Water base vs solvent base enamel paints

[Fyrme]

Who's used water based enamel for outdoor, heavy use purposes? I went it to Sherwin Williams the other day to have them color match some paint. I CLEARLY explained to the guy that I want a oil base paint "Like Rustoleum" to do a down and dirty paint job on a 4x4 truck. In confidence, he said "Sure thing", and walked over and grabbed a quart of water base enamel paint. At first I didn't notice it, but while he was checking the back for more, I was reading the side label of the can, and saw it said- soap and water cleanup.
When he returned, I inquired about it, and in confidence, began to explain all the benefits of it. Concluding that it was better than oil-base, and it's the future.

Did he drink the S.W. Cool-Aid, and blowing steam up my ****, or is he legit, that this paint will hold up on a vehicle as good, or better than oil base? Personally, I can't wrap my head around painting this truck with what I would paint my front door with.

 

[BADSIX]

Water based paint IS the thing of the future. its being used in most body shops now and just as good as or better than solvent types. have you ever tried to get latex house paint off anything after its cured.
Jay D.

 

[Shiftless]

I have experience with Benjamin Moore DTM (Direct to Metal). Water base.
Several years ago I used it on bare steel posts fresh our of the fab shop. All I did was some light sanding, a thorough wipe down with acetone, and then 3 brushed on coats of DTM. Black, in full sun and out in the rain. It self levels pretty well. Except for a little fading it is in perfect shape.
The stuff self primes too.
Soap and water clean up.

 

[billspit]

Years ago I went to buy oil-based exterior paint for my house. The guy said he would sell me that if I demanded, but said that had not improved oil paint in 20 years. All the research was going into latex paint.

 

[Fyrme]

Ok, You guys are building my confidence in the water base. I guess I'll make the dive and go have some mixed in the morning. But before I do, maybe you can shed some light on two more questions I came up with...

1. How will the cured WB paint hold up to a pressure washer? (I think maybe BADSIX answered this)
2. IF it fails, am I going to be stripping it down to bare metal if I am to ever repaint with oil? I assume I would.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'll admit this. I think the water based stuff is getting better than what we saw in "Used Cars" with Kurt Russell in 1980.

 

[Falcon67]

LOL, that oil base paint is too damn high!

 

[theoldwizard1]

Oil (actually alkyd) base paint is still around, but certainly not used in any high volume manufacturing application.

Valspar Tractor and Implement Enamel (or other brand Implement Enamel) is excellent paint for an outdoor project, but the colors are limited. Tractor Supply carries it or you can buy it online. For a super hard/durable finish, add some "enamel hardener". Once cured, it will be as tough as epoxy paint.

 

[johninct]

I prefer the most environmental harmful paint I can get!!! Need an air supply system for breathing, etc... Imron will resist brake fluid.

 

[johnnyradiant]

I was doing an epoxy paint on an old tub in an old rental house that is months away from becoming a non-existent house, hence the reason I agreed to coating instead of replacing. I'd swear that quart of epoxy was 10x more potent than the 4 gal of epoxy floor paint I had last used. I made the mistake of taking my fresh air mask off a couple minutes too early.