Rustoleum Vs. Dupli-Color (Compared)

Amongst DIY car detailers, these two products are quite popular. They both come ‘ready to shoot’ and are very cheap compared to getting ordinary paint jobs.

Dupli-color and Rustoleum are very easy to use and take a shorter duration than the ordinary method of painting a car. If you have never used either, it can be hard for you to choose one. And that is where this review comes in.

Rustoleum vs Dupli-Color
“Rust-Oleum Spray Paint” by Mike Mozart, Flickr is licensed under CC BY 2.0

What is Rustoleum?

Rustoleum

Launched by Robert Fergusson in 1921, Rust-Oleum is a protective paint and coating company that is based in Illinois. Their products are exceptional at preventing corrosion and rust.

Rustoleum paint is quite durable and it comes in a spray can which can give your car an impressive finish as long as you do it correctly.

The company is currently being run by RPM International Inc and hands down, they have done a great job so far with developing this paint.

Unlike a professional paint job, Rustoleum is very cheap in terms of both the price of the product as well as labor. With Rustoleum, you don’t have to hire a professional car detailer, you can easily do it yourself.

For tough and durable paint, Rustoleum is resistant to the elements, debris as well and surface dirt. It looks good and the only downside is that it fades after a while when over-exposed to direct sunlight.

Therefore, if your car is painted with Rustoleum, ensure that you park it in a garage or under a shed at all times.

If you decide to go with Rustoleum paint, you will need at least 4 cans of paint to cover the entire car. You may need more depending on the size of your car.

Compared to other types of paint in its category, Rustoleum takes longer to dry and when applied too thickly, it will wrinkle. To ensure this protective coating holds on well to the metal, sand in between coats.

Rustoleum also makes a rust reformer that can be directly applied to rusty metal and give it a fresh new look. You don’t have to scrub the rusty metal or perform any activity on it.

Their universal spray can withstand heat of up to 200 degrees. As a protective paint, Rustoleum also needs a clear coat, and they do have one known as the Clear Enamel Spray. This can be used on automotive surfaces as well as other materials.

Another thing that you need to know about Rustoleum is that it does not contain UV inhibitors. This is why it fades away more easily than its counterparts.

It is available in a wide range of colors ranging from yellow, brown, blue, and black amongst others. Therefore, if you want to color match, Rustoleum is the ideal way to go.

What is Dupli-Color?

Dupli-Color

On the other hand, Dupli-Color was launched in 1938. Since then, they have made and sold tons of automotive paints known for their protective capabilities.

Dupli-Color is currently managed by Sherwin-Williams, a brand that has a long history of making paints ever since the 1800s.

For years, Dupli-color has been the go-to paint brand for anyone interested in restoring their automotive paint. It is designed to withstand intense heat as well as the elements and debris.

It is perfect for inexperienced painters and can be used for both small and big projects. Dupli-color leaves an impressive finish behind and it lasts for a long time.

Dupli-color was created for anyone who wants to repaint their cars and is on a budget. It cures into a hard state and this is all thanks to the formula used to make it.

As a protective coating, Dupli-color is resistant to corrosion, salinity, grease, moisture, oil, and chemicals.

It doesn’t peel easily and neither will it chip when exposed to automotive fluids. An area where Dupli-Color exceeds more than its counterparts is the glossy finish it leaves behind.

As you will see in the differences, Dupli-Color has a superior high gloss finish to its counterpart, Rustoleum. They have many colors to choose from, so you can be assured of finding exactly what you are looking for.

For this protective paint to adhere to your automotive surface, you need to give it time to dry in between coats. It dries quickly but you should give at least 48 hours for the paint to cure fully into the metal.

What are the Differences?

Rustoleum takes longer to dry. From other people’s experiences, Dupli-color dries much faster than Rustoleum. This narrows down to the formulas of both protective paints.

Rustoleum lacks UV inhibitors, but Dupli-color does. The reason why Rustoleum fades easily when exposed to too much sunlight is that it doesn’t have UV inhibitors. Dupli-color on the other has UV resistance capabilities. This is why it takes longer for it to fade.

