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Hi all, I was wondering if there is any advantage from a corrosion/protection point of view (especially regarding steel) to using oil based paint as against water based paint? Cheers!

Hi Simon,

I don't think so. Please remember that most modern car manufacturers are using water based paint.

Hi Gerhard,

Thanks for the reply. I agree ref most modern car manufacturers and water based paints. But most modern cars are now aluminium and plastic, and any steel used probably has some sort of corrosion resistance in the alloy. If nothing else, I wonder if enamel paint ‘sticks’ to steel better than acrylic?

Best regards,

Simon

The issue is that modern paints have to conform to modern standards for the types of volatile, environmentally damaging materials they might emit during any dry or curing process. It does not mean that in actual fact, that a modern acrylic paint is actually better in terms of its adhesion, durability in terms of its abrasion or impact resistance, nor its resistance to any ageing processes it may be susceptible. Cynically, with my involvement in the cycle trade, old fashioned stove enamelling seems to be a hell of a lot more robust than modern finishes, which seem to be far more fragile.
We have to make do with what is available, water based paints, in someways may well be more simple to manage with out organic solvents. I don't necessarily think they are better, just easier. I prefer to keep with enamels for the moment as I think that they may be more robust.
Something that is also important is that you may have a greater affinity for one type of material than another, and so for you that medium works best, so that at the end of the day may be the best reason to choose one over the other .
Steve