Water based Automotive paint suppliers?

[Sliks]

When I last picked up a spray gun 20 years ago, water based paints were thought to be coming in. Looking around in 2025 it seems more dealerships are using them but they are not as widely available to the DIY market.

Is there any suppliers of water based automotive base coat and clears?

 

[norsa]

I would have thought most authorised autopaint suppliers would sell water based paint but it's not really designed for the DIY market.
Nick

 

[ajlelectronics]

Is there any suppliers of water based automotive base coat and clears?

Most paintshop suppliers keep it. However the clear is still a solvent 2K product, it is only the base coat that is waterbased.

 

[steveo3002]

do you really want it ?

it only replaces the base coat which wasnt /isnt isocyanate and you still use the 2k clear regardless which does have the nasty stuff

so just making life hard for yourself for no reason if you ask me

 

[brightspark]

a waste of money and no advantage get it sprayed with epoxy and 2 k a proper job

 

[Sliks]

Most paintshop suppliers keep it. However the clear is still a solvent 2K product, it is only the base coat that is waterbased.

Thanks for this info. Shocking since there is plenty of 1k water based topcoats available some with 12/15 year expected life.

 

[qwakers]

that's because it is illegal now to sell solvent basecoat to spay a car that is newer than i think its about 2007, except for modification. you can sell it however to modify a car of any age, paint a classic car., a motorcycle of any age, a wheel barrow, hgv or pretty much anything you can articulate.

there really are no downsides to water based basecoat except without a oven its harder to cure, and the results of not curing it is 'cracks' and sinking when the lacquer is sprayed.

i however still use solvent based, as its far easier. but yes, the smart repair and bodyshop industry now almost exclusively uses water based basecoat

 

[ajlelectronics]

water based basecoat except without a oven its harder to cure

Water base uses air flow rather than heat.