minutes ago, Los_Control said:

Those are crap colors and not worth posting about. ... makes me think about what my wife would want ... crap colors!

 

well....odds are with the car that is represented, and the fact you drive a beat up chebbie truck....the only way you could get close enough to that car to appreciate the paint scheme is if you crossed the center line and stopped it in a head on......?

[allbizz49]

Only picture of anything water based on my phone. Colors and car aren't my taste whatsoever but customers money. He changed hoods, needed it to match. Car was already really nice.

Edited January 27, 2021 by allbizz49

[Plymouthy Adams]

for sure it is not a P15 or a D24......those colors would not look good on an over weight hippo 

[Marcel Backs]

Looks like you flowed that paint well and customer was happy!

[MarcDeSoto]

3 hours ago, allbizz49 said:

If you're painting a solid color, look into single stage urethanes. They are great for solids

Yes, but I'm painting a 48 DeSoto.  Wouldn't a urethane paint look too glossy for a stock look on my '48?  

[Marcel Backs]

look into ppg concept. very happy to have used it. finish is very true to the period. not overly glossy but has serious depth. full urethane will not shrink over time. Frank's suggestion of imron is also an excellent choice due to legendary durability and period accurate appearance. paint is a subject well researched before application.

[MarcDeSoto]

I don't know.  Imron was known back in the 80s when I was painting cars as the super wet look and used usually on hot rods and semi cabs.  But I think it may come in less glossy versions now, so I'll have to research it.  

[Sam Buchanan]

2 hours ago, Marcel Backs said:

look into ppg concept. very happy to have used it. finish is very true to the period. not overly glossy but has serious depth. full urethane will not shrink over time. Frank's suggestion of imron is also an excellent choice due to legendary durability and period accurate appearance. paint is a subject well researched before application.

I agree Concept is a very nice paint, used it on several projects. However, PPG has discontinued it.