Topic: Thinning out POR-15 for spray application???

[olc101]

I got my frame, swing arm, and other bits back from the sandblaster last week and he offered to put a zinc oxide coating on it so I agreed. I had previouly bought a POR-15 mix pack with three por-15 gloss black cans and three Blackcote cans as I was going to brush it on but have found someone that will spray it on pretty cheap.

I was wondering if anyone has thinned out Blackote before, with something besides the recommended POR-15 solvent that I can't seem to find on their site and really dont have time to order anyway as the painter has agreed to do the work this sunday.

The MSDS sheets for Blackcote say:

Product Description: Modified Urethane Resin Mixture

Chemical Family: Urethane


Does anybody know what specific type of thinner to use? They recommend por-15 solvent or lacquer thinner for clean up. Is this the same thing??

[Nikkisixx]

I have a bottle of the solvent, it does not say what the heck it is.  It smells like mineral spirits, not lacquer thinner.  It only requires what 5% or so per the instructions?  That is not very much.

I have sprayed POR-15 through a primer gun with a 2.3 tip without thinning.  2.3 is what I use for high build primer, and the POR-15 is pretty darn thin to begin with.  Hope that helps.

[olc101]

Yeah thanks! I'll let the painter know as he has never sprayed anything with POR-15 before. THANKS again!

olc101

[olc101]

Just to follow up, my painter ended up diluting the POR-15 Backcote with a urethane thinner/diluter. The gloss on the frame ended up being inconsistent and I had to go over the frame once more with a foam brush to get an even gloss. I wouldn't recommend diluting this stuff with anything besides the recommended POR-15 solvent. Just my two cents based on my experience. 

[ColinMc]

I've done it before with a VERY slow or warm temperature reducer...but nothing really works quite as well as the POR15 Solvent unfortunately.

I hope the painter cleaned his gun out VERY well afterwards. I have a cruddy old but decent gun I use just for POR15 stuff so it doesn't get ruined...not using my Iwata LPH400LVX for that stuff! lol

[Nikkisixx]

I think the POR15 solvent is petrol based (hydrophobic) while urethane solvents are not.  How's it look now after brushing (pics)? POR 15 lays down pretty nice even when brushed.  If you're in the mood to experiment, you can use a preval hardware store spray gun to shoot por15 as well:
http://www.preval.com/
Good for small stuff like kick and center stands, an entire frame might be stretching it. 

+1 on cleaning the gun.  I use a pos harbor freight gun for shtuf like that with a great big ol' 2.3 tip.  You could just about blow on texture ceilings with it 

[olc101]

Iwata know what an Iwata LPH400LVX costs so I can compare it to the preval and harbor freight stuff. I was seriously contemplating buying an old insectide sprayer and spraying something with that. Im really interested in seeing the end product. For some reason I think it will work. I may have watched to may cartoons as a kid though.

[Nikkisixx]

 
The preval thing is a glass bottle with a cartridge of compressed air that costs about $5.  Its good for one time use, available at Home Depot or Ace, and can spray just about any liquid provided it is thined out.

Iwata makes a nice hvlp detail gun that is perfect for motorcycle stuff - is that the LPH400LVX?  Costs about $200?

[ColinMc]

It's about 400 actually...but closer 500 with the other air cap for clearcoat spraying...wouldn't even think of running POR through it but it's fan-freaken-tastic for automotive paint.