Things You Should Know
- Collect a mixing pail and purchase enough single-stage or two-stage paint to cover your entire car.
- Read your single-stage paint's label to determine what measurements you should pour into your pail and then, mix and test your paint.
- For two-stage paint, mix base coat with thinner in one pale and clear coat with hardener in another, mix both compounds together, and finally, test your paint.
How do you mix clear coat with paint?
A Word from Kevin Tetz. Spray your single stage color coat and get a nice solid coverage. Then mix 50% color and 50% compatible clear together (after activating each of them separately) and spray another coat. On top of that add a coat of 25% color and 75% clear, and top it off with a pure clear coat.
Can you mix clear coat for cars?
Once you mix that up you can’t put it back in the can and save it for another day. When you’re mixing clear coat for cars, you always want to mix extra because you don’t want to have to be in the middle of a clear coat job and not have any clear.
Can you clear coat over single stage paint?
Here’s a good trick for super deep looking single stage paint using clear coat paint over it. Spray your single stage color coat and get a nice solid coverage. Then mix 50% color and 50% compatible clear together (after activating each of them separately) and spray another coat.
What is the ratio of paint to hardener for clear coat?
The ratio of base coat paint to reducer will always be 1/1. Your container, preferably a mixing pail, should therefore be half paint and half thinner. Your clear coat will be slightly more complicated. Depending on the brand, the ratio of clear coat paint to hardener will usually be either 4/1 or 2/1.
How many cups of paint can you put in an 8 oz bucket?
What is the mixing ratio for single stage paint?
How much hardener to add to clear coat?
How to mix waterborne paint?
What ratio to mix clear coat?
Can you mix automotive paint?
See 1 more
Can I mix auto paint with clear coat?
In conclusion, yes you can do it, no you don't have to do it. Clear over the top of single stage does give you a coat of paint that is better for cutting and rubbing than the color coat because you won't affect the color.
What is the ratio for clear coat and hardener?
An example of a mixing ratio would be 2:1 + 0%-5%, i.e. for every two parts of clearcoat add one part of hardener and between 0% and 5% of thinner (depending on the dilution requirements).
Can you mix touch up paint with clear coat?
Can you mix touch up paint with clear coat? Depending on the base coat you're using, you can mix touch-up paint with clear coat if you choose. Some touch up kits are designed this way to make applying touch up paint easier.
How do you mix base coat and clear coat?
0:314:46How to Mix Paint & Base Coat - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOne part paint to one part reducer that gives you your two to one ratio.MoreOne part paint to one part reducer that gives you your two to one ratio.
What happens if you put too much hardener in clear coat?
Incorrect mixing ratio: If too much activator/hardener is used, or if the correct ratio is not properly mixed, defects may appear in the finished dried paint film. Environmental conditions: Excessive heat or humidity during application and curing can cause surface imperfections such as cracking.
Do you wet sand before you clear coat?
To sand a clear coat, start by soaking some sandpaper in water for 1 hour to soften the edges so they don't scratch the coat. While that's soaking, wash and dry your car so the clear coat is fully exposed. Then, wrap a sheet of the wet sandpaper around a sanding block and sand your car in small sections.
Should I sand touch up paint before clear coat?
We usually recommend not sanding between touch up base color paint, clearcoat, and primer coats. However, if a little dirt lands in the paint you may let the paint dry and sand out the speck. If you're having an issue with too much texture or getting runs in the paint, you may want to sand.
How many layers of clearcoat touch up?
2-3 coatsClearcoat instructions Apply 2-3 coats of clearcoat using a light dabbing motion waiting 10-20 minutes in between each coat. Be gentle with the brush because you do not want to disturb the undercoats. Clearcoat should be dry to the touch in 1-2 hours, but will completely dry overnight.
How long does clear coat need to cure?
The good news is, depending on where you live and the weather, you'll only have to wait 12-48 hours for the clear coat to be dry enough for you to drive the car. And the 48-hour recommendation only applies if your area is experiencing cold weather.
Do you rub down base coat before clear coat?
Also don't be tempted to rub the basecoat down before clearcoat as you'll spoil it and then seal in the mess with the clear for all to see.
How do you prep for clear coat?
To apply a clear base coat paint job to your car, wash the car with soap and water, and use a lint-free towel to dry the car completely. Wet sand all of the paint with 1000-1500 grit sandpaper, and rinse and dry the car before taping off the windows and other fixtures you don't want to paint.
