How to tell if paint is one or two stage???

[LSNAutoDetailing]

How can I tell if paint is one stage or clearcoated?

My friend as a 65 Mustang, and in my opinion it does not look clear coated

How can I tell?

[builthatch]

How can I tell if paint is one stage or clearcoated?

My friend as a 65 Mustang, and in my opinion it does not look clear coated

How can I tell?

take a light colored something (towel, pad) and rub an inconspicuous area with some polish or compound. if you see pink on the applicator - single stage.

[LSNAutoDetailing]

Mike comes through again! All I had to do was search.

How To Test for a Clearcoat or Single Stage Paint Finish

[Calendyr]

Clear coat started in the 90s so if it's original paint, you can be sure it's single stage.

[LSNAutoDetailing]

Clear coat started in the 90s so if it's original paint, you can be sure it's single stage.

We know the car was repainted, but don't know when or with what process.
I have Scratch-X and microfiber applicator pads. I'll pick a small area and test.

[Mike Phillips]

How can I tell if paint is one stage or clearcoated?

My friend as a 65 Mustang, and in my opinion it does not look clear coated

How can I tell?

Here you go...


How to Test for Single Stage or Clear Coat Paint

To test for a colored single stage paint, try to use a white polish and a white applicator or light colored applicator or cloth.

If you're testing white paint then try to use a polish with a color to it and a dark colored cloth. The reason for this is so you can confirm that you're removing white paint and not just seeing the color of the polish or the cloth.

If the cloth and polish are both white it will be hard to see paint pigment.




Use an ample amount for plenty of lubrication as you're going to want to push firmly if no oxidation is present as was the case with the finish on the classic car.







Confirmed, we're working on a single stage paint... also note the heavier accumulation were my fingers pressed down with the most pressure... this is because you can exert more pressure to the small area of your finger tips than you can with your entire hand, you can use this to work for you or cause problems depending upon what you're trying to do...





I also cover this and a million other topics in my how-to book The Complete Guide to a Show Car Shine.

[Mike Phillips]

Mike comes through again! All I had to do was search.

How To Test for a Clearcoat or Single Stage Paint Finish

Yeah I wrote that one back in 2008 and then after coming to Autogeek I updated it and created a fresh article here on AG.

Don't feel bad for not being able to simply LOOK at a paint job and determine if it's single stage or basecoat/clearcoat.

Sometimes you can and sometimes you can't so when in doubt do a simple test.

Testing for white single stage paint is kind of tricky but I think I cover that in both articles.

[Jaretr1]

How can I tell if paint is one stage or clearcoated?

My friend as a 65 Mustang, and in my opinion it does not look clear coated

How can I tell?

Other than all the methods mentioned, its interesting you say it doesnt look clear coated.

In my opinion, and based on cars I actually own, single stage paints seem to be able to finish to a higher gloss than clear coats.

[LSNAutoDetailing]

Thanks Mike for the tips. Took a white applicator and Scratch-X and the pad turned red...

We didn't do the entire car tonight, mainly because we wanted to do a section and check the results. This is because the car had been repainted at some point prior to his possession, and the paint job wasn't really great to begin with...
@Jaretr1, that is why I believed it wasn't clear coated. The paint didn't have luster or a glossy shine to begin with... some parts are thin, and there were a lot of scratches, some that probably just won't come out unless we compound or wet-sand... (which we did not do tonight).

I put down a coat of #7 on the hood & fender tops. I was going to leave it for 24 hours, but the owner of the car was hesitant so I respected that and wiped off the #7.

Used PC 7424 and Orange with Pinnacle Swirl & Scratch remover and did small sections with 6 sections passes each, then wiped them off.

Used the PC7424 and Pinnacle Polish, again using section passes over small sections.

I forgot my Pinnacle Souveran, so I had a bottle of Mothers Detailing spray and did a quick spray and wipe.

Before:



After: