In these articles I mostly have talked about two stage paint. But what if you have a car, like a '98 Escort or a '99 F150 that still runs well but looks lousy? The car still has value to you because it is dependable, but has a very low market value. Doubly annoying is that while the car runs well you are afraid to drive it because you think you will get in an accident. Why? Because the car looks so bad you need to wear a bag over your head so no one will notice you are driving it.

I have the solution for you: single stage paint.

Single stage paint is our 'value' offering. Unlike two stage paint where there is a color coat and a separate clear over the top, single stage paint is all mixed together. The paint is significantly less expensive than the paint we use to spot (paint part of) cars. It can be applied to the car more quickly than two stage because generally two coats of the thicker single stage paint gets the job done. With 2 stage paint you need at least 4 coats. Because single stage paint is thicker, it will fill scratches more than two stage paint, so the preparation can be a bit rougher.

So, with all that said is single stage paint look as good as two stage paint. No. Does single stage paint last as long as two stage paint? No. Well, why do we use it? Because it solves the following problems:

1. You no longer need to wear a bag over your head
2. The cost is modest compared to a two stage paint job
3. You are not trying to go to Autorama with this car anyway.

Finally just because a single stage job does not look as good as a two stage does not mean it looks bad. Quite the contrary. We get smiles all the time from people who had a car that did not look good that look pretty good. They drive away happy, for not a ton of money.

So, what's the difference between a single stage job and two stage job? Figure everything being equal but the paint, about $1,000. That is significant.

So if your car needs a freshening or has a lower market value but you want it look good but don't want to spend a ton of bucks, single stage is for you.
The last word: Color makes a difference in single stage: Solid colors like white and black come out best in single stage. Metallics, particularly like silver or gold, do not come out quite as good.

A couple of articles ago, I told you we were testing some new single stage paint form PPG. Well, the tests are over and the paint is being put into general distribution. It is a huge step forward in appearance. Silver and gold cars are now, in our opinion, good enough that we will recommend them. Solid color cars come out better too. We now believe we have a competitive edge over other shops that spray other manufacturer's single stage paint.

Today's final comment: Winter is the time to work on your classic. If you are thinking about it, shops are generally more 'flexible' at this time of year in their pricing. Why? Holiday season is for family and traveling to grandmaÕs, not working on your car. So, until all the collision jobs come in when it starts to rain, there is excess capacity. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

As always, send any comments or suggestions or possible topics to me.

Article by guest columnist, Sam Hedgpeth, owner
North Highlands Maaco • www.SacAutoBodyShop.com
smhedgpeth@sbcglobal.net or (916) 334-5556

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