7 replies to this topic

[PACINO]

I want to paint the roof of the Mini in its original OEW color. Bearing in mind that it's a car from the early 70s, to be as original as possible should I use mono-coat (high-quality acrylic/polyurethane resins which provide strength color pigments, a catalyst or hardener for drying and a solvent) or bi-coat paint (usually diluted base color, without a catalyst) plus gloss 2k ?

Thanks in avance!

Edited by PACINO, 25 April 2026 - 10:46 PM.

[crossthread]

My opinion , OEW is what is called a solid colour , i.e non metallic.  Absolutely no advantage in using a base coat and clear.  Use 2K  top coat only , which is the solid colour, thinners and hardener. Easy to apply , if you get bits of crap in it it's ( relatively) easy to flat back and polish.  Ratio of paint , thinners and hardener as recommended by the paint manufacturer.

[sonikk4]

I used 2k Teal Blue on my clubby roof, three decent coats, then wet sanded before final mopping. No clear coat or anything like that.

 

The remainder of the car had five coats (i had a few issues and i am not a professional) all fully colour sanded then mopped. Came out like glass. And as much as i would like to show pictures, due to the nonsense government my remaining thread build pictures no longer show.

[PACINO]

I used 2k Teal Blue on my clubby roof, three decent coats, then wet sanded before final mopping. No clear coat or anything like that.
 
The remainder of the car had five coats (i had a few issues and i am not a professional) all fully colour sanded then mopped. Came out like glass. And as much as i would like to show pictures, due to the nonsense government my remaining thread build pictures no longer show.

Thanks for your reply, but I don't really understand your story. You say you gave it three coats of teal, that you sanded it before applying the last coat, but that you didn't apply a varnish. So, either the paint you used is a Monocoat paint, which already has a glossy finish, or if it wasn't that type of paint, if you don't apply a varnish, it will have a matte finish.

[sonikk4]

 

I used 2k Teal Blue on my clubby roof, three decent coats, then wet sanded before final mopping. No clear coat or anything like that.
 
The remainder of the car had five coats (i had a few issues and i am not a professional) all fully colour sanded then mopped. Came out like glass. And as much as i would like to show pictures, due to the nonsense government my remaining thread build pictures no longer show.

Thanks for your reply, but I don't really understand your story. You say you gave it three coats of teal, that you sanded it before applying the last coat, but that you didn't apply a varnish. So, either the paint you used is a Monocoat paint, which already has a glossy finish, or if it wasn't that type of paint, if you don't apply a varnish, it will have a matte finish.

 

 

2K paint is a two part paint which when applied correct is very hard wearing whether its primer or top coat. So to clarify i use Teal Blue (the colour of my car) 2K top coat which gives a very high gloss finish. This was then colour sanded to remove any paint imperfections followed by mopping to produce a perfectly mirror finish. You do not need a clear coat although i could have done if i wanted to. 

[PACINO]

My opinion , OEW is what is called a solid colour , i.e non metallic.  Absolutely no advantage in using a base coat and clear.  Use 2K  top coat only , which is the solid colour, thinners and hardener. Easy to apply , if you get bits of crap in it it's ( relatively) easy to flat back and polish.  Ratio of paint , thinners and hardener as recommended by the paint manufacturer.

Thanks for reply. I understand you're advocating for single-coat paint (Monocoat) . I want to rule out one option, but it's important to remember that Bi-coat paint, which is used on almost all cars today, is more resistant to scratches and sunlight. What I don't want is a mirror finish, as that wasn't available back then. So, I think the combination could be: base color plus lacquer or satin varnish. That way, the gloss would be 50%.

[sonikk4]

Modern cars use water based paint now which is another level of expense. My lads car Project Erm had that very process used on the roof which was Rover Metallic paint (very much like gunmetal) that needs a clearcoat to finish.

 

You need a certain different type of drying method with that application.

 

Also i would say this that modern paint is still susceptible to scuffs and scratches like any other paint. Its how you deal with them that can make a big difference. 

 

And also depending on how old your car is the paint on early cars was cellulose. 

[PACINO]

Modern cars use water based paint now which is another level of expense. My lads car Project Erm had that very process used on the roof which was Rover Metallic paint (very much like gunmetal) that needs a clearcoat to finish.
 
You need a certain different type of drying method with that application.
 
Also i would say this that modern paint is still susceptible to scuffs and scratches like any other paint. Its how you deal with them that can make a big difference. 
 
And also depending on how old your car is the paint on early cars was cellulose.

Thanks for your reply, Sonikk4. I don't want the roof to shine like a mirror. At most, a satin sheen. My car has had a vintage look for several years, with its surface rust, and I don't want to lose that patina.