Seeking advice on water based paints

I want to paint some parts and I have very limited experience in that area. Last summer I bought an HVLP sray gun to paint and varnish some furniture. I used water based varnishes and paints just because they are easier to clean without any mention of them being less toxic. I know water based paints are used for new cars and I saw one American Chopper and one other car show where water based paints were used. I am wondering if anyone has used such paints to do his bike, complete with the clearcoat and what were the paints used, what is better, thick or thin, drying times and most important how did it turn out?

Jean

The following picture is NOT motorcycle related, so please close your eyes if in anyway it can permanently damage them :mrgreen:

Jean,
The automotive refinsh business has been somewhat slower to embrace waterborne technologh than the OEM side. It is quite a different animal than solvent base. In order to cure any paint film you must first evaporate the solvent. When that solvent is water, this can take some time without heat and airflow. The longer a film is "open" the greater the chances for surface contamination.

Here is a link to our company website on waterborne automotive refinish. I suggest you read it closely.

https://corporateportal.ppg.com/NA/Refinish/PPGRefinish/2-0-Products/060_Waterborne/EN

Unless you have the proper equipment, I'm not sure this is a technology you want to learn to use in your home shop.

From what I could understand, apart from the drying process, there is not much difference between solvent and water based paints except the (obviously biased) testimonials were very positive about it. All in all, not being familiar with either solvent or water based painting, I would rather only learn to paint with water based paints. I am not going to paint a car which is a lot different than painting small parts where a few blemishes most likely won't be visible.

My answer may sound like I'm hardheaded and ignore advice when it is given, but that's just the way I am, after all who else would spend hours milling on a lathe when a milling machine can do a btter job? I am looking more at advice from someone who has gone and done it, that is switched or used water based paints to repaint a motorcycle.

Jean

I'm in the process of switching over as well, and while I haven't yet sprayed with waterbornes I have done some research. It seems that the major difference compared to solvent paints is that humidity is more important than temperature. You NEED forced air for drying waterbornes, which kinda scares me. I don't look forward to blowing dust and pollen across a fresh paint job. The painting environment needs to be cleaner than with solvent paints.

Other than drying equipment, everything else stays the same. Most painters report that "compliant" guns work better than HVLP but I think my Sata MiniJet will be fine.

Ron's link to PPG info is interesting. I was never a big fan of PPG, I much prefer BASF products. BASF's American brand is R-M and they have a waterborne line called Onyx HD, and the Carizzma HD line of candies, pearls and special effects paints. http://www.rmpaint.com/ DuPont is also doing waterbornes.

My local jobber says that about 20% of the body shops in my state have converted and by 2012 the law says all basecoats will be waterborne. Note that primers and clears will remain solvent based until the technology is perfected.

There are also waterborne paints by Auto Air that the airbrush art community has dailed in on. Very low VOCs. Available mail order from TCPGlobal and others.

Also be aware that "waterborne" and "water colors" are not the same thing. Waterborne paints have low VOCs and are compliant with the new laws, but they still contain some solvents. I'm very much looking forward to trying these new technologies out soon.

Guys, keep us updated with your experiences with the water technology. I admire your perseverance and willingness to be pioneers.

It's obvious that eventually all paints will go this way, it just will take time, technology, and training. Architectural coatings are nearly completely converted now. Our business unit, packaging coatings, is nearly 50% waterbased. However, it is a struggle to get coater operators to accept that waterborne coatings need a little closer attention and are less "forgiving" than their solvent based cousins.

Dave, the R-M brand is a very good one. We were part of the same company (Inmont) for many years when Inmont was purchased by BASF and later sold the packaging coatings to PPG. BASF has another very good brand called Glasurit.