Is there a difference b/t car and aircraft paint?

[rbridges]

Probably a stupid question. and I'm assuming there is, but I thought I'd ask.  I'm having my annual done as we speak, and I was looking at the cowl pieces.  The paint on my plane is pretty decent.   Just a few rock chips on the front cowl.  The previous owner also used some touch up paint in a few spots.  The wings and fuselage look pretty good.  Could I have the top and bottom cowl pieces painted at a local body shop (assuming a color match could be done)?  It would just be so much simpler to do this than fly my plane somewhere and leave it.  Also, the current pain just isn't bad enough where I'd want to invest in a complete repaint.

[DaV8or]

In your state of Georgia, probably no difference at all. Just try to use the same brand, it'll make it a bit easier to match. In the state of California, auto paint shops are required to use the water based paints (for environmental reasons of course ) that require a clear top coat. I have heard that they make an exception for aircraft paint and so airplanes can be painted with the older systems that don't require the clear coat. I could be wrong as it is just what I have heard. Maybe the guys from Artcraft could come on here and set the story straight.

In any case, I'm in the same boat as you. My paint isn't bad enough, or offensive enough to warrant a total repaint. It does need a lot of touching up though. As this is my first airplane, I'm sort of glad that it doesn't have a pristine new paint job. I can learn to live with the plane without the added stress of worrying about every little scratch. So far, the avionics upgrade and annual have resulted in minor damage to the paint and if it were a new paint job, I would be freaking out, but as it's an old job I can let it slide.

[aviatoreb]

Quote: DaV8or

In your state of Georgia, probably no difference at all. Just try to use the same brand, it'll make it a bit easier to match. In the state of California, auto paint shops are required to use the water based paints (for environmental reasons of course ) that require a clear top coat. I have heard that they make an exception for aircraft paint and so airplanes can be painted with the older systems that don't require the clear coat. I could be wrong as it is just what I have heard. Maybe the guys from Artcraft could come on here and set the story straight.

In any case, I'm in the same boat as you. My paint isn't bad enough, or offensive enough to warrant a total repaint. It does need a lot of touching up though. As this is my first airplane, I'm sort of glad that it doesn't have a pristine new paint job. I can learn to live with the plane without the added stress of worrying about every little scratch. So far, the avionics upgrade and annual have resulted in minor damage to the paint and if it were a new paint job, I would be freaking out, but as it's an old job I can let it slide.

[Jeff_S]

I'm actually having this done as we speak. I had to replace the right inner-gear door due to some extensive front edge cracking, so I got the replacement from LASAR (all primed and ready to go) and took it to a local body shop. They'll match the original paint and give me back some extra so I can use that for touch-up on different spots as well. Cost is $100, of which $50 is for the matching and paint.  Could probably "rattle can" it for 1/8th that price, but I couldn't find any spray paint at the auto stores that really looked right.

[moodychief]

Call your local Sherwin Williams store.  Some of them have the ability to match colors and put in a spray can for you.  I have two cans made for touch up.  However, it is automotive paint but I apply it over a self etching primer and can't tell the difference.

[jelswick]

My understanding is that there is a definite difference in automotive vs aircraft paint and it is based on the need for the paint to be able to flex without cracking, hence the aviation specific paints.  I'm not an authority on it and that's not my line of work, so could be incorrect, but I've been told that by at least a few aviation paint shops.

[jelswick]

And I don't think that would/should preclude you from using it in touch-up, but definitely think it wouldn't be a good idea to use for painting an aircraft more than that.  Auto painters also don't have to worry about the weight distribution of the paint, so that would be something to be watchful about if they were to paint any sizeable surface areas for you. 

[jetdriven]

Aircraft paint by and large is either Polyester Linear Polyurethane (Awlgeip or Alumigrip) or an Acrylic Linear Polyurethane (Imron).

Yep the same thing they put on boats. key is they are single stage and provice a hard wet look without a topcoat.

http://www.diy-boat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1013&Itemid=125

 

 

[rbridges]

Thanks for the info.  I was worried that I'd be laughed off the forum for asking.