Paint Job... Suggestionss please

[Powerefx]

I have a 93 escort wagon and want to repaint it, how many gallons do you guys think i should buy for the repaint. Also has anyonever heard or had experience with Ultra Paint? They sell them at Sherman WIlliams and i was wondering if their good to get. Also is it ok to clear coat over a 1 stage acrylic urethane, or is that too much? SHould i just get the base coat, and then clear coat that?

[94 Jimmy]

I believe I used about a half gallon of color and the same amount of clear on my Dodge Omni. The job was original color so color hiding wasn't a problem. I used Dupont Chroma Base/Clear, and as has been said, stick to a single product. If it's Dupont Chroma use only Chroma products. Single stage is just that it's not ment to have a clear over it. The clear is very active and might lift the base if its not compatable.
Talk to your automotive paint dealer and check out your community college. Ours has an evening course in auto body restoration.
see ya
94

[kenseth17]

You don't need much for a small car like an escort. Basecoat is usually reduced 1-1 or more so 2 quarts would probably give you a gallon or more sprayable which should easily give you 4 coats on the outside of an escort. Most better basecoats like ppg dbc and dupont chromabase should cover with 2-3 coats as long as whatever your painting over is somewhat close in shade/color. Some of the cheaper basecoats like ppg omni or Limco seem to be more transparent so may take more coats to cover. You will have to check what the mixing ratio is on the base. Clear is usually not reduced or is reduced much, maybe like 4 parts clear and 1 part activator, so you may need to get a gallon of clear, again you'll have to check reduction and mixing ratio on that. Sure you can clear over a single stage urethane Check the tech sheet for the urethane for compatable clears, but don't know if you would save money using it, and basecoat drys fast and easier to work with, or repair if you get a little mistake or something, so If you are going to clear, I would just use basecoat.