Has anyone had any success using SPI flattening agent in their single stage black to obtain the correct gloss for under hood items. I was looking for something for my inner fenders and radiator support. If you have used it with success what mix ratio's did you use or should I just use another brand of paint?

If you go to the SPI website and then go to the forum you will find a
whole thread on the flattening agent. I have used the flattening agent
and have found that you have to play around with it to get the desired
gloss you are looking for and it is not that easy to spray but I am not a
pro painter either. I personally would use the SPI epoxy primer as it has the right
semi-gloss look for under hood items and inner fenders.

JIm

i have tryed many ways to flatted black out some worked . but the best i have found is rust o leam satin black qt can for a spray gun reduce 10 to 15 % w/ acidtone works great and same look every time try it you will like it also :yes:

Thanks guys....I did go to their forum and read the section on flattening prior to posting. I wish I had read it before buying their single stage black as the results sounds sketchy at best. I have been priming everything with DP90 which has really been nice to work with and dries nice and fast. I was just looking for a bit more gloss on a few items in a urethane or epoxy. I'll pick up a quart of the rust-oleum and maybe swing by the local paint store and see if they have a PPG product that fits the bill.......Thanks again

you say you are using dplf 90 ppg has a line called shopline 1/2 the cost of dplf 90 and it is the old dp 90 that shopline has reboxed $90.00 dollars 1 gallon sparyable i use it alot great epoxy looks almost right for under hood color but scratches easy .tryed alot of paints in my 26 yr of working in a big chevy dealership bodyshop IM me if i can help in any way i see you live in fla

I haven't tried the SPI flattener yet but I'm sure you can get the results you're after by playing with the ratio of flattener and also adding reducer. The basics are: use less flattener for more gloss, more flattener for less gloss and what can really help to tweak this is add some slow reducer for more gloss or fast reducer for less gloss. Singlestage urethanes can be tough to spray if they are loaded up with flattener and reducer will help you get back to a viscosity that will spray good. Also use quality strainers-flattener can really pose some problems if any undissolved particles get through the strainer. Do some more testing.

A quality SS urethane is more durable than epoxy or Rustoleum or chassis black type products-think scratch resistance.

I've been using Akzo Nobel Sikkens Autocryl Rally Black for most suspension, underbody, firewall, core support, underhood, wheel houses etc.... And I play with the reducer temps and also add flattener as needed to get some good contrast. Rally Black is the toughest satin black I have found, very nice stuff.

you say you are using dplf 90 ppg has a line called shopline 1/2 the cost of dplf 90 and it is the old dp 90 that shopline has reboxed $90.00 dollars 1 gallon sparyable i use it alot great epoxy looks almost right for under hood color but scratches easy .tryed alot of paints in my 26 yr of working in a big chevy dealership bodyshop IM me if i can help in any way i see you live in fla

I bet the shopline epoxy you are buying is actually relabeled EPX-908 out of the industrial line. EPX-908 is like $75 for two sprayable gallons and acts very similar to the old DP line but I doubt there's any lead in it.

Bob thanks so much for that very informative post and I will inquire at my local paint store as to availability on the Rally Black..... That sounds like exactly what I've been looking for to obtain some contrast and durability (scratch resistance).
Let me also take a moment to comment on something that is way more important in the grand scheme on things and that is the father son project....a big :thumbsup: on that. Ed thanks so much for your tips as well and I really appreciate any help I can get and appreciate the offer for personal advice.....:beers:

another alternative to DP90LF is the Omni line. basically cheap PPG It is half the cost of DP90LF sprays & looks the same

i am not sure what i just used, but i shot some ppg single stage, used the flat. agent they gave me (looked like paste) it was used in place of the reducer, but used the hardener
you have a chart that tells how much to use, based of the flat you want-i shot the dash, rear inside piece below the rear window, and rear panel above the rear bumper (69) and it has a rich, semi gloss look, i really love it-the only thing you have to watch out for is the flatten agent dries quick, and if you have ant on you, it will flak of onto the car

For underhood items I use Dupont Centari Pitch Black enamel with Dupont 4531S flattener with good success. I use about 15% flattener by volume before adding reducer. Depending on the amount of gloss desired, between 15% and 20% of this flattener works well. I start out at 15% and try a test spray, if it needs to be knocked down a little I add a pinch of flattener and repeat. If it needs still more, another pinch and so on. I've seen many of these cars new, when they were new, and the underhood blacks were glossier than most present "underhood black" paints. Satin black is too flat IMO.

Thanks again for the responses......Von I have to agree that that they were glossier than the under hood blacks I have seen today. The DP90 gloss seems to match the factory firewall paint real close but is to dull compared to the original inner fenders and radiator support gloss. I'm getting ready to visit the paint store and see what they have in stock. I hope I didn't come off as bashing SPI as that was not my intent and I have not even broken the seal on their products......I'm just tired of watching my car sit and this weekends paint will be a one and done for this go round. I will shoot a couple test panels and compare to what I believe to be original gloss on my inner fenders.....Thanks again

I haven't tried SPI flattener but I've used their epoxy primer and it's excellent IMO. From what I've read, all their products are good so I'd expect the flattener to be the same.