What is the ratio for mixing car paint?
Although ratios vary widely across several products, solvent based metallic paints are mixed in the ratio of 2:1 (2 parts paint: 1 part thinner) while water based paints are mixed with a 10 percent additive.
What is the ratio of paint hardener?
As a general guideline, the ratio of color to hardener is 2:1 with a 10 percent addition of thinner. It's best to not completely fill out the painting cup attached to the gun, because it renders the gun heavy.
How do you mix 2K clear coat and hardener?
0:131:39How to: Mix 2k clear - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor this video you will need paint pipettes and a throwaway paint mixing Cup the mixing ratio is asMoreFor this video you will need paint pipettes and a throwaway paint mixing Cup the mixing ratio is as follows 100 parts clear 50 parts hardener. And between 10 to 40 parts of dinners.
What is a 4 to 1 paint mix?
A 4:1:1 ratio means you want to use four parts paint for every one part reducer and clear coat, and a 3:1:1 requires three parts paint per one part reducer and clear coat.
What is a 4 1 clear coat?
1-102 2K (4:1) Clear Coat is a fast drying, high gloss clear coat. It's especially suited for spot and panel repair. It's easy to polish after air drying or forced drying. ADDITIVES. 1-060 2K Structure Coat Fine.
Correct Mixture for Acrylic & Clear Coat Paint | Just Commodores
Hey guys, im really in need of finding the correct ratio for acrylic paint and thinners, ive read around and 50/50 is coming up the most, but i want to be sure. And the clear coat stuff is really confusing me... i read somewhere on a site for clear coat, it should be 4 oz clear coat paint 1...
What is acrylic enamel?
Acrylic enamel creates a hard exterior shell-like acrylic lacquer, but lasts longer and provides better UV protection.
What ratio markers do you use to pour paint?
After you find the 8:1:1 ratio markers, pour in the paint.
How to blend paint to blend pigments?
Using a stirrer, mix the paint to blend the pigments fully.
Do you need a blowtorch for a paint stirrer?
Organizing your tools and gear so everything is easily reachable will save precious minutes waiting for your handy-dandy child or four-legged helper to bring you the paint stirrer or blowtorch. (You won’t need a blowtorch for this job. Please don’t have your kid hand you a blowtorch—Ed.)
Can you use urethane activator for weekend warriors?
But like Urethane, ambient temperatures will affect what types of urethane activator is used (fast, medium, or slow), and humidity, airflow, and total wanted paint thickness can require additional steps and considerations. This isn’t recommended for weekend warriors.
Is acrylic lacquer paint illegal?
In states regulating the use of harmful volatile organic compounds, or VOCs (hello California ), acrylic lacquer paints are illegal. Acrylic lacquer paints are easy to use and produce a glossy finish, but are more susceptible to damage from UV rays than a modern urethane-based paint-and-clearcoat treatment is. Some classic-car restorers still use acrylic lacquers to maintain a factory-correct look on vintage cars that aren’t used as daily drivers.
Is urethane paint fading?
Urethane paint is extremely resistant to rock chips and fading, and looks fantastic when applied correctly, but those properties come at a cost, which is generally higher than other automotive paints.
How to mix paint for base coat?
Using the 4:1 ratio marker, pour in the correct activator (fast: below 70 degrees, medium: 70 to 80 degrees, and slow: above 80 degrees). Stir the paint and activator to combine. Repeat the process, allowing for drying times, if further base coats are required.
How to make a 1:1 paint?
Find the 1:1 ratio markers on the container; pour in the paint. Using a stirrer, mix the paint to blend the pigments fully. Using the 1:1 ratio markers as a guide, pour in the thinner. Mix the paint and thinner together for several minutes, making sure the consistency is uniform. You did it!
What is the difference between acrylic enamel and acrylic lacquer?
Acrylic Enamel. Acrylic enamel creates a hard exterior shell-like acrylic lacquer, but lasts longer and provides better UV protection. Acrylic enamels are separated into two categories: single-stage, which dries to a glossy finish, and two-stage, which includes a base layer of pigmented paint and a separate clear coat.
How to blend paint to blend pigments?
Using a stirrer, mix the paint to blend the pigments fully.
What ratio markers do you use to pour paint?
After you find the 8:1:1 ratio markers, pour in the paint.
What to wear when working on a car?
Paint, solvents, and other hydrocarbons can irritate the skin. Here’s what you’ll need to ensure you keep your jeans, shirt, and skin spotless, and your bones intact. Nitrile gloves (to repel chemicals used). Long-sleeve shirt to protect your arms.
Why do people wear long sleeves?
Long-sleeve shirt to protect your arms.
What is the pot life of clear coat?
Sometimes just an activator. When you do that, you have something called a pot life. Pot life means the certain amount of time it remains usable before it goes bad. After it’s pot life, it gets hard.
Why mix extra clear coat?
When you’re mixing clear coat for cars, you always want to mix extra because you don’t want to have to be in the middle of a clear coat job and not have any clear. That happened to me a few times. If you’re in the middle of the job and you have a half a cup of clear left, and you have to mix more, don’t use it all up and mix more and spray it.
How long does clear coat last?
It’s just hard clear coat. So, with clear coat, you have a pot life which could be from six to eight hours depending on the ambient temperature. Enough time to paint your car and finish your job. Be sure to clean out your gun after you’re done spraying the clear coat and get rid of the rest of the clear. Don’t put it back in the unmixed clear ...
Why don't you have to worry about hardening?
Because you’re not adding any catalyst or hardener or an activator, you don’t have to worry about hardening.
What does pot life mean?
Pot life means the certain amount of time it remains usable before it goes bad. After it’s pot life, it gets hard. It starts to catalyze, starts to crystallize and you can’t use it no more. Watch the video as I show you a sample of clear which is a couple of days old. You could see it’s basically hard.
How many pages are there in the auto body and paint manual?
If you’re new to watching my videos, you can get the FREE 85-Page Auto Body And Paint manual here.
Can you put paintable base coat back in the can?
A paintable base coat. If you have leftover, you could absolutely put that back in the can, store it and put it back on the shelf. It will last another couple of years without a problem. If you have it up there for a couple of years and you want to use it up again, you might just need to change the consistency.
How to make clear coat with candy paint?
Add a few drops of the candy paint to the clear coat. Mix the paint into the clear coat with a small paint stirrer. Stir well until the mixture is one solid color with no streaks of clear coat.
How to make a paint sprayer?
Pour a small amount of the mixture into a paint sprayer as directed by the sprayer's manual. Cover the mixture so it doesn't dry out while you test it. Apply a layer of the paint to a small part of your project and allow it to dry. If you are happy with the color, pour the rest of the mixture into the sprayer and complete the project. If not, add more paint or clear coat and mix until you are satisfied with the finished color.
What is candy paint?
Candy paints are brightly colored. Candy paint is most commonly used in custom automotive projects. It is highly concentrated and gets its name from the brightly colored candies it resembles. Because candy paint is so highly concentrated, you must mix it with a transparent paint called clear coat before using it.
How much mixed product is needed for a sedan?
About 1 gallon of the mixed product is needed for an average, mid-sized sedan, but it is better to have too much than not enough, particularly when making a custom color, so mix between 1.5 and 2 gallons for your project.
Who is Jarrett Melendez?
Jarrett Melendez is a journalist, playwright and novelist who has been writing for more than seven years. His first published work was a play titled, "Oh, Grow Up!". which he wrote and performed with a group of his classmates in 2002. eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story.
How to make a single stage paint look deep?
Here’s a good trick for super deep looking single stage paint using clear coat paint over it. Spray your single stage color coat and get a nice solid coverage. Then mix 50% color and 50% compatible clear together (after activating each of them separately) and spray another coat. On top of that add a coat of 25% color and 75% clear, ...
Can you spray clear over base coat paint?
Base coat paint has no weather or UV resistance and if it isn’t fully covered with pure clear the color will change and fade with time. Because single stage urethanes and clear urethanes are compatible, you can spray clear over the top without mixing too. This will increase the depth of the gloss. More importantly, the clear over ...
Can you mix 2 different paints together?
Make sure each paint and activator is thoroughly mixed in the correct ratio, before mixing the 2 different paints together. Just because the 2 paints are compatible does not mean you can just dump all 4 parts into a can and mix with good results.
Can you spray lacquer paint?
They used to be the standard paint if you were spraying candy, metal flake or pearl, and they would produce a finish that looked a mile deep. But, one of the big problems with lacquer is it is not very durable. The colors fade with UV exposure, and it is so hard it will crack and craze over time.#N#After laying out a killer lacquer color spray job, guys would spray several more coats mixing color with clear. It was though this would produce a deeper looking paint job, by having several semi-clear coats, and protect the underlying color from UV damages over time. Then several clear coats over the top. Many guys like to spray cars this way even to this day, no matter what paint they are using.#N#Modern Urethanes
Is clear over the top of single stage paint better than color?
