Im kinda like a Nascar driver when it comes to painting.. I put the hammer down and only let off when I hit the wall..
You will not see me post something like " I cant run the Universal like the Dupont/PPG/Sikkens/etc clear Ive been using " as many do on the forum.
I run every single clear I spray..
Im not bragging, like Im some kind of clear god.. Please dont mistake my comments for boasting, as they are not!!!!!!
Im simply saying this.. With the way I spray, reducing most clears, however not all, takes me out of the drivers seat and puts the clear in the drivers seat..
Every show car I have done in the last 6+ years was with the #4000 Universal.. So everything in my above post is in reference to it... I have used more of that clear than any clear I have ever sprayed by a long shot.. I personally think it sprays thin enough that it does not need reduction.. Even for a flow coat..
Solvents make or break how these clears spray.. Everyone raves about the MS for flow coating, however it is the same clear as the Universal with exception of the solvents..
The MS is actually 1% more solids than the universal, yet it sprays and seems to be thinner.. Is it thinner when speaking of solid content?? No, but the solvent choice makes it appear to be thinner.
Same with the 2.1 voc Universal ( #4100 ).. It sprays thicker than the 4.4 voc ( #4000).. However both of those are identical in solids.. The difference is the solvent choice used to create the mandated 2.1 voc compliance laws. The 4100 sprays totally different than the 4000... It sprays much thicker.. But wait.. Its the same resin content ( read solids )
Im rambling so I will stop..
The #4000 Universal doesnt need reduction in my humble opinion to lay out slick and flat on the flow coat..
The Euro 2020 and the #4001 Universal both need reduction to lay as slick for most painters, again in my humble opinion as say the #4000 Universal..
I am currently shooting the 69 Camaro in pieces with the 2.1 VOC Euro clear.. I am reducing this clear..
I find it sprays the way I like it with .5 to 1 part reduction and that is plenty..
When I shot it unreduced, I really had to hammer it, to get the clear to lay out as I thought it should, so I simply added minimal reduction to produce the results I needed..
I hope that answers your question and I apologize for my rambling,.. It is 4am after all