[s-cars] How common is paint checking or cross hatches in the paint?Also...

[Odyrestorations at aol.com]

Acrylic lacquer may have the high quality look, but it does not have high 
quality durability. Imron is a polyurethane and is completely unworkable in terms 
of getting a world-class, even an acceptable finish on a high quality 
European car.

Acrylic Urethanes are the finish of choice these days. (not water-based, 
obviously)  They are not too difficult to work to a concours finish and they are 
nearly bulletproof. My old 5000S is an outside car - a tough life in Minnesota. 
It has not been garaged since 1990. It's not been waxed since, well, ever. 
It's got rust holes galore, but the paint that's still there shines like the day 
it was applied.  My S6 has the hood side bubbling and lots of adhesion 
problems in the clearcoat. I had never heard that the finish was water-based. This 
explains a few things. 

Tom Rasmussen
Odyssey Restorations, Inc.
Mpls, MN
95 S6 MTM 1+
'85 5000S - still providing trusty transportation to a friend in high-school.


> 
> If one wants high quality paint, he either lays on the requisite n coats
> of succeedingly wetter acrylic lacquer (now banned in some localities),
> or uses Imron or its updated clones, depending on preference for
> repairability vs. hardness.
>