Hi Guys,

I'm new to the trade so apologies for the newbie question! The paint we use for our trucks is Imron elite HDC with a mix ratio of 3:1:0.4-0.7. If I mix at this ratio when I test with a Din cup it far exceeds the 17secs? Anyone point me in a direction of what I'm doing wrong? What's the consequences of adding enough thinner to get to the 17 seconds?

Thanks Guys!

As a beginner myself you dont see people using viscosity cups much.I use them for staining or painting etc.I found low temperature really thickens some products.
Pros just go by how it runs off the stir stick I think.
No answers I know,but all I can suggest is try and spray a practice panel and see.
Good luck.

Thinner?

How about a list of the actual products you are using and the amounts you mixed together?

Thinner = Reducer.... I think its just the UK terminology.

We only do little touch ups so a normal usage would be something like this...

Paint 90ml
Activator 30ml
Reducer 20ml.

DIN 4 20-25 seconds, what are you getting ?

are you mixing on a scale ?

Marlon80 wrote:Thinner = Reducer.... I think its just the UK terminology.

We only do little touch ups so a normal usage would be something like this...

Paint 90ml
Activator 30ml
Reducer 20ml.

So I read the above as this, a part is 30ml,

Paint and hardener:
3 x 30 = 90 ml
1 x 30 = 30 ml
Reducer:
.4 x 30 = 12 ml
.5 x 30 = 15 ml
.6 x 30 = 18 ml
.7 x 30 = 21 ml

So you are mixing with the maximum amount of reducer with a 90, 30, 20 mix.

So I double checked with my DIN cup today and I'm around the 30 - 32 second mark (apologies, I don't know where the 17 seconds I first mentioned comes from the TDS is as you say Painterdave!) Could this be the ambient temp? It's around 14 to 16C in my shop,thus is why I have always mixed with the max amount reducer.

What would be the effect of over reducing?

Would mixing by weight be more accurate taking into account the small volumes?

Sorry for the questions but I've always been told that the mix needs to be correct before you can perfect the technique!

Marlon80 wrote:So I double checked with my DIN cup today and I'm around the 30 - 32 second mark (apologies, I don't know where the 17 seconds I first mentioned comes from the TDS is as you say Painterdave!) Could this be the ambient temp? It's around 14 to 16C in my shop,thus is why I have always mixed with the max amount reducer.

What would be the effect of over reducing?

Would mixing by weight be more accurate taking into account the small volumes?

Sorry for the questions but I've always been told that the mix needs to be correct before you can perfect the technique!

you can usually add up to but no more than a extra 10%to get your viscosity, BUT you have to be careful doing so. and yes your paint could be cold making it thicker.

Thanks for your help guys!

I pretty confident my mix is now right especially with the rising temperature. I'm still struggling with orange peel though. I think its lack of experience/bad techniques. The paint feels too think to flow so I compensate but putting too much on. Watching the videos online it just looks as though the pros put the finest of coats on and it all flows out nicely, if I try that it turns out awful and dry!