13 replies to this topic

[MiniGrin]

Cellulose vs 2k Which is best?

So my mini is going in for pain some time in the next month or so. Originally I was going to go for a deep metallic colour and so 2k paint. But ive since changed my mind to old English white with a black roof and arches. I changed as I think this will look better on the club man, and in future if say the door rusted up, it could be replace and paint matched easyly. (not at all because it will match my metro :S )

The guy who will be doing the painting (hi Dec if your reading this) recons on cellulose as its easier to get a perfect finish and can be blended easier if future repairs are needed.

So, opinions (at the risk of starting a fight) Celly or 2k, pros and cons of each on a whitish car with a black roof that's going to be a weekend and show car covered during the week and in bad weather with a polish-a-holic owner :)

Edited by MiniGrin, 20 February 2015 - 10:59 PM.

[Sam]

I chose 2k for my car because it covers better and is harder wearing. Cellulose needs a lot more coats and tends to sink over time showing repairs underneath. 2k is easy to work with afterwards too, mine needed flatting and polishing but wasn't a problem.

[Ben_O]

It all depends on if the paintwork is being done in a controlled booth. If so, then 2K all the way.

 

It will last much better than celly

[Daz1968]

2k is harder wearing and much easier to use, but I would go 2k clear over base even on non metallic

[mk3 Cooper S]

Personally in my opinion it depends on the age style of your car.

 

One on my pet hates is mk1's 2's and mk3's in 2K  as is has a sort of shiney wet look which stands out on the early cars. 

 

If your car is the one pictured I would go 2K as stated it is a better and harderer wearing finish.

Edited by mk3 Cooper S, 21 February 2015 - 10:02 AM.

[MiniGrin]

Sadly the one in my picture is no longer with us, sob, this is for my 79' 1275GT which will be old English white with black bits.

It will be sprayed by someone who has done quite a few cars, however it is not a completely sealed booth, just in a corner of the unit they work in surrounded by plastic sheeting.

The car is just going to be for shows and the occasional weekend of b road fun, the rest of the time will be under a car cover on the drive, and it will get a good polish and wax before every/most shows.

The garage seem to favor celly, but say its up to me. Only thing really in my mind is can celly have that glass like finish that i know (from my last mini) is possible from 2k.

Edited by MiniGrin, 21 February 2015 - 01:06 PM.

[Shawbags]

If its not in a correct sealed booth go with celly , if it in a protected sealed booth go with 2 pak , 2 pak will give a better longer harder lasting shine , celly can give the same effect but needs a lot more work to keep its shine , celly paint is normally a lot cheaper than 2 pak .

[Coxie]

I'm with mk3coopers on this.
I think the old colours don't look right in 2k. Bit plasticky.
Can't beat the older colours, oew, almond green, island blue etc in celly.

[Anthony30]

I would get your car painted in water-based paint, if being done by a pro, or celly at home.

[Midas Mk1]

I would get your car painted in water-based paint, if being done by a pro, or celly at home.

+1. 

 

If being done professionally, i.e. not a home job, why scrimp on quality if you can avoid not to :)

[castafiore]

Pretty much everything I have read suggests that 2k is superior to cellulose - more hard wearing, deeper shine etc. The main reason for using celulose would be safety as it doesn't require an air fed mask and originality, ie.to replicate the original look to the paint on older cars.

If you have access to air fed gear and you can afford the price difference, I would go for 2k base and clear coat.

[MiniGrin]

Starting to side with Celly now then, it doesn't have to be hard wearing and will be polished a lot. Its not going to be in a sealed booth, is on an 70s car, and will be OEW.

Thanks for the responses guys, keep em coming. :)

[Cooperman]

The only real problem with modern cellulose its that compared with the old cellulose for cars, the current stuff takes a lot longer to go fully hard. There must have been some sort of hardening accelerator in the old auto-finish cellulose which is no longer added due to changing rules.

 

I'm doing a full MGB-GT restoration at present and will paint the inside, under bonnet & luggage area in cellulose, then take the car to my friend who will do the outside in 2K. Colour is to be Ford Diamond White.

 

The 1964 850 Mini I'm also doing will be almond green/O.E. white cellulose as I can spray the entire car myself in my own workshop.

[Dusky]

None, get 1k base and 1k clear, very good effect and deep shine (I used mipa paint).