Best Type of Paint for Cars and Trucks

Looking for the best type of paint for cars? Among the steps to paint a car, choosing the type or types of automotive paint you want to use is very important.

Here are some factors you’ll want to take into consideration for the best types of paint for cars:

Factors for Automotive Paint Types

• The type of finish you want to achieve,
• The resources you have access to,
• Your budget and the reason behind painting your car in the first place.

These are all factors you might want to weigh in before beginning your automotive painting project.

This article has a list of popular automotive paint types and their characteristics. The objective of the article is to define the different types of paints and does not indicate that one paint type is better than the other. This list simply makes your life easier in helping you choose the type of auto paint based on your requirement and goals for your car paint.

Types of Automotive Paint

1.    Lacquer Paint

Lacquer paint was extremely popular from the 1920s to the 1960s for its hard and shiny finish. It is also considered the easiest paint to apply, even in cold conditions. It can be applied in 65 degrees and is additionally a cheap option.

Although the paint dries faster, it requires up to eight coats which can eventually add up to longer painting hours and waiting for them to dry can be painstaking. Lacquer auto paint also requires a spray gun and can be challenging to paint in your home garage.

2.    Urethane Paint

Urethane auto paint is popularly used as they are long-lasting and are not prone to chipping. Manufacturers and professionals even use it to paint engine parts that may get hot easily. This type of automotive paint dries easily with the help of hardeners and can also be sprayed on other paint types for cover-up jobs. It can give you a hard shiny finish and is also easier to store in a basic garage setup.

As Urethane automotive paint requires hardeners to dry well, you will need personal protection equipment to protect your lungs, skin and eyes from toxic fumes. It is usually advised to take professional help while painting with urethane.

3.    Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paints are water-based and less toxic when compared to urethane but possess similar characteristics to urethane automotive paints. It gives a glossy finish and is long-lasting. It is also an economic option that can give you a great look for your car.

Types of Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint has 3 types:

• Lacquer
• Enamel 
• Urethane

Note: Acrylic lacquer does not last long and fades when exposed to the sun for long. Acrylic paints in general take up to 2 days to dry but do not catch dust or dirt like other paints.

4.    Metallic Paint

Metallic paint gives a glossy look and is mostly used on athletic and sports cars. Metallic paint is extremely shiny and reflective in nature and is best to hide blemishes or minor scratches when on the run.

Metallic paints also gold high resale value and are considered high-end paint in the market and are expensive than other paints. In case of a big dent or dong, metallic paints can be a lot more challenging to patch up as they need to be matched well. They also have limited color options.

5.    Matte Paint

Matte paints are trending especially among luxury cars today. They give a flat look instead of a glossy finish. They have the tendency to make your car look great irrespective of the weather.

Matte paints are a bit on the expensive side and are also high maintenance. They require specific care and products that are easier and non-reactive on the surface. They are also not great at hiding scratches like glossy paints.

6.    Pearlescent Paint

Pearlescent paints are similar to metallic paints. The aluminum powder in metallic paints is replaced with mica or ceramic crystals which not only reflects the light, it also refracts it. This makes the car look colorful at different angles and gives it a dazzling look in the sun.

Pearlescent paints are also hard to repair. They are as expensive as metallic paints and are also difficult to repair.

Types of Automotive Paint: In Summary

With this idea of which car paint does what, you can easily choose which paint type to go with for your car. At the end of the day, the finish and look of your car will mirror your personality and individuality. By weighing your options, your car paint goals can start getting real.

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