Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: please explain paint, reducer, and hardener to me

  1. #1
    Club Member cjmatt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    your mom
    Posts
    15,088

    Default please explain paint, reducer, and hardener to me

    what is the point of reducer and hardener? what will happen if you sprayed paint without them?
    Matt -
    2010 Boost Logic GT-R
    1983 Ford Fairmont

  2. #2
    Forum Member 1quickguido's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    metro detroit
    Posts
    493

    Default

    reducers thin out the paint to spray through the gun, hardeners are used in single stage paints

  3. #3
    Club Member smooth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Dearborn Heights
    Posts
    10,574

    Default

    Well I'll give it a shot in layman's terms, I can't get to detailed because I work for a paint company(the best company out there ) and this is a public forum.

    Refinish paint(general public can purchase)

    hardener = isocyanates

    Reducer = solvent

    Hardener creates the chemical reaction(durability,hardness etc) with the resin system in which it is mixed, these hardeners & reducers are carefully formulated to feed off one another to give the best possible results.

    Reducer lowers viscosity, over reduction creates less sag tolerance,under reduction creates bad appearance, orange peel,dry spray, near impossible spray conditions.

    There is a reason every paint company makes a slow,normal,fast reducer/hardener combination.

    Now OEM paint has a 1k & 2k system that is extremely more complex in the chemistry department. OEM coatings can be repaired without sanding a single panel, adhesion is based off a thermo reaction and are applied with a bell cup or recip gun for the best transfer efficiency.
    Last edited by smooth; 03-11-2010 at 07:26 PM.
    I have a bad case of Automotive A.D.D.

    WWW.DETROITRACING.COM

    Quote Originally Posted by 91trunk View Post
    Now this is an acceptable use of photos and video's in the Pub.

  4. #4
    Club Member slideways's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    In the paint boof
    Posts
    14,256

    Default



    What he said. Under reduced paint will be pretty much impossible to spray with a quality looking finish orange peel dry spray ect no matter how you try to set the gun. Over reduced will run very easily.

    With out the proper amount of a catalyst (hardner) the paint may not cure or may not cure all the way and stay soft

    Reducers and hardners come almost always in a "Slow, Medium, And Fast" per say depending on what type of project and air tempature your working with. If your spraying a whole car and its 85* air temp your going to want a slow hardner and reducer, Where as if your shooting just a fender and its 65* (which is the lowest recomended temp iirc) your going to want a fast hardner and reducer.
    '00 Stage 2 Roush Mustang 2v Swap...
    '04 YFZ450- Turbo Stock Bore
    '04 Sierra 2500- CCSB LB7
    '01 Blazer- 5.3 Project/Garage decor

    Twister Racing 2k13

  5. #5
    Club Member SVT32VDOHC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Metro Detroit
    Posts
    8,692

    Default

    Well, this thread has got some darn good answers. My advise. Take your time if you are gonna tackle painting for the first time. Get everything sanded, cleaned/wiped, and taped in one day and spray the next day. You want to paint with a clear head. Mix all the products as follows and don't try and cover the panel in one coat. The first coat always looks like shit because it doesn't cover. After the 2nd coat things start looking great. If a paint covers, I'll usually stop at 3 coats of paint. A couple cars I have had to do upto 4 or 5.

  6. #6
    Club Member slideways's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    In the paint boof
    Posts
    14,256

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by SVT32VDOHC View Post
    Well, this thread has got some darn good answers. My advise. Take your time if you are gonna tackle painting for the first time. Get everything sanded, cleaned/wiped, and taped in one day and spray the next day. You want to paint with a clear head. Mix all the products as follows and don't try and cover the panel in one coat. The first coat always looks like shit because it doesn't cover. After the 2nd coat things start looking great. If a paint covers, I'll usually stop at 3 coats of paint. A couple cars I have had to do upto 4 or 5.
    Very good advise for a beginning painter. I still will put painting things off a day if I've had a long day of prep work.
    '00 Stage 2 Roush Mustang 2v Swap...
    '04 YFZ450- Turbo Stock Bore
    '04 Sierra 2500- CCSB LB7
    '01 Blazer- 5.3 Project/Garage decor

    Twister Racing 2k13

  7. #7
    Club Member SVT32VDOHC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Metro Detroit
    Posts
    8,692

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by slideways View Post
    Very good advise for a beginning painter. I still will put painting things off a day if I've had a long day of prep work.
    Thanks, it works everytime man. I still try and and leave paint day for just paint. Anytime you rush things it never works.

  8. #8
    Club Member slideways's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    In the paint boof
    Posts
    14,256

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by SVT32VDOHC View Post
    Thanks, it works everytime man. I still try and and leave paint day for just paint. Anytime you rush things it never works.
    Rushing ANY step of the proccess is the WORST thing you can do, You can almost guarentee it to come back and bite you in the ass.
    '00 Stage 2 Roush Mustang 2v Swap...
    '04 YFZ450- Turbo Stock Bore
    '04 Sierra 2500- CCSB LB7
    '01 Blazer- 5.3 Project/Garage decor

    Twister Racing 2k13

  9. #9
    Club Sponsor Marc@AutoLavish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Metro Detroit
    Posts
    1,780

    Default

    ^ +1
    Prep is the single biggest factor in the outcome and for something you want to last a long time - it's not worth rushing. These guys already explained everything very well and I couldn't agree more

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •