Long-term suitability of enamel paint?

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Woody3

Woody3

Active Member
Posts
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Location
Nottinghamshire
I'm in the process of spraying my Ninety, but I'm a little unsure of which way to go in terms of the painting system.

Originally I was going to use Paintman's enamel paint and roller it. However, I've now decided to spray it instead.

My mate is a sprayer and is a little concerned about using the fast drying enamel paint and would rather use a modern system. He's worried the enamel will be too soft long term, i.e. ease of scratching from hedges etc on country lanes (I don't off road/greenlane that much) and the fact that it will likely dull over time. My Ninety is a keeper btw, so I want it looking good for as long as possibl

I can't seem to find any long term reviews about using enamel paint on Land Rovers and just wondered if anyone has any first hand experience?

Thanks
 
Woody3 said:
I'm in the process of spraying my Ninety, but I'm a little unsure of which way to go in terms of the painting system.

Originally I was going to use Paintman's enamel paint and roller it. However, I've now decided to spray it instead.

My mate is a sprayer and is a little concerned about using the fast drying enamel paint and would rather use a modern system. He's worried the enamel will be too soft long term, i.e. ease of scratching from hedges etc on country lanes (I don't off road/greenlane that much) and the fact that it will likely dull over time. My Ninety is a keeper btw, so I want it looking good for as long as possibl

I can't seem to find any long term reviews about using enamel paint on Land Rovers and just wondered if anyone has any first hand experience?

Thanks
Click to expand...
It does dull over time and it does scrathc and get hedge rash, but modern paint systems also scratch if you rub them through hedges, the difference is you can roller over the damage with enamel no problem, and a quick tcut and polish will restore the shine and remove the dulling. I repainted my sereis this year, i last painted it about 10 years ago, both times it I have done it it has been a roller and enamel. Mine dulls very badly, but that is because i have a masai red truck and reds are notorious for being one of the worst colours to fade.
 
Tractor synthetic enamel is what I use. Tractol, Vapourmatic and Sparex are three makes. They are tough paints resisting damage and remain a bit flexible and do not crack or peel ease if dinged.
Some of the more common Land Rover colours are available.
I find they do dry quickly but do not fully harden for some time, several days or more.[ longer the better ] Remain shiny a long time with little if any help.
You may have guessed I am not much into polishing vehicles and being able as dag019 says to just fetch out the brush/ roller for a quick repair on working vehicles is a bonus. No lacquer required or wanted.
 
Woody3 said:
I'm in the process of spraying my Ninety, but I'm a little unsure of which way to go in terms of the painting system.

Originally I was going to use Paintman's enamel paint and roller it. However, I've now decided to spray it instead.

My mate is a sprayer and is a little concerned about using the fast drying enamel paint and would rather use a modern system. He's worried the enamel will be too soft long term, i.e. ease of scratching from hedges etc on country lanes (I don't off road/greenlane that much) and the fact that it will likely dull over time. My Ninety is a keeper btw, so I want it looking good for as long as possibl

I can't seem to find any long term reviews about using enamel paint on Land Rovers and just wondered if anyone has any first hand experience?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Sprayed my 90 in tractor paint,
SDC13064.JPG
 
And the paint stayed good even on the engine, no fading and it only ever needed a wash.
SDC13314.JPG
 
Woody3 said:
I'm in the process of spraying my Ninety, but I'm a little unsure of which way to go in terms of the painting system.

Originally I was going to use Paintman's enamel paint and roller it. However, I've now decided to spray it instead.

My mate is a sprayer and is a little concerned about using the fast drying enamel paint and would rather use a modern system. He's worried the enamel will be too soft long term, i.e. ease of scratching from hedges etc on country lanes (I don't off road/greenlane that much) and the fact that it will likely dull over time. My Ninety is a keeper btw, so I want it looking good for as long as possibl

I can't seem to find any long term reviews about using enamel paint on Land Rovers and just wondered if anyone has any first hand experience?

Thanks
Click to expand...

@Woody3 , I don't know if synthetic enamels are any less robust than modern 2k paints. It may be worth talking with Paintman and ask about their long term stability. I cannot see why a non lacquered synthetic enamel should not last the same time as another non lacquered paint. The primary reason reason paints fade is UV 'bleaching' soft pigments as often seen with red, some blues, some greens and white paints.

My 90 was resprayed in original NATO gloss green some years ago and still looks good today. It shows no scratches...but also lives a gentle life with little off road work.
 
v8250 said:
No offense @landowner , but remind me to never let you anywhere near my 90 - with or without a spray gun!! :eek:
Click to expand...

Is it a case of the old military saying of " If it moves salute it, if it does not move then paint it ".
A friend served in the RAF in 50/60's and on his base they were expecting a visit from senior VIP's He was sent out to paint the white lines around the gatehouse. As he was just about done disaster, he knocked over the pot with remaining paint in the middle of the entrance road. Thinking on his feet he quickly made the spill into a neat square and nothing was said.
Some twenty years later he went to his son's passing out parade at the same base and there was the square in the road freshly painted.:)
 
tottot said:
Is it a case of the old military saying of " If it moves salute it, if it does not move then paint it ".
A friend served in the RAF in 50/60's and on his base they were expecting a visit from senior VIP's He was sent out to paint the white lines around the gatehouse. As he was just about done disaster, he knocked over the pot with remaining paint in the middle of the entrance road. Thinking on his feet he quickly made the spill into a neat square and nothing was said.
Some twenty years later he went to his son's passing out parade at the same base and there was the square in the road freshly painted.:)
Click to expand...


Brilliant!
 
v8250 said:
Painted by Stevie Wonder with the widest paint nozzle known to man and zero mechanical sympathy o_O
Click to expand...
Yep, and that is exactly how tractors are painted. Couple of pics from google of fordsons (I am nearing the end of rebuilding one hence the choice, rebuild thread here). Although very common on tractors I did not go down this route for mine and removed panels to repaint with a roller for both the land rovers and the tractor. There is a reason that fordsons were described as leaving the factory "bathed in blue", @landowner has just taken the same sprit for his defender.

604648-243999.jpg
painting-001-jpg.44515
 
dag019 said:
Yep, and that is exactly how tractors are painted. Couple of pics from google of fordsons (I am nearing the end of rebuilding one hence the choice, rebuild thread here). Although very common on tractors I did not go down this route for mine and removed panels to repaint with a roller for both the land rovers and the tractor. There is a reason that fordsons were described as leaving the factory "bathed in blue", @landowner has just taken the same sprit for his defender.

604648-243999.jpg
painting-001-jpg.44515
Click to expand...

Much the same really :)

FB_IMG_1509185521625 (1).jpg
 
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