In reading 10 year old magazine artilcles quoting Roger Gibson and Jeff Lilly (well known restoration professionals)......they both painted Camaro/Chevelle frames with Acrylic Enamel (PPG DAR9000) and then added 33% flattening agent (DX265) to retard the gloss. I've also seen where in PPG's DAR instuction sheet they add a HARDENING agent which seems like a good idea....I probably can and will call PPG but would like to know if its hard to figure out how the hardening agent changes the amount of DX265???? to retain same 33% flat look....I am going to use DP-90 under this top coat... I was thinking about an acid etch primer over sandblasted metal, but another internet poster quotes a PPG bulletin saying not neccessary over this substrate....
ALSO in 2003 Technology is there a better single stage paint to use on the frame and coresuport etc than acrylic enamel such as single stage urathane???????? Thanks, Chuck Sharin

chuck, as far as the hardener, it does not come in the paint, you have to add per directions. Concerning the flattener, i have sample cards on metal with the different degree glosses on them, and when i am ready to spray, i add flattener as needed to match my cards. the amount of flattener varies due to hardener, reducer, tempature so you have to experiment to achieve the gloss. I always use acylic enamel since it does not have excessive thickness such as urethane does, plus its easy to work with and is very durable.

I used a two component Acrylic Urethane on my frame. Not hard to use and looks great too. My experience is that two component systems last much longer and protect better than single component systems- except for long oil alkyds but they take years to dry out!

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Scott- Austin, Texas
My '68 RS/ZZ4 (http://www.100megsfree.com/choptop/camaro.html)

chuck, also keep in mind that with some paint lines you can't use acid etch prime and epoxy prime over each other. either one or the other. If it is sand blasted metal, i just use epoxy primer. Roger

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71 camaro Z-28 clone / 67 Z-28

Hi, just wanted to give you my input on your question. I would make a trip down to your paint jobber and ask them to pull up dx-685 flattning agent on their touch mix computer and they should be able to find you the needed amount required to get the gloss you need. They have a graph that will tell you how much flattner is needed per qt. for what ever gloss level you want. If you can't get any info from your jobber I'd be happy to look it up at work on our touch mix monday and email you back just let me know. see ya Joe.

ttt

If I used PPG Acrylic Enamel DAR and add the DX685 hardener is that considered two part paint or still single stage.....I wish people could give me more SPECIFIC info with name and #'s
What is single stage urathane??..NO clear coat???
Thanks, Chuck

I spoke with local PPG paint store....was told that DAR Acrylic Enamel(with DX685 flattner) used with DXR 80 is a modified urathane. I was also told I could use DCC (Concept) Product and DU5 hardner which is a more expensive single stage urathane. Anybody out there have opinions on what they'd use on subframe and inner fenders/core support.....This is over DP-90 on sandblasted and sanded smooth frame ......thanks, Chuck/Seattle

Hey Chuck how's it going? Yes by adding the dxr-80 that will modifiy the enamel and will help it to be more durable but more importantly more easy to repair if ever needed. I have some mix ratio's for the dx-685. This mix ratio is for the dar-9000 black enamel. For the 20%-30% gloss your looking for you need 13oz. of dx-685 per qt. and 8oz. of reducer for color ie.dtr-602 and 4oz. dxr-80 hardner.I also have the mix ratio for the dcc urethane too. 20%-30% is 23oz. of dx-685 0 reducer and 16oz. du hardner.Note these ratio's are for a uncatayst 32oz. of paint and dx-685 and reducer and hardner need to be mixed together.Might be best to mix and spray a test panel to make sure gloss is what you want and then try to spray everything at the same time too. smile.gif Hope this helps and email me if you need any more info see ya Joe.