While in NAPA I noticed they have gallon cans of urethane primer surfacer for $55 a can and $10 for the hardener, which is great considering a lot of it ends up sanded off onto the floor anyway. If I tried this stuff how can I tell what is compatible with it for top coats? Is there any way if I got the tech sheets I could tell what it is and who actually makes it? I have heard of good products that are also sold under cheap labels and want to see what this stuff is.

Hi Dave,

I work for the NAPA Distribution Center out of Indianapolis, and can get anything in the way of information that you want regarding our paint.

First, our paint is sold under the name Martin Senour. It is manufactured by Sherwin Williams, yes, the same Sherwin Williams that makes house paint. Our paint is a very good product, and compares head to head with the major names you hear like Dupont, Ditzler, PPG etc. The reason you do not hear about Martin Senour as much, is the fact that painters are very, very, much brand oriented, and quite frankly the big three I mentioned earlier have done a much, much, better job of marketing their product. Not any better, just better marketing. We have tons of very good painters across the country, that will spray nothing but Martin Senour. It also boils down to what each painter is used spraying. If the person started with Dupont 20years ago, you can probably bet a paycheck that he is still spraying it today. They are very hard people to get to switch brands no matter what attributes one brand may or may not have over another. But if it aint broke, why try and fix it, and that is sound reason if you are a body shop.

We have a complete clear coat system called Tech-Base, and we have a urethane system comparable to the name "Imron" (which I am sure you have heard of by Dupont), called Nitram. We also have an acrylic Enamel System and I believe it is called Prism. Remmeber this, and it goes with any brand of paint out there...If you know what you are doing, and it is mixed properly, and you have the right equipment and conditions it will turn out great.

Just let me know your questions regarding what you are wanting to do,, and I will do my best to help you out. If I don't know the answer, I am just a call away from our factory rep and he knows all the ins and outs of the product.

Hope I have helped

Mike

I've never tried the stuff but you may want to ask the store who they sell this product to and then ask the buyers how they like it. Many economical urethane surfacers are available. I see many shops using Morton brand and I've burned up about four gallons myself without any problems. EASYWORK - XTRA HIGH-BUILD URETHANE PRIMER-SURFACER - 4.8 LOW VOC

Easywork urethane xtra high-build ( http://www.uschem.com/products/index.html)

This is budget primer by most peoples standards at about $65 per gallon with hardener at my cost. The primer dries hard but sands ok, excellent fill with no shrinkage. Bob

Mike,
my problem is that this NAPA doesnt sell top coats there, possibly they can be ordered but there is nothing in stock in the store. I like using all the same brand paint from start to finish to be sure everthing will be compatible and if I cant get the top coats there I just wanted to know what brand would be safe,thanks a bunch for all the info! I just wonder how it works if I show up with a factory color code and say I want a gallon of paint how it is handled as far as where it is mixed and how long it takes to get. If I were to try the NAPA system, and I am interested in all 3 (enamel, urethane, BC/CC) is there a website with the descriptions and part numbers of the products? It would like to try it but would need part numbers so they could be ordered, plus I would like to read the product sheets.*******EDIT found the website, looks good! I will see if I can order top coat paint or get it at another area NAPA.
Bob,
sounds like good stuff, just have to see if there is a local distributor.

Try the Martin Senour auto paint web sitehttp://search.martinsenour-autopaint.com/ I sell the complete line. Tec-Base which happens to be their better Basecoat paint is good, Crossfire happens to be their economy line. Tec-base is a 1:1 ratio and does have alternate colors for matching. Crossfire is a 2:1 ratio, so using Crossfire is not the way to go because you would up more paint and coverage is not as good. Clear coats are very good.

Im nowhere near ready for Urethane primer, BUT I am using Martin_Senour etch primer (hence I will use the MS line when time/money allows). Im using the Econo etch primer. I was checking around for prices, and found out HERE at TC from Martin Sr that Martin_Senour was repackaged Sherwin Williams. SO, I went and price checked the Sherwin Williams etch, and it was $40 PER QUART! more than the MS! The tech sheet, and Martin Sr. said they were the EXACT same thing (they are- the PDS sheet is a carbon copy). Not too bad when you save that kind of money and get the same product! So far, Im pleased. Plus, they have a tintable urethane primer that is water resistant, if before paint, you want that old school hot rod look (why I went with it also).

Hey Dave,

What you need to do, is find a local NAPA Store that actually mixes. You can then give them just about any color or code, and they can mix and match if you need. Our stores, being that a lot of them are independently owned, are not required or do they all mix paint. Some as it sounds like in your case, just carry staples within the product line such as some hardeners, thinners, fillers etc. Just call some other stores, especially those in a metro area, as those will most likely have a complete mixing system and can accomodate you in just about any fashion. I can certainly make a contact and find the compatibility of other products with the Martin Senour brand. that you asked about. If you want product sheets, I can also get those for you and would be happy to send them to your address. On another note, just FYI, House of Colors which is a big time paint supplier of custom color automotive paints (very expensive too) and well renowned for custom colors, candies, chameleons, etc. for show cars is owned by Valspar. Yep, the same Valspar you see at Lowes.

Just let me know, and I will send the product sheets. As one of the other mentioned, you may be able to print off product and compatibility sheets off the website.

Mike

Mike,
thanks a bunch, I found all the product tech sheets online and I am going to select what I need from there. I just hope I can find a NAPA near me that mixes, it seems every time I want to try something new I cant find a local distributor. At least I can get the primer surfacer right here and I am going to try that first.

I used the Tec/Base on my 65 with no complaints. It covered great with less than 3/4 of a gallon used. Also, the metalic turned out awesome! One of our local Napa stores sells paint to a New Caddy Dealership here in town if that tells you any thing about the metalic in their paints graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Hey Dave,

You are welcome. I was most glad to help. If you have any further questions, please contact me anytime.

Mike