Your car symbolizes your personality. If its exterior contains scratches, it doesn’t match your image. This is how paint becomes a crucial concern, not only for you but also for almost every car owner.
By putting some serious thought into this issue, we’ve checked whether you can put a clear coat over single-stage paint or not. Our exploration indicates that you can do so, but you don’t expect much difference.
The basic reason is that both paints have their own characteristics and chemical structures. Still, you can do so if your vehicle is old and in bad paint condition. So, let’s check the reasons in detail while finding the working processes of both paints.
Difference Between Clear Coat and Single Stage Paint
Check out the table below to find out the differences between clear coat and single stage paints.
| Clear Coat | Single Stage Paint |
| Usually used for paint finishing | Integrate both base and finish paints |
| Comparatively new invention | Has an enriched historical significance |
| Cannot be used directly on top of the car exterior’s metal | Can use on the exterior’s metal |
Check this video to get more info on clear coat vs single stage paint:
Can You Put Clear Coat Over Single Stage Paint
As we already mentioned, it’s upon you. However, it is prudent not to do so. But, if your vehicle is old and has zero-shine single-stage paintwork, you can use a clear coat on top of the existing paint.
Here, we detail all of the possible scenarios:
Basics of Single-Stage Paint
Single-stage paint contains base paint and finishing paint (you can say clear coat paint). This two-in-one chemical composition allows no-use of clear coat paints. Here, the painting process is simple and just requires two to four shots (coating) of painting work.
Though modern car manufacturers are now highly favoring two-stage paintwork (2K), single-stage paint is the oldest method and an evergreen as well.
Advantages
Below are the benefits of single-stage painting.
- A cheaper solution
- Requires less effort and time
- The residing chemical structure enhances durability
- A wax or sealant job provides the same finishing as two-stage paintwork (use the best wax for single-stage paint for this job)
Disadvantages
The following listing mentions the issues with a single stage paint job.
- It becomes dull within a shorter period of time due to having greater exposure to sunlight
- Even just after the paint job, the shine is not as eye-catching as a finish with a clear coat
- Corrosion is a common occurrence.
Basics of Clear Coat Paint
You must understand that, unlike single-stage paint, clear coating is not a full-package solution. The paint works for both base paint and finish paint (for shininess), whereas clear coat paint is only the finish paint.
Modern car manufacturers generally use two to three layers of clear coating on top of two to three layers of base paint. Simply put, a clear coat (mostly catalyst-based lacquer or synthetic-based liquid) adds sleek and shiny context to your car’s exterior.
Advantages
Below are the benefits of clear coat paint.
- Makes cars look shiny, wetter, and deeper; in a word, “stunning.”
- It protects the car’s exterior from sunlight, UV rays, rainwater, toxic substances, road slats, road tar, etc.
- It also protects the base paint, reducing the cost of maintenance
Disadvantages
Below is a list of issues regarding a clear coat.
- Easily gets scratched, degrading the overall look of the car
- Highly resistive to oxidation
Reasons to Put Clear Coat Over Single-Stage Paint
Considering the reasons described below, you can put a clear coat over single-stage paint.
- Your vehicle is quite old, with a faded single-stage paint finish. You also don’t want to take it to an auto body shop for full paintwork.
- Other vehicles or any object hit one side of your car, and there are lots of scratches. However, this action is not capable to veil the scratches, a careful observation (close look) will reveal the actual scenario. Stll the benefit is a moderate look with little expenditure and in a shorter duration.
Please keep in mind that this method is not very effective at concealing paint deterioration. Even though the job is done by a professional, a simple observation will show that there is something wrong with the exterior.
Moreover, if you’re looking for gloss and shine, two stage paint is a more reasonable option. Check out Single Stage Vs Two Stage Paint to know more.
Reasons for Not Putting Clear Coat Over Single Stage Paint
Single-stage paint consists of both the base and finish colors. This characteristic allows it to provide nearly the same result as modern two-stage paints (2K paint).
Single-stage paint is unable to provide the same shininess as two-stage paint. Is it true?
Many supports the statement of “Single-stage paint is unable to provide the same shininess as two-stage paint.” But we oppose it by saying, “This degraded characteristic was true in the 1970s, but no more.”
Reason-1
With the progress in the paint industry, many new paint formulas have been introduced, and such inclusions are still going on. And inventors haven’t forgotten to update the chemical structure and composition of single-stage paint.
Now that single-stage paint is alone enough to bring a “gorgeous” look to your car, there is no need for extra clear coating or any sort of similar alternative. However, you must know how to polish single stage car paint, to maintain the look.
Reason-2
Furthermore, the molecules of single-stage paint are not compatible with the molecular composition of the clear coat. Even if you try hard by spraying the clear coat many times, you won’t get a perfect finish. You will surely miss the glass-like smoothness. No point, right?
Reason-3
In addition, if you count on spending time and effort to put clear coat paint on top of the one-stage paint, it’s not worth it. Also, the associated disappointment after finishing the work is not measurable through money.
How to Fix Single-Stage Paint Work?
We understand that you have Googled this because your car’s one-stage paint job has some issues. To fix those, you do not require any clear coating. Below, we describe some effective approaches to fixing the most common issues with the one-stage paint job.
Runs
There will be runs if you overdid the 1-stage paintwork on any exterior part. To resolve this, you have to use wet sandpaper (1000 and 1500 grit, both). First, use the 1000-grit and rub each run several times. During the rubbing process, make sure to spray water frequently.
Now, use the 1500-grit wet sandpaper, and repeat the process again and again until the runs are gone.
Corrosion
To remove corrosion, follow the below stepwise guidelines.
- Wash the corrosive area
- Cover the surroundings of the infected area by using tape
- Spray rust removal chemicals
- Wash the area
- Take 300-grit sandpaper and start rubbing the rusty area
- Use water frequently within the process
- Now, use degreasing soap (also known as automotive soap)
- Use IPA solution to wipe the area
- Use primer
- You are good to go
Bottom Line
Our examination of whether can you put a clear coat over single paint shows you should not do this. The 1-stage paint already contains characteristics of finish paint (like clear coat) along with base paint properties.
We suggest you go for this only if you are desperate (with less money or time) with the deteriorated condition of existing single-stage paint.
Still, this action is not capable of bringing a fine-finish look to the car’s exterior. Anyone will be able to notice those color patches (if sprayed within a certain area) and the non-smooth look (full body clearcoat over 1-stage paint).