mrsullivan

Thought from previous research/readings/discussion that the solid color paint jobs on the 993 used single stage paint. But recently have read something different. How can I figure out whether or not my Turquoise Blue paint is single stage or has a clear coat?

This has implications for detailing...

thanks!

chris walrod

Take some rubbing compound and wth a soft cloth rub the paint somewhere on the car. Single stage paint will often times leave car color on the cloth.

Texas993

Start by showing your new car to the local 993 nuts....

mrsullivan

haha... thanks Patrick. Hey are you going to the Porsche Palooza in Arkansas? I am thinking of coming.

re: rubbing compound and looking whether any blue comes off on the pad... I wasnt sure that was a full proof way to know, because doenst a bit of that discoloring on the pad happen any way? I seem to remember even getting a bit of that with my porter cable/white pad when I had my Arctic Silver 993, and I know that it wasnt single stage... (?)

911PERVY

Are they not all laquered since 1996? But I think the rubbing compound/cloth test should tell

TheOtherEric

Instead of rubbing compound, you can also use any type of abrasive wax like an all-in-one type cleaner wax. You'd be surprised how many waxes nowadays have abrasives in them. Just normal off-the-shelf stuff is often pretty abrasive. If your pad gets discolored at all, then you don't have clearcoat.

mrsullivan

thanks guys... guess I was hoping for some source of record...

absent that, the pad test it is!

Texas993

Yes on Palooza. You should come!

jaa1

your car definitely has a clear coat.. but does not have a "mid coat" (used in tri stage colors, like pearl white)

syzygy

Are you certain about the clear? Arena993's '95 riv blue cab wasn't cleared from the factory. The rubbing method is likely the best and most definite way to determine if it's cleared.

vincer77

Streather's book has a chart of paint codes and lists two paint codes for each color. One represents "unipaint", and the other "water-based."

Does Unipaint refer to a single stage paint?

For Turquoise Blue, the codes are 25C - unipaint, and 25D - water-based.

Makmov

As far as I know the only ones not clear coated or 2 stage was Guards Red.

mrsullivan

I knew for sure that Guards Red was single stage, that is what made me think that perhaps the solids - whites, yellows, blues fell into that same category. After compounding, my Guards Red C2S literally glowed. It almost looked orange. My detailer has talked about how much he prefers working with single stage paint, and how show car quality it can look vs. clear.

1pcarnut

I much prefer a single stage paint. You'e got more layers of paint to deal with before you get into trouble. A cleaner or polish type wax is not that abrasive, something from Meguires should do the trick. A light rub should tell you immediately.

Makmov

Yes in some light Guards Red looks orange, really orange. I prefer single stage, too. You do have some more flexability with it; however, it takes more effort to upkeep it.

I am pretty sure it was just Guards Red that was single stage.