Dupont centari Paint seems way dry..., tried a couple of things on the paint need opinions Options

[wayne1234]

Well my local paint store kinda convinced me to paint the 914 with Dupont centari, Single stage Enamel, I'm using the low temp reducer, and not the "gloss enhancer"... So the directions say 8 parts paint 2 parts reducer...It kinda warm her and the garage is staying at mid 60 constantly.... it is mega thich and I'm having to go more like 8 paint and 4 reducer.. but it is mega dry and doesnt flow out.... and mega orange peel... I 'm using a Sata JET NR 95 HVLP gun and a 1.5 tip, which is what I have always used, but I havent ever shot out singe stage in it,,, What the hell is going on. I used to paint a fair amount, But in the last 5 years the only thing I have shot is panel repair on our explorer after 2 separate accidents, last time was about 2 years ago...

[rick 918-S]

Centari is a good low cost product. BUT, If you havent used the hardner you won't be able to repair the finish. Centari use soft enamel. I have painted probably well over 1000 cars with it back in the day.

This sounds crazy but If you don't have a lot of paint on the car get a gallon of laquer thinner and lots of paper towels and wash the paint off the car. Be careful first shut off the heater and get some ventallation in the room. Then keep the paper towels moving and don't stay in one place too long. Don't ruin the primer! It sux but I have had a paint job or two go south and believe me this is better that wet sanding off all the enamel paint later.

Here's the reason I'm telling you to do this. Centari without hardner will stay soft for months. If you sand out the orange peel and try to buff out the car it will dull badly or melt under the heat of the buffer. Centari does not buff right out!
If you try to do the buff method and you sand through and have to try to spot repair the car the new top coat or anything you spay over it will attack it. This will suck more than you know. So, the best thing is to get that coat of paint off the car.

Then, at minimum get the 793 Hardner. If your going to go to the added expense of using the Centari 2000 system you may as well have used single stage urothane. Centari 2000 is Duponts first run at a urothane paint system. It didn't last in the market long before we could get a true urothane paint.

If you get the un-hardened paint off the car, Re-wet sand it to 400 grit to clean off the tacky surface, Re-wash the car and re-mask the car. Get Velva-Seal and spray that out first.

If your shop is staying 60 deg and your comfortable spraying at that room temp I would use a mid-temp reducer. Mix as instructed and use 793. 18-19 sec Zahns cup or get a mixing cup to get the reduction right. CFM is what will keep your pattern and application consistent. I never look at the gauge. I paint by sight and sound of the air coming out of the gun. I use a Binks Model # 18 I purchased 30 years ago. I use it for all my top coats no matter what I'm shooting.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

Spray down a tack coat and don't rush to get the second coat on. Enamel is a hurry up and wait paint. Hurry up and get the coat of paint on then force yourself to wait 10 to 15 minutes for the tack coat to flash. Touch the paper next to the car to check it for tack.

Second coat you can really lay it down. The tack coat will help suck out some of the solvent and speed suspension. Third coat I alway add a little extra hardner and slightly over reduce it. If I have enough paint and the car looks flawless I will reduce just a little more and shoot one more coat on the car for flow. This will bring up the gloss and slow drying. The thinner paint will help with orange peel. If I have a panel or two I don't like I will save the paint and in a couple days I will wet sand out the car to 600-800 grit and fix flaws or runs and give it one more round of my top coat mix. 600-800 may seem harsh but were talking enamel here. It's like blocking rubber even with hardner.

Oh, and get some fish eye eliminator! Use it only if you have to.

Remember, Enamel means Clean, clean, Clean! Before paint.

Good luck.