[Vwdiesel] Cheap paint for an old car?

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

Anyone ever painted a car with something OTHER than "actual" car paint?
Looking at prices for gallon cans of primer, reducer, then paint, it's gotta
be well over $200 after tax.


  I paid about $500 several years ago for a gallon for the Rabbit.  I have 
nearly 2 quarts left!  Thing is 4 quarts are only about $20 more than 3 
and you still have to buy the same amount of hardner and reducer.  
That was for Ditzler DBU system product.  The clear is the KILLER.
It's over $250 now for a gallon of clear, hardner and reducer!
  Don't do anything other than automotive paint.  A cheap paint is 
going to get chalky fast enough without going to a paint that's not 
designed for continous outdoor use.  Not to mention that it's not likely 
to be much less money.  The prep, so that the paint won't peel is 
enough work that you really don't want to go TOO cheap after all 
that work!
  Check Omni paint or Norstar (Northstart?) or Western even.  Just use a
urethane if it's not much more.  It'll last longer and not oxidize as badly 
as an acrylic enamel.  Enamel will be cheapest most likely but since 
the no lead implementation it fades out pretty quickly but that may not 
be an issue for you.  Just compare the prices though, it may not be all 
that much more.  You're probably not looking at basecoat, clear coat 
either, in which case a full gallon of color will leave you with just enough 
for jambs, touch-up, etc.  :-)
     Loren