Metallic Car Paint - What purpose does the lacquer serve?

Makhaira

Makhaira

Makhaira

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Evening OcUK! Another question from yours truly as I learn about touching up paintwork on cars.

So far I'm pleased with how it's going, the paint (although a terrible match) has finished well, and I've sanded back the excess lacquer on my trial section, polished it up with some T-cut, and then waxed it. The bit I've done looks absolutely spot on, with just a faint outline of the new lacquer area in the right light, which I'm going to try lightly sanding back again, or maybe just T-cut to blend in.

With the scene set, here is my question. Although whilst sanding back the excess lacquer I also (inevitably) removed some of the surrounding lacquer, once it had been T-cut and waxed, it looks absolutely great. Is the lacquer actually important, or is it just serving the same purpose as a permanent coat of wax, as protection for the paint?

I'm learning on my old second hand Mondeo, since it won't really affect what little resale value it has, and I like new challenges and skills!

Thanks for any input.
 
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I believe the laquer is what gives metalic paint the shine.
 
So in short, whilst touching up the lacquer over the new paint as I have done (although in future I'll use spray, not a brush) is the right thing to do, there's no harm done in just letting the wax worry about the little bits and gaps?
 
Makhaira said:
So in short, whilst touching up the lacquer over the new paint as I have done (although in future I'll use spray, not a brush) is the right thing to do, there's no harm done in just letting the wax worry about the little bits and gaps?
Click to expand...

I guess.. although you really shouldn't be using a brush for anything bigger than tiny stone chips, what do you mean by little bits and gaps ?
 
Agreed, this was where I made life harder for myself by listening to the guy's advice at the local garage and going down the brush route. Live and learn though, and this is hardly an impossible situation I'm in! I'll definitely use sprays in the future for anything more than a tiny chip. My main priority is just ensuring that during my learning process I don't actually do anything that may cause a later problem for the paintwork.
 
laquer is the most important bit of the paintwork tbh. the actual colour is only a thin coating. the clear laquer then protects it from air , dirt , light and anything else
 
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