Additive to Universal to attain a semi gloss finish?

@Mitch These guys might be able to get the Lumabase flattener:

EESCO
601 Lakeview Pt
New Brighton, MN 55112 US

The mixing directions are not straightforward, they reference Lumabases' own clears, but I can confirm that it works, the clear to hardener ratio does not change in relation to the flattener amount, clearly indicating the lack of urethane resin in the flattener. I do not have detailed formulas for it like Jim has for the Utech, though. The Utech would probably be a better bet if you can get it.
 
No 890 within 150 miles... not really wanting to have paint shipped to me with our temps in the negatives lately.
Not sure where that name came up from in New Brighton, but they are an electrical supply distributor.
 
Oops, wrong Wesco. Wesco PBE does not have anything anywhere near Minnesota, in fact it looks like they are allergic to the entire upper Midwest.
 
Mitch, all the paint companies have flatteners and any one of them will work but not matter what one your using you are going to need to do sprayouts to get your formula down
 
Jim C said:
Do you have an akzo/sikkens jobber nearby? Utech 890 flattener works well and i have some formulas i can give you for different gloss levels
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@Jim C, I would like to have your formulas using the 890. I have in the past used the PPG global D8115 and D8117 system and it works but would like to have other options to use as maybe with Euro clear etc.
Thanks
 
Jim C said:
Mitch, all the paint companies have flatteners and any one of them will work but not matter what one your using you are going to need to do sprayouts to get your formula down
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I guess I have to disagree with you Jim (this might be a first). Some flatteners need activation and are urethane clears in their own right, these need to used with the specified products or there could be problems with soft cure etc. If SPI clear is to be used, it's important to figure out if the addition of flattener changes the clear/hardener ratios specified in the TDS. For example, both matte agents that Standox sells are to be mixed with 2K clear BEFORE activation, not after, which says that the matte product itself requires activation.

Honestly at this point for matte clear it seems better to just buy all the products (clear, matte, activator) from one manufacturer if you can't get the 890. Then there's no question.
 
Well, this has been a marathon search and call mission, but I found that Keystone is a dealer and they have a store about 40 miles from me and are bringing a quart of 890 in for me on Wednesday. So yes, Jim, if you can get me to about 65-70%, I will do spray outs from there and flatten further, if I feel it still has too much gloss.
Thanks guys !
 
Mitch said:
Well, this has been a marathon search and call mission, but I found that Keystone is a dealer and they have a store about 40 miles from me and are bringing a quart of 890 in for me on Wednesday. So yes, Jim, if you can get me to about 65-70%, I will do spray outs from there and flatten further, if I feel it still has too much gloss.
Thanks guys !
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That's a great find, Keystone is available in a lot of places!
 
crashtech said:
I guess I have to disagree with you Jim (this might be a first). Some flatteners need activation and are urethane clears in their own right, these need to used with the specified products or there could be problems with soft cure etc. If SPI clear is to be used, it's important to figure out if the addition of flattener changes the clear/hardener ratios specified in the TDS. For example, both matte agents that Standox sells are to be mixed with 2K clear BEFORE activation, not after, which says that the matte product itself requires activation.

Honestly at this point for matte clear it seems better to just buy all the products (clear, matte, activator) from one manufacturer if you can't get the 890. Then there's no question.
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Well i am talking about flattener not preflattened clear. Never seen an actual flattening agent that needs its own cat then its added to clearcoat or ss. That just seems odd.
 
Mitch said:
Well, this has been a marathon search and call mission, but I found that Keystone is a dealer and they have a store about 40 miles from me and are bringing a quart of 890 in for me on Wednesday. So yes, Jim, if you can get me to about 65-70%, I will do spray outs from there and flatten further, if I feel it still has too much gloss.
Thanks guys !
Click to expand...
I have a sample panel with 3 gloss levels. Ill take a pic then give the formula for each. Do you have a scale? Cant mix accurately by volume. Also remember final gloss will also depend on how its sprayed. Flash and # of coats makes a big diference
 
Jim C said:
Well i am talking about flattener not preflattened clear. Never seen an actual flattening agent that needs its own cat then its added to clearcoat or ss. That just seems odd.
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Yeah, it's just that some manufacturers don't make the distinction obvious, so I am trying to save somebody some trouble.
 
crashtech said:
That's a great find, Keystone is available in a lot of places!
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Yes, I was scrolling down the list of distributors on utech's website, which SUCKS. The distributors are listed alphabetically by name, not by state and I was halfway thru a few hundred when I started seeing Keystone. I knew there was one in Fridley and just sped up until I came to that one and called. The website had a comment box I opened to leave a comment. You can guess what I had to say about their listing order... ;)
 
here is the sample. if you want 60% gloss then that is pretty shiny so i would start off with the one on the right. for most things i use the middle one. that one has that oem sheen very much like ecoat or sem hot rod black. its not so flat that it looks chalky or grey. its still nice and black. most of these are for 3 medium coats and fully or 90% flash between coats. formulas should give you close to a pt mix. you can add a touch of reducer as well. maybe 10% since the 890 thickens the mix a little and you dont want to spray thick heavy coats. even, thin coats and 75% overlap are your friend when doing matte.

left / fully flat
151.7g uv clear
174.5 uv cat
148.9 utech 890

middle / satin
158.8 uv clear
182.7 uv cat
133.2 utech 890

right / semi gloss
173.4 uv clear
199.4 uv cat
101.1 utech 890

IMG_2279.jpg
 
Thanks, Jim, that is great !!
I am leaning toward the right, but maybe a tad less reflection. The top of the dash is near zero, so after I get the dash panel and door tops where I like them, I'll flatten the rest out for the dash top.
 
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