Every painter has a favorite clearcoat. It’s often the one they’ve always sprayed or the one that’s always been on the shelf. But at Colours, we encourage shops to ask a different question:
Is it still the best product for your business today?
Clearcoat isn’t just the final step in the refinishing process—it’s one of the biggest factors affecting cycle time, booth efficiency, labor costs, and the finish your customers see.
Look Beyond the Price Per Gallon
Price is important, but it’s rarely the true measure of value. The real cost of a clearcoat comes from everything that happens after it’s mixed.
Ask yourself:
- How many coats does it require?
- How long are the flash and bake times?
- How much booth time does it use?
- How much buffing is required before delivery?
A clearcoat that costs slightly more but reduces booth time and post-paint labor can significantly improve overall shop productivity.
Focus on What Matters Most
When evaluating a clearcoat, we recommend focusing on three key areas:
Speed – Faster cure times increase booth availability and daily throughput.
Appearance – Premium gloss and depth create the finish customers expect.
Minimal Buffing – Less correction after painting means more productive technicians and faster deliveries.
The best-performing clearcoats don’t just cure quickly—they save time throughout the entire refinishing process.
Choosing the Right Product
Every shop is different, so your clearcoat should fit your workflow—not the other way around.
When evaluating a product, consider compatibility with your paint system, mix ratio simplicity, application window, VOC compliance, pot life, and the technical support available from your distributor. And don’t forget to involve your painters—their real-world feedback is often more valuable than a specification sheet.
How Colours Can Help
At Colours, we help collision centers choose products based on productivity, workflow, and long-term performance—not just price.
One solution worth considering is PPG DELTRON® NXT DC7020 Premium Glamour Speed Clearcoat. It combines premium appearance with a five-minute force-dry bake at 140°F, minimal buffing requirements, and a simple 4:1:1 mix ratio. It’s also compatible with existing Deltron NXT hardeners, thinners, and both Deltron NXT solvent and Envirobase High Performance waterborne basecoat systems.
If you’re ready to improve cycle times without sacrificing finish quality, the Colours team can help you evaluate your current process and determine whether DC7020—or another solution—is the right fit for your shop.