We are starting a new project or should I say we are restarting an old project this winter. A 1949 F3 my son started a long time ago. It had a box on it that is in pretty bad shape, so we are going to make it a flatbed.We picked up a parts truck with a 7.5 foot Ford script bed from a gentleman up north.[Nice road trip] We have to replace the rear axle. So I hope to paint the axle before it get's to cold up here. I will use some PPG omni MTK I have left over for the axle and a few misc. parts. I'm just wondering what every one is using to paint there trucks? I don't want to use poor paint for the cab. I'd be interested in any advice I can get. It will be painted Vermilion Red. We will painting the body in the spring. We don't have a paint booth , but we are setup pretty good. Thank's Dale

 

I have used single stage acrylic enamel for a couple of projects with very satisfactory results. For the underside of the fenders, I chose a black John Deere implement enamel. All sprayed without a booth. These are driver quality jobs with the truck finish holding up well under use. Most recently, I've used Sherwin Williams products.

 

I have been using Hot Rod Flatz paint from TCP Global. It is a 2 part urethane that covers well using modern HVLP guns. They have most any color you want. Suggest that you order the kit which comes with the right amount of reducer and hardener. The results, even for non-professional painters, are great. Very durable and easy to clean.

TCP Global Hot Rod Flatz

 

Flat paint is quite a bit more forgiving than a gloss finish so if the flat look appeals to you it's definitely a good option . I'm not sure you can still get acrylic enamel most single stage paints are urethane .

 

Yes, it is more forgiving. It also doesn't show the dirt like high gloss. Good if you are building a driver. Hot Rod Flatz is really more of a satin finish. It cleans up easily with soap and water. There are also lots of products out ther like Rat Wax specifically for these low gloss finishes.

 

I used urethane single stage. It goes on great and you can clear over top of it should you want more of a show gloss but it looks good dry right after painting even before buffing.



The day after lots of shine.

 

thanks for the input everyone. I will have to mill over the options over the winter. It might boil down to what I can get locally,with a paint supplier that knows what he's doing.