Porsche paint contains lead?

[Porkster]

Went into Halfords to order some touch up paint for the Cayman (guards red)
They were missing a colour to mix the correct formula, they ordered it and said I should return in a few days to collect the mixed paint.
Returned today to be told they couldn't supply me the required colour as the orange which makes up the correct formula contains lead and they are not allowed to order it!!!!

I guess this must be just Halfords as I am pretty sure Porsche uses water based paint on all their cars now-a-days?

[Magic919]

I'd try somewhere better.

[Pete RS]

Think they are right. The light weight cars such as GT3RS or GT3 (Clubsport) have water based as its lighter. Lead on the cooking based version

[A9XXC]

Porsche paints havent had lead in them for 30 years or more.

[c4srmsims]

The water based nature of the paint is more to do with the drying/curing process - ie water vs solvent and associated environmental issues.

The lead content is also linked with pigments (ie colour) as well as drying/durability/moisture resistance.

So it's probably just a case of halfords having a rubbish paint supplier who can't create your colour without using lead.

I imagine they may be from China.

Is it that much more expensive from Porsche that you want the hassle and risk of mismatch?

Edited by c4srmsims on Wednesday 9th May 20:49

[fioran0]

Pete RS said:

Think they are right. The light weight cars such as GT3RS or GT3 (Clubsport) have water based as its lighter. Lead on the cooking based version

please tell me this was the funniest joke ive read on the forum for an age, inserted in there dry as you like.
i truly hope so as its brilliantly played if it was.

[GC8]

Droll, but disappointed if serious.

[Manks]

Pete RS said:

Think they are right. The light weight cars such as GT3RS or GT3 (Clubsport) have water based as its lighter. Lead on the cooking based version

This is true actually, except in the case of the 4wd variants which have water based from the A pillar forwards to counteract the weight of the front drive.

[BubblesNW]

Porkster said:

Went into Halfords to order some touch up paint for the Cayman (guards red) They were missing a colour to mix the correct formula, they ordered it and said I should return in a few days to collect the mixed paint. Returned today to be told they couldn't supply me the required colour as the orange which makes up the correct formula contains lead and they are not allowed to order it!!!! I guess this must be just Halfords as I am pretty sure Porsche uses water based paint on all their cars now-a-days?

Utter tripe. Water based vs solvent based systems - neither use lead or ever have done. Lead was only ever used in the solid component - filler, anti corrosion or pigment. The old reds and orange pigments used to use cadmium based salts. These were banned in Europe for automotive applications on the eighties. Japan didn't sign up to this so Toyotas of the same vintage remained red or orange, all other red or orange cars went powdery after a few years of exposure to sunlight. In the early nineties Akzo Nobel accidentally discovered DPP which is a more permanent organic pigment than the existing fugitive azo organic pigments. These have been used in most automotive red pigments since then. Lead was only ever used in primer, filler or white pigments. The whites were replced by titanium dioxide or zinc oxide decades ago. Hope this helps.

[Porkster]

c4srmsims said:

Is it that much more expensive from Porsche that you want the hassle and risk of mismatch?

Edited by c4srmsims on Wednesday 9th May 20:49

It was because I can get to halfords easier than either of the two Porsche centres nearest me. 30 miles to either Vs 5, I was there getting other bits too, never had a problem with their paint before.

[RSGulp]

My 964RS was factory painted with air-based paint - as were all Porsches before the 996 came along.

[Jim1556]

Porkster said:

30 miles to OPC

Sounds like a great excuse to go for a drive!

[Porkster]

Jim1556 said:

Porkster said:

30 miles to OPC

Sounds like a great excuse to go for a drive!

Yes very true! Just never get enough time.

[phatgixer]

RSGulp said:

My 964RS was factory painted with air-based paint - as were all Porsches before the 996 came along.

Mixed with pigment based paints the air based emulsion is effective.

[Pete RS]

RSGulp said:

My 964RS was factory painted with air-based paint - as were all Porsches before the 996 came along.

True to its core values, this and the last of the air cooled, the stunning 993RS are an epitome of light weight focus, both wearing air based paint, the ultimate treatment, before moving onto the some might say compromised but still true to its heritage, water based paints.

[JW911]

If you don't lick your car on a regular basis, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

[khushy]

B&Q?

Heard they colour-match

[Chipchap]

RSGulp said:

My 964RS was factory painted with air-based paint - as were all Porsches before the 996 came along.

The only issue with the air based paints was the propensity for it to attract beard hairs.

[Pete RS]

Chipchap said:

The only issue with the air based paints was the propensity for it to attract beard hairs.

Very true - the problem was the application process. They were charging the panels with negative electrodes and the paint with positive, thus attracting beards and in some extreme case nasal flotsam. If the charging process had been the other way round, all would have been well.

[Nords]

Use the closest match Halfords can find but then draw a thin line or dot (depending on what the issue with the car is) on some sunglasses. Wear them whenever close to the car and you'll never see the paint problem! The beauty is that as the Halfords stuff isn't lead based you won't get any eye irritation. Better still the car will be lighter without the coverup spots!