When it comes to rust protection, Rustoleum is better than Dupli-color. Even though Dupli-color claims to have rust protection abilities, it is no match for Rustoleum. This company makes a product that can restore rusty metal. Let alone protecting it from corrosion.

Dupli-Color offers more gloss than Rustoleum. If shiny is what you are after in a protective coating, then Dupli-color is your best bet. After painting both Dupli-color and Rustoleum, you will realize that the latter doesn’t create a shiny finish as Dupli-color does.

What are the Similarities?

Getting a perfect match with either Rustoleum or Dupli-color is hard. Both brands claim to offer paints in a wide array of colors.

But the problem usually comes when you are matching colors. It is very difficult to get a perfect consistency with both types of paint. The only way the paint can be consistent is if you are spraying the entire car.

Both Rustoleum and Dupli-color are very cheap options. Unlike a professional paint job, these two are quite affordable. And this is why they are so popular.

You can use either by yourself. When you opt to go with Rustoleum or Dupli-color, do not be worried about having to hire a professional painter or detailer. They come in spray cans that are very easy to use and you can do it by yourself.

To get a more pleasant finish from either, follow all the recommendations provided by the manufacturer on how to use the products.

What’s Better about Rustoleum?

There are many pros to using Rustoleum as automotive paint. It is very easy to apply and is more durable than most protective coatings.

It leaves behind an impressive finish that is resistant to debris and other elements that our cars are exposed to on the road.

Rustoleum also offers rust prevention and unlike professional paint, it is cheaper and you don’t need to hire a detailer to paint it for you because it comes in a ready-to-spray system.

Despite the above benefits, Rustoleum also has its cons. When you don’t perform enough prep work, it will peel very easily.

The other downside is that it takes very long to dry. Even after a couple of days, the paint is often very soft to the touch.

The problem with this is that it can be damaged even before it dries up. The other thing is that it is susceptible to solvents. So, ensure that you keep such things away from it.

What’s Better about Dupli-color?

Moving on to Dupli-color, there are also a bunch of things that we love about it. First is the superior high gloss finish. There is a thing about glossy paint.

It makes the car more attractive and that is something you can easily achieve with Dupli-color. Secondly, this paint is very resistant to harsh conditions.

If you are worried about debris, grease, or corrosion, you will enjoy total protection from this premium coating.

Dupli-color takes at least three weeks for it to cure on metal. Unlike Rustoleum which takes longer to cure, you get a very different result with Dupli-color.

Another benefit of this type of paint is that it is easy to use and very affordable. The only drawback is that it takes longer to cure compared to other protective coatings (Not Rustoleum however).

Who Should Get Rustoleum and Why?

Rustoleum is perfect for car owners who are interested in protecting their vehicles from corrosion. If you live in a rust-prone area, then this is the paint you should be using on your car.

Other than protecting your vehicle from rust, it is also resistant to debris and the elements our vehicles are exposed to. It is very easy to apply and is quite affordable.

Who Should Get Dupli-color and Why?

Dupli-color was made for both professionals and beginners. It is the ideal choice if you want quality automotive paint but you are on a budget.

Even though it can’t be compared to a professional paint job, Dupli-color will give your car an impressive finish.

Other than that, it is durable and can be used on various surfaces. It is available in all popular colors so you can find one that matches the look of your vehicle.

Dupli-color is affordable, features UV-resistant capabilities and the high gloss finish it creates looks better than what you can get from most protective coatings.

Was this article helpful?
YesNo

1 thought on “Rustoleum Vs. Dupli-Color (Compared)”

  1. The entire article comparing Rustoleum and Duplicolor primers could not be better in my opinion. Every comparison of the two paints I could ask about was answered: Durability, gloss, UV protection, multiple coats application , color availability, pros and cons by use. Thank you. Best review of anything I’ve ever needed.

Leave a Comment