Clear over the top of single stage does give you a coat of paint that is better for cutting and rubbing than the color coat because you won’t affect the color. And finally, paint and body expert Kevin Tetz still like the look the layers of mixed clear and color give you in a single stage paint job.
Can you use urethane clear coat with Eastwood?
There is no need to use this method with modern urethane single stage paint. However, if you do want to do it this way because that is what you are comfortable with, you can. Eastwood’s single stage urethane paints are compatible with our urethane clear coats and can be mixed in any ratio you want.
Who is Kevin Tetz?
Our resident paint and body expert , Kevin Tetz, who has literally written the book and stared in the how to video about painting cars, had this to say when asked the same question during an Eastwood live streaming video session: Here’s a good trick for super deep looking single stage paint using clear coat paint over it.
What is the best paint for a car?
Single-stage paints are recommended for basic colours such as red, blue, or yellow. They dry to a glossy finish and are easy to prepare, so are perfect for the novice painter. Note, however, that these are rarely used to coat an entire car. Choose a two-stage paint method if you want a longer-lasting result.
What is the ratio of clear coat to hardener?
Your clear coat will be slightly more complicated. Depending on the brand, the ratio of clear coat paint to hardener will usually be either 4/1 or 2/1.
What is the mixing ratio of paint?
For example, a standard mixing ratio for single-stage paints is an 8/1/1 mixture. That is to say, for every 8 parts paint add one part thinner and one part hardener.
How to test clear coat?
Spray a test coat on a safe surface. Place a small sample of both coats into your spray gun and apply on something dispensable - a wooden board or old piece of equipment would be best. Your base coat should be checked for viscosity as this will contribute most to the colour of the vehicle. The clear coat, while colourless, generates that much coveted gloss or shine. Both ought to flow smoothly from the gun.
How to test paint?
Test the paint with a spray gun. Add a small amount of the paint to the gun, and have a disposable surface set aside to test the suitability of your newly mixed paint.
How many coats of paint are needed for a clear coat?
Two-stage or base coat/clear coat paints will involve at least two coats (one base, one clear). The base coat provides the colour, while the clear coat provides extra protection against scratches and the elements. A two-stage method tends to yield a more metallic finish.
What is single stage paint?
Different kinds of paint do different jobs.Single-stage paints are those which can be used independently, without an extra base or finishing layer. A good comparison is to nail polish. You can apply as many or as few layers as you wish, with nothing else being required.
How many cups of paint can you put in an 8 oz bucket?
In simple terms, let’s use 8oz cup sizes in this example because like you already know, there are 8oz in each cup. So for every 8 cups of paint you pour into your large mixing bucket you’ll have to add 1 cup of reducer and 1 cup of hardener. All of this mixed up will give you 10 cups of paintable material. Get it?
What is the mixing ratio for single stage paint?
A general mixing ratio for single stage paints is a 8/1/1 mixture. You will have 3 basic paint materials. Your Main Paint in which ever color you desire from metallics to solids. Reducer to thin down your paint so you don’t end up with orange peel problems. Hardener which is also known as Activator.
How much hardener to add to clear coat?
I’ll do it anyway… a 4/1 mixing ratio goes like this. 4 parts of your clear coat to one part of your hardener. For a Gallon of clear in your bucket, you’ll add one quart of hardener… and the last time I checked there were still 4 quarts in a gallon.
How to mix waterborne paint?
The water borne paint is also a base/clear paint. Base coat mixing is always a 50/50 mixture. Very easy. 1 cup of base (your paint color) + 1 cup reducer = ready to paint. Your paint never goes bad. If you have left over, just cap it in a glass jar or your paint can and seal it up.
What ratio to mix clear coat?
Clear Coat mixing for base/clear paints: When mixing clear coat again, pretty simple. Usually depending on the brand you get you have a 4/1 or a 2/1 mixing ratio. So if you have been following along so far I really shouldn’t have to explain this one for you.
Can you mix automotive paint?
Well, mixing automotive paint is really a lot simpler than you think. First let’s talk about single stage paints. Single stage paints are a stand alone type of paint. No clear is necessary to produce a gloss. Think of it as woman’s nail polish. You can lay a few coats of paint and you’re done. It’s glossy and durable.
