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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
To match your paint to the exact color of your car, you’ll need to either provide your OEM color code or provide the make, model, and year of your vehicle. Every vehicle has a paint color code, but it is located in different places, depending on the make, model and year of the vehicle. Most paint color codes are located on the door jamb of the driver’s side door. Reference your Owner’s manual for the exact location of your paint color code.
Eastwood’s OEM select paint has incredible accuracy and is mixed to within ½ of a gram by weight. The formula is matched to the exact original color from the factory so years of wear from the environment will require that the user blends the paint properly if doing only a partial paint job.
We are continuing to expand our line. View our OEM Select Products page to see our latest offerings.
Eastwood Ready To Spray (RTS) Low VOC Basecoat already has the reducer in the can with the paint. All you have to do is stir or shake the can and then spray. No further mixing or reducing is required and the amount of paint that you purchase is the total sprayable amount that you will have available. A standard basecoat system would require mixing a 1:1 ratio of basecoat color plus reducer prior to spraying.
Eastwood Unreduced Low VOC Basecoat paint does not have reducer mixed into the formula, so it requires mixing at a 1:1 ratio of basecoat color plus reducer prior to spraying. The total amount of unreduced paint you purchase doubles because you must add the reducer to this paint.
Some OEM paints are multi-stage paints, meaning multiple coats of different paints may be required to achieve the final desired color. If you color is a multi-stage paint, you will be required to purchase at least one undercoat and one topcoat paint to apply.
The quantity of paint depends on many factors including the size of the vehicle (how much you will be painting), type of paint, and your personal experience as a painter. To get an estimate, check out The Garage article on Calculating How Much Paint You'll Need to Paint Your Vehicle.
Please note, we cannot be responsible if you order the incorrect amount of paint.
Costs can vary greatly across the colors due to the popularity and availability of the pigments, pearls and metallics needed to create certain colors.
That really depends on a few variables. This paint is designed to provide a sufficient dried film thickness (2 mils) in two to three coats; however that may not always be enough for proper coverage. Keep in mind that solid colors tend to cover with fewer coats. Pearls and metallic colors may take an additional coat or two. Also worth considering: What color is the primer? Are you painting over "patchwork" (patchwork means there's some factory finish, some new primer, some Bondo)? Generally, we advise shooting two to three medium wet coats, with at least 10 minutes flash time in between each. With metallic colors, a final "fog coat" may be applied to help set an even pattern/flake orientation.
If you are spraying over bare metal we recommend sanding and applying epoxy primer. A urethane primer sealer can also be applied over the epoxy if you like but is not required. This can then be followed by a topcoat and clear coat. If you’re simply scuffing an existing finish, we recommend sanding the surface with 600-800 sandpaper to prep the surface and then you can apply the basecoat directly to the old surface or you can apply primer to the old surface before applying the new basecoat color.
Eastwood's OEM Select automotive paint is designed for use in conjunction with our epoxy primer and urethane primer systems and you can use our paint over most other manufacturer's primers as well.
No, you do not have to apply a primer before using OEM Select paint but OEM Select paint should not be applied direct to metal. It is possible to "scuff and shoot" Eastwood OEM Select paint over a properly prepared old finish if the existing old finish is in good shape (no peeling, flaking, rust or other obvious issues).
After the last coat of OEM Select paint has been applied, the minimum time is 15 minutes at 68ºF or until the coating has turned a matte finish. The maximum time from the last coat of OEM Select is 8 hours. After 8 hours, the basecoat will need to be scuffed and then another coat of basecoat reapplied. Then apply clearcoat withing the specified window to obtain proper adhesion.
Always make sure to use the proper safety gear and have proper ventilation when spraying two component paints. A quality HVLP paint gun, a paint prep solvent for cleaning your project as well as masking mixing supplies are also helpful for a quality finish.
HVLP Paint Guns | Safety Equipment | Mixing Equipment | Masking Supplies | Sanding Blocks | Sandpaper | Additional Supplies
For the best results, we recommend using a 1.3mm or 1.4mm needle/nozzle set-up. Typically a 1.3mm is used for solid basecoat colors and a larger 1.4mm is used for metallic or pearl basecoat colors.
Since your order of OEM Select is a special made-to-order coating, we will expedite your order as fast as possible. It can take 2-3 business days until the order is made and shipped from Eastwood.
Orders are shipped UPS or Fed-Ex Ground only. OEM Select products are unable to be shipped overnight.
OEM Select paint can be shipped to the contiguous United States and Canada. We are unable to ship internationally or to APO/FPO/Hawaii/Alaska addresses.
Still have questions? We’re happy to help. Call our experts at 800-469-7940.