Matte Clear? (I'm in over my head)

@AllGoNoShow Go with the TDS Crashtech posted. It was revised in 2019. The one you posted is from 2007. What happened is they revised the formula to more accurately achieve the gloss described. Adding flattener is so much trial and error that even the manufacturers sometimes can't get it right. That's why there are two TDS's. the one Crash posted is revised to more accurately reflect the correct gloss and correct ratios.

If you or anyone else ever encounters a situation like this, the easiest thing to do is look down at the bottom of the page and the published date. Always use the latest date as it is considered more accurate.
 
@AllGoNoShow Go with the TDS Crashtech posted. It was revised in 2019. The one you posted is from 2007. What happened is they revised the formula to more accurately achieve the gloss described. Adding flattener is so much trial and error that even the manufacturers sometimes can't get it right. That's why there are two TDS's. the one Crash posted is revised to more accurately reflect the correct gloss and correct ratios.

If you or anyone else ever encounters a situation like this, the easiest thing to do is look down at the bottom of the page and the published date. Always use the latest date as it is considered more accurate.

I don't question your knowledge but, when I see a reply like that, it really impresses me.

Way to get too the root cause of the issue.

Well done.
 
I don't get how the flatter mixing ratios can change so significantly from the old TDS to the new (unless they changed the make up of the flattner). For instance, mixed with Deltron 2021 it goes from 4:7:1:1 to 3 1/4: 3 3/4:1 3/4:1!

I heeded some of this advice- I returned my Axalta and bought a can of DCU2060 pre mixed flat clear- I'm going to spray a test panel and see where I'm at. Hopefully the sheen matches and I wont have to worry about adding the flattener. The test piece I did just to match the base looks perfect next to the existing finish, even without any clear coat on it, so if the DCU2060 is as flat as they say, I imagine it will be perfect. I'll post the results here.
 
they certainly could have changed the formula. i know akzo was changing or making a new flattener about every 6 mos at one point trying to make something that was easier for the painter to not tiger stripe. now they have just made their multimatte clear. super expensive. i have never used it but somehow you can get different sheen levels with a preflattned clear depending on ratio's i guess. they seemed to have settled in on that.
 
My friend used to work at BASF in the paint r&d. They are constantly working on things so its no surprise that a formula will change especially as the flat/matte stuff is more popular and even available from the OEM's.

For the longest time he was working on clear blending with a matte clear.
 
Did a test piece with the DCU2060…it’s a little too flat and really muted the metallic base (piece shown below with the existing finish on the glovebox door behind it-test piece is cleared on the left side and right side is just the base with nothing over it). I’m going to mix some regular clear with it and do another test (the mix ratios with the DCU2060 are much easier to understand).
 

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Got it figured out and thanks for the replies, which were very accurate. Small changes in the ratios made big differences and I got a gram scale as well as some accurate measuring cups to make sure I could reproduce it accurately in the future. With the DCU2060, when making 6 ounces, it took only 1 1/4 teaspoons of normal clear to make it the right eggshell sheen (I ended up using the deltron speed clear which is the only thing they had available in quarts). Results below (I put directly over SPI epoxy). Never sprayed metallic base before, and found that the “flakes” would create a lot of overspray where they were suspended in the air for quite a long time (then appeared to fall down in the paint that adhered to the panel, creating some bumps). Paint/ matte clear looks to be great match, but it doesn’t feel as smooth as I would like it. Not sure if I just didn’t lay the clear on wet enough (did 3 coats) or if it’s just a function of painting in a garage without a booth and it’s contaminants in the base and/or clear. Any tips would be appreciated.
 

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