[AT] Acrylic enamel paint hardner????

[John Wilkens]

Charlie, Valu-Bilt sells "Acrylic Hardner for Tractor and Implement Enamel" 
to use with their tractor paint.  I bought some last year.  I'm still not 
sure what the difference is between acrylic and alkid enamel...except 
acrylic seems to be more costly.  I believe I've used the non-poly. hardner 
with both with no problems.  I hope you let us know what you learn about 
this question.   John W.



At 07:58 AM 02/04/2005, you wrote:
>Here is what makes me interested in this topic.   I've read enough 
>accounts from folks on the list that I'm certain that using hardner with 
>plain old enamel paint can be done.  The knowledge of this list is 
>testiment to that. However, I've been involved with industrial painting 
>projects for over 20 years.  I've used all kinds of exotic epoxies, 
>urethanes, acrylics, vinyls, etc. and I've never seen or heard of (except 
>on this list) anyone using hardner with an enamel.
>
>When I first saw it mentioned on the list I asked a friend/business 
>partner who has been and industrial painter since he got out of high 
>school in the early 60's and now owns his own company.
>He had never heard of anyone doing it.  I asked one of the industrial reps 
>for ICI Devoe coatings and he had never heard of it.
>
>All of this just seems strange to me.  It leads me to believe that 
>somewhere out in the heartland someone just decided to try it and lo and 
>behold it worked.
>
>I sure would like to know how.  I have to agree with one of the other 
>posts. The hardner is probably in fact a plastic and the enamel paint just 
>becomes the colorant and body of the home made epoxy that results from the 
>mixture. I'd be interested to see some of this paint tested along side 
>other 2 component paints to see how it holds up in terms of gloss 
>retention and film degredation.
>
>Does anyone know of a manufacturer that makes a hardener specifically for 
>enamel paint and comes as a kit?
>
>Charlie
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Spencer Yost" <yostsw at atis.net>
>To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>Sent: Friday, February 04, 2005 8:45 AM
>Subject: Re: [AT] Acrylic enamel paint hardner????
>
>
>>I'll tell you what I know from experience:
>>
>>1 - It is clear
>>2 - It will add gloss to the finished paint(so if you are looking for semi
>>gloss look, don't start with a semi-glass paint.  You'll end up with
>>something close to high gloss.  Start with a semi gloss and add a touch of
>>flattening paint first)
>>3 - It will tack off in about the same time but final cure will be sooner
>>
>>Now I will tell you what I am guessing:
>>
>>I have been told it a polyurethane based catalyst, so I presume a chemical
>>reaction and not just a component in the paint that dries hard.
>>
>>Hope this helps,
>>
>>Spencer Yost
>>Owner, ATIS
>>Plow the Net!
>>http://www.atis.net
>>
>>*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********
>>
>>On 2/4/2005 at 2:40 AM John Wilkens wrote:
>>
>>>I found some fast dry acrylic equipment enamel that I like real well--and
>>>at a great price.  It's made by Nason.  The paint dealer (Baxter Auto)
>>>said
>>>any acrylic enamel paint hardner would work fine with it.  Question is,
>>>how
>>>does the hardner work?  Is it just a clear liquid that mixes with the
>>>paint
>>>and dries a lot harder, or does it somehow chemically react with the paint
>>
>>>to make it cure to a harder finish---something like two-part epoxy
>>>paint?  I've asked this question at the local paint shops, and even to
>>>some
>>>auto paint guys but they never seem to be able to answer this
>>>question.  All suggestions will be most welcome!   John W. ...still
>>>striving for something better than the usual orange peel paint job!
>>>
>>>                    In the wide-open spaces of NE Oregon
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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                    In the wide-open spaces of NE Oregon