6 best automotive varnishes

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Varnish is a material used for finishing the car body in order to give a more pronounced color to the enamel (matte or glossy) and protect the metal from corrosive, chemical, thermal and minor mechanical influences.

Today the market offers more than 100 types of car varnishes, which creates a problem of choice for each consumer. That is why the editors of the magazine turned to experienced users and paint masters for help. Based on their assessments, a rating of the 6 best varnishes was formed, suitable for professional overlapping of bodies and individual body elements of cars.

Rating of the best car varnishes

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Rating of the best automotive varnishes	1	ROBERLO 350 HS 2 + 1 (1.5L) ELITE	RUB 1,700
	2	BRULEX 2K-HS	1 390 rub.
	3	Baslac 40-40 2K	1 360 rub.
	4	PPG D880 HS	RUB 1,208
	5	Mobihel Anti-Scratch HS	650 RUB
	6	KROY 2K CLEARTEX HS SCRATCH RESISTANT	941 RUB

ROBERLO 350 HS 2 + 1 (1.5L) ELITE

Rating: 4.9

A product manufactured by the Spanish company Roberlo – a professional varnish for professional bodywork, regardless of age and paint condition. It can be used both in the case of pre-sale preparation of the car (recommended by experts), and in the restoration of individual elements or the entire body during repair work. The color reproduction of the basecoat of the Roberlo 350 HS ELITE is excellent, as well as the functions of protection against the effects of various negative factors.

People who have used this composition note the high durability of the layer, even under the condition of grinding and periodic polishing, which is an important indicator of the quality of the varnish. It is also noteworthy that the Roberlo assortment includes at least 6 additional products that can be used to obtain a ready-made mixture (hardeners, solvents and plasticizers of varying degrees of reaction). Thanks to their combination, it is possible to obtain unique textured floors, which will give the car exclusivity and reliably protect the metal from aging.

Advantages

• optimal balance of price and quality;
• the ability to choose a mixed component from a wide range of products;
• excellent color rendering and no yellowing over time;
• reliable protection of metal and enamel from the negative effects of the environment;
• recommended for finishing works of any purpose.

disadvantages

• not found.

BRULEX 2K-HS

Rating: 4.8

The second place in the rating rightfully goes to high-quality clear varnish from the German company Brulex, made on the basis of acrylic resins. Its multi-component composition is ideal for covering the entire car body, as well as individual body elements. Curing times under standard processing conditions are 24 hours. However, this process can be significantly accelerated if the paint box is equipped with a local heating system and the body metal is heated up to +60 degrees Celsius: then, instead of waiting 24 hours, the user will receive a car in 3-4 hours.

Brulex 2K-HS is recommended as a vehicle pre-preparation: the combination of varnishing and subsequent polishing gives the body a 'factory' freshness. Satisfactory flow rates have a positive effect on consumption: 1.5 liters of finished varnish mixture – varnish + hardener in a 2: 1 ratio – is enough for a high-quality 1-layer overlap of a mid-size sedan. This, in turn, leads to small savings during the use phase, even if the initial purchase price is quite high.

Advantages

• economical use due to high quality and adhesion of the ready-made mixture with metal;
• varnish for professional body finishing;
• creates a durable coating that protects the body from corrosion;
• long-lasting shine effect.

disadvantages

• high purchase price.

Baslac 40-40 2K

Rating: 4.7

The third line of the rating rightfully goes to the professional varnish for finishing works Baslac 40-40 2K, suitable for overlapping the main body paint of any freshness. It is recommended to apply it in 2 layers with a total coating thickness of 50 to 70 microns with a short exposure time and blowing between the first and second treatment. Subject to these simple conditions, the nominal characteristics will be guaranteed: protection against chemical / mechanical influences, and long-term preservation of the appearance properties.

Remarkably, Baslac 40-40 2K can be dried under infrared radiation. Moreover, manufacturers urge to finish the application process by drying it under an IR emitter, since in this way the preparation of the coating will take only 8-15 minutes (instead of 24 hours at a temperature of 20-25 degrees Celsius). Unfortunately, innovations come at a high price: the cost of a set (varnish + hardener) will cost users more than its counterpart from Brulex. Therefore, all other things being equal, this line-up remains slightly behind.

