Tony Correia's Speed Shop Custom Paint is ahead of the curve when it comes to expertise in cutting-edge painting technology. With the use of advanced waterborne finishes and sophisticated equipment designed for just this purpose, it's the place to go in SoCal for a great paintjob that will not only put a smile on your face but placate the tree-huggers, as well.
Welcome to the future, the future of enviro-friendly street rod finishing, that is. The new waterborne paint is an advanced technology that all commercial body shops-in California, anyway-will need to convert to by 2009. The switch over to waterborne automotive paints will take a bit of planning and training to ensure that the finish quality we all expect is maintained, and hopefully improved upon. In reality, waterborne automotive finishing is actually not that new; it's been around quite a bit longer than most of us realize. In fact, PPG water-based paint has been used by some OEMs since the early 1990s, and although I can't confirm, I think PPG was the leader in that respect.
Now that waterborne finishes are set to become the norm, even for us hobbyists, PPG has again set the benchmark in refinish and color-matching technology with the new Envirobase HP waterborne paint system for the refinisher, and STREET RODDER wanted to give it a try on our latest project vehicle. So, with that in mind, we dragged our pile of chassis parts to one of our favorite paint shops, Speed Shop Custom Paint over in Corona, California. SSCP owner Tony Correia and painter Jose Pelayo not only graciously welcomed our pile of parts but offered us a bit of an idea as to the waterborne painting process, as well. So, we took 'em up on their offer and looked over their shoulders as they applied a glass-smooth finish on our chassis and components. This intro into waterborne painting will hopefully just be the beginning of our education, and as we become more informed, we'll gladly pass on more in-depth info on this new system. Meanwhile, let's take a look at our first exposure to this technology.
We dropped off a slew of components, in addition to the chassis shown here, for the guys to finish for us, and not only did they take on the job posthaste, they let us hang around to watch. The bare-metal components were first prepped in the normal manner-sanded, de-greased, and treated with a metal-prep solution to ensure good adhesion. | 
As Jose was getting ready to tackle our pile of parts, Tony showed us some of their high-tech equipment designed specifically for this waterborne paint technology. | 
As you might imagine, water-based paint dries slower than its solvent-based counterparts; to counter this difference, Speed Shop Custom Paint has equipped itself with the latest air-drying equipment for guaranteed success every time. The state-of-the-art JETdry air-drying system SSCP uses for water-based finishes looks as though it works like a giant hair dryer, encapsulating freshly painted surfaces with a temperature-controlled flow of air that allows waterborne paint to flash (dry) much like solvent-based finishes do. |
PPG's Envirobase system represents the third generation of advancements in the waterborne technology, which PPG first introduced in 1999. The Envirobase high-performance basecoat offers a premium-quality, easy-to-use system developed to perform seamlessly with PPG's Global Refinish System of undercoats and clearcoats. | 
The first step in the painting process is to get a good prime coat on the prepped bare-metal frame and components. Jose used PPG DPX-171 Non-Chrome Self Etching Primer that's specifically designed to provide excellent adhesion and corrosion resistance to properly prepared steel and aluminum, while offering fast-drying characteristics. | 
Jose Pelayo prepared the DPX-171 by mixing it with DPX-173 primer catalyst, in a 1:1 ratio. DPX-173 is a slower-drying catalyst intended for application on large surfaces or in high-temp/high-humidity conditions. |
The primer coat is applied in the same manner as it would be for a solvent-based finish. It should be applied at 5-10 psi for HVLP equipment or at 40-50 psi for conventional spray guns. | 
After the primer coat has dried, the next step is the mixing and application of DLV-8087, a two-part chromatic primer-sealer suitable for the advanced technology finishes like Envirobase. These fast-dry sealers (the DLV family) can be used over sanded original finishes and/or properly prepared surfaces like our frame. We were informed that additional film build over etch primers is strongly recommended; a minimum of 1.5 mils of the 2K Chromatic Sealer must be applied in two coats. With the higher film build of 2K Chromatic Sealer, additional flash (dry) time for the sealer may be necessary. | 
The primer-sealer is also a catalyzed product, so it must be mixed with DLV8291 in a ratio of three parts sealer to one part catalyst. |
The catalyzed sealer is then thinned with, in this case, D8774, a medium dry compliant thinner, and mixed thoroughly. | 
The prepared sealer is then run through a paint strainer. Once strained to remove any lumps, clumps, or other crud, the mixture is then loaded into the gun and readied to spray. | 
The recommended setup for an HVLP gun would be a 1.4- or 1.6mm needle and tip, and two coats are sprayed at 10 lbs of pressure. |
Speed Shop Custom Paint's state-of-the-art booth-along with Jose, an accomplished painter-provide flawless results. Once the sealer has been applied, the frame and components are ready for a basecoat. | 
Next came the weirdest part, as far as I'm concerned, anyway. The Envirobase is thinned with water, something that, until just recently, I'd have never imagined. However, you can't just crack open a bottle of drinkin' water and dump it in-the T494 thinner is de-ionized water, and although it does contain an amount of solvent (2-butoxy ethanol), it's still much more environmentally friendly than conventional thinners or reducers. T494 thinner is mixed with Envirobase in a ratio of 10 percent for solid colors, 20 percent for metallics, and 30 percent for pearls. | 
Jose readied the clearcoat once the Envirobase color coat was applied and drying (a minimum of 15 minutes of dry time at 68 degrees). He chose to use Deltron DC4010 clearcoat, as it offers outstanding flow and leveling, superior clarity, and a deep, rich gloss. According to Tony and Jose, DC4010 is extremely versatile and can be used for both multi-panel and overall refinishing. |
Envirobase should be sprayed using a 1.2-1.4mm tip at approximately 29 psi for HVLP and/or 40-50 psi with a conventional gun. And, spray two to three coats to cover with 1 to 2 minutes between coats. | 
DC4010 is a catalyzed clearcoat, and Jose used DCH3520 hardener, which is a medium-temp catalyst (75-95 degrees). It's mixed with DC4010 in a 4:1 ratio and has a pot life (the time it takes to turn into a solid mess in your spray gun) of 2 1/2 to 3 hours at 70 degrees. | 
Once mixed, Jose strained the clear and loaded up his gun. |
The final step is the application of the clear over the base color coat. Jose applied two wet coats of DC4010 with his HVLP gun with a 1.5mm tip, set at 10 psi (45-55 psi if it were a conventional gun). He gave it about 5 to 7 minutes between the first and second coat and then let it cure with the help of SSCP's JETdry system. | 
Our frame assembly came out beautifully, thanks to PPG and the guys at Speed Shop Custom Paint, and we got our first look and mini education on waterborne Envirobase all in one afternoon. After this experience, I'm personally much more open to the water-based paint idea, and I'm looking forward to learning more about it and using it in the future. Perhaps when I feel I have a good handle on it, I'll put together a bit more of an in-depth piece on waterborne finish. And, if you can't wait for that, I'm sure the pros at your local PPG jobber will be more than happy, and much more qualified, to give you the scoop. | |