Cellulose vs Modern Two Pack on a Classic?

[RichB]

Obviously modern two pack paints are cleaner, more durable and general an improvement on cellulose and yet I often read in classic car magazines about older cars being restored using original cellulose paint.

What are people's views on this? As I gear up towards a re-paint for the Aston I am considering the alternatives, originality vs durability? I often hear people saying the finish on modern paints looks different to cellulose but is it, can you detect the difference? Can two pack be flatted down and polished to appear like cellulose?

Be interested in your thoughts...

[imagineifyeswill]

Dont know much about paint myself but have a friend whos been a painter coming on 40 years< he still uses cellulose all the time says its far better on older cars and doesnt sink on repaired areas like water based paints do.

[rovermorris999]

Modern paints look too shiny and 'wet' to my eyes. I much prefer cellulose on an old car. More of a pain to look after though. On an Aston then definitely cellulose. On something in regular use then I'd use a modern paint. I have two pack on my Minor van but it is a vehicle I use as it was intended with trips to the dump and dogs to the vet. If I repainted my SP250 then I'd want cellulose.

Edited by rovermorris999 on Saturday 22 November 11:05

[RichB]

Interesting chaps, so it's all in favour of cellulose so far...

[Riley Blue]

Cellulose if you like to polish, two pack if you don't - both my Rileys are painted with two pack.

[TooMany2cvs]

Riley Blue said:

Cellulose if you like to polish, two pack if you don't - both my Rileys are painted with two pack.

THIS, with bells on.

'erselfs early '80s 2cv was repainted with 2k over ten years ago. It's not been polished once since, but still shines like it's just been done. But it's definitely got that slightly "plasticky" look to it. It's even more noticable because we've got two bootlids - one resprayed, one original and heavily stickered - and just about matt, but with that right "feel".

[V8 FOU]

Oh dear.
Cellulose / points /carbs again...

Clear over base wins out every time. If you want less shine then a matting agent can be added to the laquer from a slight shine reduction down to a full matt. Sinkage? Cellulose will always sink. Remember that 2 pack paints have a hardener, so will fully harden. Cellulose drys with time. If it's on thick enough it will never dry and always be soft.

[rovermorris999]

Interesting to hear about matting agents. It would be nice to have the best of both worlds as I'm not keen on the 'just painted' look. Would Joe Bloggs' Paint Shop know enough about them or would you need to look for somewhere more expert?

[TooMany2cvs]

V8 FOU said:

Clear over base wins out every time.

Cellulose, 2k or water-based clear over base, though...?

[crankedup]

Cellulose gives a much softer appearance whereas two pack is quite harsh. Two pack on old cars is, for me at least, a big no no.

[vpr]

I paint my classics in 2 pack but NOT clear over base ....That way it retains a less toffee look.

[RichB]

V8 FOU said:

Oh dear.
Cellulose / points /carbs again...

What do you mean?

[RichB]

From what people are saying maybe the 2K with a little flatting agent in the lacquer is the way to go?

[TooMany2cvs]

RichB said:

V8 FOU said:

Oh dear.
Cellulose / points /carbs again...

What do you mean?

He's suggesting that there may be a bit of misty-eyed historical-revisionist-romanticism going on. The past was a much better place, so long as you ignore the rickets/deaths in childbirth/children up chimneys etc etc.

[RichB]

TooMany2cvs said:

RichB said:

V8 FOU said:

Oh dear.
Cellulose / points /carbs again...

What do you mean?

He's suggesting that there may be a bit of misty-eyed historical-revisionist-romanticism going on. The past was a much better place, so long as you ignore the rickets/deaths in childbirth/children up chimneys etc etc.

Ah right, I didn't get it. For the purpose of this thread I'm only interested in paint.

[Pie with sauce]

RichB said:

TooMany2cvs said:

RichB said:

V8 FOU said:

Oh dear.
Cellulose / points /carbs again...

What do you mean?

He's suggesting that there may be a bit of misty-eyed historical-revisionist-romanticism going on. The past was a much better place, so long as you ignore the rickets/deaths in childbirth/children up chimneys etc etc.

Ah right, I didn't get it. For the purpose of this thread I'm only interested in paint.

But I'm afraid, with respect, that that's really what the "cellulose" brigade is being fuelled by.

Contrary to what was stated above, celly will cause sinkage over repairs (if it's not applied by a very skilled painter) as it is thinned by 50% with a very aggressive solvent.

It is certainly a high maintenance finish, but maybe you will delight in that?

Modern 2K paint can be flatted and then polished very successfully, and when that happens it is pretty difficult (on solid colours) to differentiate between 2K and celly. If you are going to paint metallic, then 2K clear-over-base is the only way to go. There are some metallic formulas for celly but it (again) needs a very skilled painter and if it has to be repaired at some point it will very difficult to match.

So 2K all the way really. Ease of application, ease of repair, ease of maintenance and it will look pretty much the same.

[tortop45]

Ah this old chestnut again.its a no brainer 2K all the way. With cellulose apart from having to put on about 3 time as much to get the same effect as 2/3 coats of 2k it never goes hard youve all ways got to polish it to keep it looking good not like 2k which goes of by chiemical action ,and once flat and polished thats it done .And as for putting it on classic cars you will all ways get them old anoracks you no the types who still sware blind by it,yes thats right there blind .........Paint snobbery thats what i call it.

[RichB]

I'm interested in thoughts on this, I don't want an "us vs them" thread, that's not why I started it and it add nothing to the information I'm after.

As I said in my original post it will be a solid colour, not a metallic, and as it happens my preferred body shop uses two pack in preference to cellulose so that was the way I was leaning.

[V8 FOU]

tortop45 said:

Ah this old chestnut again.its a no brainer 2K all the way. With cellulose apart from having to put on about 3 time as much to get the same effect as 2/3 coats of 2k it never goes hard youve all ways got to polish it to keep it looking good not like 2k which goes of by chiemical action ,and once flat and polished thats it done .And as for putting it on classic cars you will all ways get them old anoracks you no the types who still sware blind by it,yes thats right there blind .........Paint snobbery thats what i call it.

What he ^ said. Well put.

Oh, o/p, lighten up a bit,eh? You asked and got plenty of opinions - no need to be touchy if I or others express an opinion regarding this.

[RichB]

V8 FOU said:

Oh, o/p, lighten up a bit,eh?

Sorry. I didn't understand you comment about points and carbs and didn't want the thread to descend into the usual Pistonheads arguing and bhing about snobs, anoraks and rivet counters. If I'd wanted that I'd have posted in the lounge