well last week we finially made the switch to waterborne paints. IF your unaware, all shops must be converted from solvent based paint to a waterborne system by jan.18, 2010. after that you will not be able to sell solvent based paints with the exception of primers, sealers and clears (all of which will be better VOC complient in a short time). This conversion also requires alot of other upgrades like biggers fans in the booth for increased airflow and air dryers, new spray guns, gun cleaners, training, etc.... all because waterborne uses air to dry not heat. but if you have a good paint rep, alot of stuff will be given to your for free for sticking with them thrugh the conversion process

Spraying with ths stuff makes my life sooo much easier! tiger striping and blotchy on the heavy flake metallics are a thing of the past, colour matches are much much closer, the colors themselves are more vibrant and the clear coat lays down like glass cause this waterborn base lays down sooo smooth. there's virtually 0 overspray on my tack cloth between base coats. not to mention i can spray a job prolly 30 mins faster

LOVE IT!!

were using ICI autocolor by PPG and highly reccomend it. i've heard the sikkens waterborne is not that user friendly

 

Thats awesome. So are any of them single stages?

 

You are definately the first person I have heard speak highly of waterbourne paints. Ive heard nothing but bad things about them. I havent sprayed them yet so I dont know what they are like myself.

 

We are switching to envirobase from global in about 2 weeks. We demoed it about 2 months ago and decided to make the switch. Seems like it should be alot better color matches than what we are using now. How are your matches with autocolor? Also global just come out with a water based clear as well. Might have to give that a try as well.

 

there is no more single stage :P

the color match is excellent, just remeber to do the control coat on metallics, very important

the new paint chips are done in waterborne aswell and much easier to pick between the varients, just waiting for our sun-gun

 

perhaps it has to do with the manufacturer of the paint system, some are definitly going to be better than others.. i can surely say autocolor is very easy to use.

 

We have had a sun gun for about a year and a half now and it has saved a ton of time tinting. It would have been worth the money even if it was twice as much.