Advantages

• the possibility of drying under an infrared emitter (only 8-15 minutes, depending on the length of the emitted waves);
• a durable and reliable layer that protects against a combination of harmful factors;
• does not turn yellow during operation;
• does not require special surface preparation.

disadvantages

• high price.

PPG D880 HS

Rating: 4.6

PPG D880 HS is a product used for body restoration after repair work. It is composed of acrylic and polyurethane resins, which ensure the resistance of the hardened coating to various kinds of pollution and chemical influences of the environment. In this regard, the probability of yellowing of the lacquer layer during operation is minimal, but the resistance to polishing and fine grinding, on the contrary, is very high.

As noted by users, PPG D880 HS lends itself well to creating an original coating texture. By mixing the varnish base with various components (composite solutions, hardeners, plasticizers, etc.), it is possible to achieve a decrease or increase in glare, gloss, dullness; give the surface of the body a leather texture or fine dusting. If it were not for the strict requirements for the pre-paint treatment of painted metal, this product could easily claim a leading position in the ranking of the best.

Advantages

• the ability to get the original texture of the coating;
• immune to environmental influences – does not turn yellow over time;
• resistant to fine grinding and polishing.

disadvantages

• rather high consumption for overlapping the body;
• serious requirements for surface cleanliness.

Mobihel Anti-Scratch HS

Rating: 4.5

The main quality for which you should love Mobihel Anti-Scratch HS is the best resistance to small scratches and chips that inevitably arise during the operation of the car. The Slovenian company Mobihel managed to create a durable and reliable varnish based on acrylic resins, the application of which guarantees protection against minor mechanical damage, fading of the paint layer, as well as corrosion of the body metal. There is only one drawback: the high price, which makes the product less attractive in the eyes of a wide range of users.

As for the application, the Mobihel Anti-Scratch HS is not as demanding as the PPG D880 HS – there are no special requirements for the treatment of the body. But the consumption cannot please people who are especially scrupulous to the budget: to ensure a high-quality coating, varnish should be applied in 2-3 layers. The very same work on overlapping the body is quite fast: layer-by-layer exposure of the composition requires only 15 minutes of time, and the final solidification takes 2-3 hours. Thus, users are faced with a difficult choice between price and quality … and most often the second component, as well as this varnish, is inferior to cheaper and more budgetary competitors.

Advantages

• excellent resistance of the finished coating to temperature, chemical and mechanical stress;
• fast application and drying process;
• professional composition for a thorough renovation of the body paintwork.

disadvantages

• high acquisition cost;
• high consumption for high-quality body overlap.

KROY 2K CLEARTEX HS SCRATCH RESISTANT

Rating: 4.4

The sixth line in the rating of automotive varnish from KROY is due to the skepticism of experts regarding its main prescribed function. The manufacturer declares that the applied composition is immune to scratches that arise from mechanical effects of the environment, and retains its original appearance for a long time. In fact, everything turns out to be much more modest: yes, 2K CLEARTEX HS still provides protection, however, during test sandblasting, the varnish loses its gloss earlier than all competitors.

As for the ease of application, there are no complaints about the composition. The manufacturer recommends applying it in 2 coats with a short exposure time (about 15-25 minutes) to ensure maximum adhesion, first to the metal, and then to the freshly applied surface. Complete drying of KROY 2K CLEARTEX HS occurs after a 24-hour exposure, but it is possible to speed up this process by increasing the ambient temperature to +60 degrees Celsius. Then the preparation time is reduced to 30 minutes. In general, the roster shows itself with dignity, but bold and false statements about the features, coupled with the low prevalence in the market, do not allow them to claim leadership positions.

Advantages

• quick drying when the spray booth is heated to 60 degrees Celsius (only 30 minutes);
• pleasant glossy effect;
• does not turn yellow over time.

disadvantages

• the effect of the application is worse than the declared one;
• low prevalence in retail.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.