Spotting single stage paint?

C

Cholleman

New member
A relative of mine wants me to detail their car, a 1992 Cadillac Fleetwood. It's been severely neglected (rids, swirls, oxidation, etc, ad nauseum) and i've been dying to try out my hydro tech/105/205 combo. at anyrate, is there generally an accepted time frame with which manufacturer's stopped using SS paint, or is it brand dependent? if so, how does one know if what they're looking at is SS or CC?
 
If i'm not mistaken SIngle stage paint died out in the early 80's and everything after that point in time is a Two Stage Paint (Base & Primar/Clear)



So as far as your concerns go with the 92 Cadillac Fleetwood that is a two stage paint so depending on the condition of the vehicle you will be perfectly fine to use the:



Hydro-Tech/105/205 Combo
 
They still use SS today. But cadillac hasn't used it in many many years. I don't think any GM vehicle has used SS paint since the 80's. If any did it was only a few colors on a few models.
 
i haven't come across any vehicles that were single stage paint. I personally think that it's rare but that cadillac isn't one that has Single Stage.
 
vtec92civic said:
If i'm not mistaken SIngle stage paint died out in the early 80's and everything after that point in time is a Two Stage Paint (Base & Primar/Clear)



So as far as your concerns go with the 92 Cadillac Fleetwood that is a two stage paint so depending on the condition of the vehicle you will be perfectly fine to use the:



Hydro-Tech/105/205 Combo
Click to expand...



Not true; there's a shade of white in the Toyota lineup that's still (atleast 2 or 3yrs ago) SS



Also, 90s Supras were SS.
 
For some reason, a few parts of my 92 caprice are SS. Bumper covers and side mirrors.

I bet your cadi-llac is all cleared or mostly cleared.
 
efnfast said:
Not true; there's a shade of white in the Toyota lineup that's still (atleast 2 or 3yrs ago) SS



Also, 90s Supras were SS.
Click to expand...



It was the Black Supra in the Pro Details section that made me go :think: as I thought most cars within the last two decades were CC.



Thanks for the info guys. I just wanted to be sure. For future reference, is there anyway you can tell a car is SS other than testing a panel?
 
Cholleman said:
... For future reference, is there anyway you can tell a car is SS other than testing a panel?
Click to expand...



With experience you'll usually be able to see the difference, but not with every color, especially when the ss is in nice shapre. But *usually* it just does'nt have the same type of reflective gloss. Look at the imperfections and how they appear, for example, holograms are pretty unusual on ss IMO, at least not as common as with b/c.



Heh heh, single stage metallics can be tricky, both to spot and to work on (says the guy with two cars that have original ss metallic paint).



Dope92CC said:
For some reason, a few parts of my 92 caprice are SS. Bumper covers and side mirrors.
Click to expand...



Huh, that surprises me. Those parts on my 94-96 b-bodies were b/c. I learn something every day...
 
vtec92civic said:
If i'm not mistaken SIngle stage paint died out in the early 80's and everything after that point in time is a Two Stage Paint (Base & Primar/Clear)
Click to expand...



You are mistaken. My solid Red 1999 Toyota Tacoma was most definitely single stage paint. It oxidized so severely that snow would be stained red as I swept it clear following winter storms. (hence my current interest in auto detailing).
 
Pretty easy - find an out-of-the way spot, put a little bit of polish on your finger and rub lightly for a few seconds. If there is color, you've got single stage. I wouldn't do this test unless you're planning to polish the car...
 
Yeh, I think I remember reading on one of the detailing forums I frequent that a newer white Honda Ridgeline had a SS paint.
 
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