Color Difference Between Single and Two Stage Paint

Just got done having a tractor painted. The cast was done in single stage, and the sheet metal was done with a two stage paint. (DuPont Nason in IH50 for both) The sheet metal looks to be slightly less red. Kind of a less deep red, I guess. I know pictures would help, and I don't have those. Sorry.

I was wondering if anyone had run into this before. Was the paint tinted differently at the paint shop, or is this an effect of the clean coat? thanks.

I painted this tiller with PPG's single stage with hardener. I think the paint code was 71310. Hal

the clear will cause a color shift. we use spray out cards at the shop when tinting colors, the clear needs to go on the cards for color match comparison. you will need to re-tint the color for the hood, clear it, and go from there. if you have the toners, its not to bad to do. otherwise, the paint store will need to do the mix for you, or if you can find a local body shop with the correct toners, they can do it for you.

Technically it should be mixed the same color, but there can be slight differences. Just like if you are painting a wall, you always mix the next gallon into the first gallon to keep the same color going so you don"t have a visual line where you switched from one gallon to the next.

Sounds like he had it done in a shop. I'd get it back in there and have them do it over.

Gordo

I have done it with my own modifications of PPG Omni 71310 (IH 2150) and have seen little difference. However I did the both the sheet metal and chassis cast with base-clear, and the many of the smaller parts with single stage. Can't tell much difference, as the single stage parts blend in with the base clear. I think there would have to be a major difference in the two paints for it to be really noticeable, as cast reflects light differently than sheet metal, and there will be some difference anyway. However, I like base clear for several reasons, and doubt if I ever use single stage on the chassis again.

Your single stage paint may use more or less different color toner than the 2 stage paint or vice versa. The same goes for the amount of toner grams used in each mix.

Thats a good one. I know when painting cast it never will be as glossy as sheet metal. But I have never run into having the problem of two colors though. When you have some time try to get a couple of photos up.

Could it be because of the way the light reflects off the single stage as opposed to the way it reflects through the clear and off the base of the 2 stage paint?

CNKS:

Could you please elaborate more on the reasons for desiring base/clear over single stage on the chassis:

"I like base clear for several reasons, and doubt if I ever use single stage on the chassis again."

I just have 2 tractor restorations under my belt now & have been pleased w/ the single stage PPG OMNI results. I have never used the base/clear method & am curious as to what advantages you have found.....

Thanks!

Cockbird, on the cast the clear gives a higher gloss. I too have used Omni single stage and have been mostly pleased with the results. However, cast, with all its curved surfaces and nooks and crannies, for me anyway is hard to paint. Almost impossible to do the desired 50% overlap. I have also noticed some fading after about a year (PPG Omni MTK acrylic urethane), which I attribute to double coverage on some areas, that is intentionally or not, painting a area with a double pass before it flashes. I have not noticed this with clear, yet-it may still occur. I simply need to be more careful. On sheet metal, I have a problem with "cooties" in my paint, that I simply cannot eliminate. This necessitates sanding and buffing, and Omni single stage does not buff well for me, the clear does. And with single stage the UV protection "floats" to the surface, meaning sanding an buffing can remove it. With clear I don't have that problem, and as a side benefit, it is almost impossible to buff the clear to the underlying layer, fairly easy to to that with single stage. This is only my opinion. If you are happy with your results, then there is no reason for you to change. I am sort of a perfectionest and hard to please when it comes to paint -- but I have yet to get anyhere near my goal.

CNKS:

For the "cooties", I have the same problem. My solution has been to become a "Good Friend" to a local body shop that uses PPG. For my sheet metal, I have been doing the prep work w/170 epoxy primer & 182 urethane surfacer & taking these pieces to the professional booth for topcoat...For the small fees I am charged....I have my sanity...& most importantly no "cooties"

Are you using PPG's base/clear products in the OMNI line? I may try the base/clear products in the future & certainly appreciate what you have shared/learned......

Thanks

You have a good idea, perhaps I should try that. The base/clear is PPG Omni. I might have better luck with PPG's higher line, but it is getting out of my price range. B-maniac and others may argue this point in that with better paints you can use fewer coats, but he can paint better than I can.

You open yourself up to a lot of variables doing that sort of thing. hard to prove or dis-prove any of them. The one thing it isn't is the fact you have clear over one and not the other. Clear will change the look of base coat which goes on flat w/not much shine and is designed to do so. Clear over a shiny coat of single stage in solid color (non-metalic)will change nothing as far as color.

Turns out that the color difference was not as bad as I thought. It isn't near as noticeable outside as it was in the shop with the florescent lights. It was a surprise restoration for my grandpa of his Farmall C. I don't think he cared about the subtle difference in paint color :lol:

Looks great, nice job. I'm sure he's thrilled with it.

That really turned out nice.

Thanks guys.