I bought a gallon of CIH red and a quart of CIH reducer. Took them to the body shop and and the painter said to keep the reducer he didn't use it. He said he uses acetone and no hardener in the paint. It seems that using acetone and no hardener gives the same gloss and durability as the other way. But if you use the CIH reducer then the hardener is required. BTW his paint jobs are beautiful. :big say what:
paint
- Thread starter DanR
- Start date
Dan, Could you find out how much acetone he adds?
Thanks, Bob
Thanks, Bob
If this is Iron Gard paint it is just alkyd enamel. I know some will disagree. The reducer does not determing the need for a hardener. CIH reducer should not require a hardener.
The choice of solvent is up to the painter, the solvent has to thin the paint so it can be sprayed and also should give some control over the speed of evaporation so the paint flows but will dry neither too fast or too slow. Naptha, acetone, mineral spirits will all work depending on the temperature. The advantage of using an acrylic enamel reducer is there is good temperature control, you can use fast, meduim, slow evaporating reducers depending on the room temp. Acetone may be the right vapor pressure to evaporate at the rate favored by your painter but has nothing to do with the need for a hardener.
I am not sure if a hardener for alkyd or acrylic enamels really changes the final outcome but it will get you there faster. The shine and durability is likely similar or the same.
The choice of solvent is up to the painter, the solvent has to thin the paint so it can be sprayed and also should give some control over the speed of evaporation so the paint flows but will dry neither too fast or too slow. Naptha, acetone, mineral spirits will all work depending on the temperature. The advantage of using an acrylic enamel reducer is there is good temperature control, you can use fast, meduim, slow evaporating reducers depending on the room temp. Acetone may be the right vapor pressure to evaporate at the rate favored by your painter but has nothing to do with the need for a hardener.
I am not sure if a hardener for alkyd or acrylic enamels really changes the final outcome but it will get you there faster. The shine and durability is likely similar or the same.
salamonius
Active member
Hardener will change the final outcome in durability and uv protection. Without the hardener the alkyd enamel will fade faster in the sun than alkyd with hardener. It will also allow the paint to bond better to the surface you are painting. Hardener will also help the paint resist fuel spillage and other solvents. Acetone as a reducer just makes the paint dry faster and is not a replacement for hardener.
Clark Thompson
501 Club
I have never heard of this but I suspect the painter knows what he is doing. One thing I dont understand is that especially with the case iron guard you need hardener because this paint is cheap and doesnt really cure propery with out hardener. I know from experionce. Infact I dont use the iron guard because it wont hold up in the sun.Will fade. secondly it usually will peal off in a year or so. I know cost is a factor in alot of our paint jobs. BUT! I have learned over the years NOT to use cheap paint. If your doing all the proper prep work it takes a lot of time. I would rather use good quality paint the first time because it cost twice as much to paint it the second time. PPG has a good industrial paint that holds up real well for about $100 a gallon. If you want the real good quality PPG its nearly $ 300.IM not pushing PPG but that is what has done the best job for me. and for me is the most economical in the long run.
