From experience I have't found something better than old Imron in terms of chip resistance. I've got frames in my shop that I made and painted in the 70's that are still almost bullet proof. It is what was originally used on airplanes and commercial step vans that take a lot of abuse. Some of those "improvements" are to make it more environmentally friendly or increase profitability by making it cheaper or to make it easier for the painter to use. It isn't necessarily to make it tougher. When I've asked the Dupont reps about how long they will continue to make it, there objections were about its toxicity and that painters wanted something that set up faster. Like has been mentioned, Imron paint now has more varieties.


Keep in mind that the original Imron is the Dupont trade name for polyurethane enamel that other paint manufacturers make and sell as well. There is even a paint company that makes that type of paint a half mile from my frame shop. What brand of paint a person uses is often defined by what jobber is most convenient. The different brands of polyurethane enamels provide similar results but do require their own activators and thinners, etc. I like to use House of Kolor paints because they have a whole line of glamour paints including candies, pearls and chameleons. I'm not crazy about their clears as a final clear.