Hello all,
I am real rookie when it comes to paint and bodywork but I am trying to learn. Does it matter if you shoot a single stage versus dual stage for ultimate shine or can both achieve the same results? What are the advantages/disadvantages to each method?

Thanks

haha...I'ma rookie 2... bout 3 months into prep on my second paint job (last was 20 years ago.)

As I understand it... with todays paints, which I've learned a lot about lately but am by no means an expert at...

You get the "wet look" from shooting a clear coat on top of the color, then "making it smoooooth" by wetsanding and polishing.

You "can" do this with any type of paint.

Back in the old days, we shot laquer, and some clear, and color sanded and polished til it looked like a sheet of glass.

The "modern" enamel I'm using underhood came with a "wet look" hardener, and there is even an optional clear, which can be sanded and polished.

What is refered to as "BC/CC" is a "new" (at least to me) type of paint. It's a urethane which is activated with a catalyst. The big advantage to this stuff is that it's HARD and TOUGH. Laquer thinner won't hurt it. Sticks and stones barely hurt it. This type of paint has no gloss in the color, and must be cleared to shine.

So I guess the answer to your question is that all paints can be made to shine pretty good, but that BC/CC system will still have that shine in 20 years, and the laquer will be gone by then.

Base coat/clear coat will be the way to go. You should know that there are different clears and hardeners for paint repair and complete refinish. Talk to your paint supplier and tell what you want to do. If they aren't willing to help, get a different paint supplier, fast.

bc/cc is it .
my car was painted five years ago with the cheapest bc/cc you can buy and has been washed a thousand time's and drove in rain (to car show's) and still look's great as far as the paint , I have a few minor spot's that have come up so I just this week started to take my car apart for a quick spring fresh paint job and you can bet bc/cc is what will be going on it ,
I use the omni brand it is made by ppg but is for cheapscate's like me :D

Thanks guys!