| Graphics Products Used |
| U00-P02 | Pin Stripe Reducer | ½ pint | $19.97 | pint |
| U03-B06 | Red Striping Enamel | 1 bottle | $15.61 | pint |
| PBC-44 | Snowwhite Pearl | 1 quart | $90.55 | quart |
| BC-26 | White Basecoat | ½ gallon | $181.01 | gallon |
| KS-10 | White Ko-Seal II Primer | 1 pint | $108.24 | pint |
| | | | $415.38 | |
| Total Cost |
| Blocking labor prior to paint (50 hours at $70 per/hr) | $3,500.00 |
| Materials (paint, etc.) | $2,598.32 |
| Paint labor (15 hours at $70 per/hr) | $1,050.00 |
| Wet sand, buff, and polish (40 hours at $70 per/hr) | $2,800.00 |
| $9,948.32 |
| Mixing Components |
| Item | Mixed With | And |
| KP21-A Kwikure Epoxy Primer, 1-part | KP21-B Kwikure Epoxy Primer, 1-part | RU311 Reducer, 1-part |
| KS-12 KoSeal II, 4-parts | KU150 Exempt Catalyst, 1-part | RU311 Reduce up to 10% |
| BC12 Zenith Gold, 2-parts | RU311 Reducer, 1-part | --- |
| BC01 Pale Gold Shimrin" Metajuls, 2-parts | RU311 Reducer, 1-part | --- |
| UK-08 Tangerine Kandy, 2-parts | RU311 Reducer, 1-part | KU150 Exempt Catalyst, 1-part |
| SG-100 Intercoat Clear, 2-parts | RU311 Reducer, 1-part | --- |
| UFC-35 Kosmic Urethane Flo-Klear, 2-parts | RU311 Reducer, 1-part | KU150 Exempt Catalyst, 1-part |
7 Ways To Save On Paint And Body
1. Turn a three-stage paint job into a two-stage paint job. Your painter can use a Prophet (a special camera) to read the color you desire and have the formula converted to two-stage. Not all three-stage paint systems can be converted, but a few examples of ones that can are Cadillac Diamond White and GMC Envoy Platinum Ice.
2. Don't "paint it black" like the Rolling Stones. Black reflects everything, so bodywork, sanding, and polishing require more time, effort, and cost.
3. If it's cool graphics you're after, you like the color of your Pontiac already, and the paint is in good condition, just paint the graphics onto the existing paint job. Want to see how good it can look? Check out this '97 T/A.
4. If you are repainting your Pontiac the same color, don't paint the jambs unless you really need to. They take a long time to prep and tape. Use 3M aperture tape, a rolled foam tape, on the jamb edge. It fills in the area so there is no overspray or paint line.
5. Non-metallic may look better without clear, especially on black and white cars. You can mix a bit of clear in the final coat to add a bit of translucence.
6. Don't use lacquer primer, as it's not compatible with urethane or enamel paint.
7. Don't use no-name products or the savings will be short lived. Don't mix paint systems- ever. You have no recourse with the manufacturer if a defect arises.
Conclusion
As you can see, this is not a paint system for the faint of heart or light of wallet, but the results are very impressive. Total labor exceeded 55 hours in painting, graphics, wet sanding, and polishing. This is not counting the block-sanding prep prior to the first primer sealer coat. At $70 per hour for labor, this is a substantial investment. The material amounts and costs are listed in the sidebar.
This paint system will get your show Pontiac noticed from five blocks away, and everyone will ask about it. Keep in mind, however, that your ride must be meticulously cared for once this paint is applied. Yes, it's very durable, but given the amount of steps required to do it, repairs will certainly be more time consuming than paint systems with less stages.
Zenith Gold Shimrin' metallic...
Zenith Gold Shimrin' metallic base (BC12) was applied in "three to five medium coats with flash time in between until fully covered," according to Patrick. Dry time was one hour after the final coat. With the metallic, the technique should be a consistent side-to-side motion to avoid tiger striping and ensure complete coverage.
Pale Gold Shimrin' Metajuls...
Pale Gold Shimrin' Metajuls metallic basecoat (MBC01) came next. The advantages of this product are "it's easier to spray than metal flake and lays flatter, yet it exceeds its sparkle and brilliance," according to HOK.
The Pale Gold Shimrin' was...
The Pale Gold Shimrin' was sprayed in two medium coats with flash time in between. The dry time after final coat was 15 to 60 minutes. HOK recommends holding the gun 4-6 inches from the surfaces and providing 75 percent overlap of materials with each pass.
Next came the Tangerine Kandy...
Next came the Tangerine Kandy (UK08). "I had to be careful with the Kandy," Patrick says. "I wanted to do four wet coats to get the coverage, but at the same time I had to avoid runs. Also, I had to be quick with the Kandy so it didn't begin to dry before I was finished. (See sidebar for specific Kandy application instructions.)Drying time after the final coat is 24 hours. Two medium wet coats of Intercoat Clear (SG100) followed and were allowed to dry for one hour before taping for the graphics. This product protects the Shimrin' base, preventing the tape from pulling it up.
Following the graphics application...
Following the graphics application were three wet coats of (UFC35) Polyurethane Flow Klear. HOK bills it as having a durable finish that is resistant to weathering and UV rays, yet has a high-gloss. Here you can see the Bird is back on four wheels and has the graphics, but it has yet to be wet sanded, buffed, and polished. We will cover the application of the graphics and more in Part II in the next issue.
Shown here under a 3M Sun...
Shown here under a 3M Sun Light lamp, you can see the brilliance of the pearls and metallics. The photo doesn't really do them justice, as the paint really pops when viewed in person.