Paint hardener questions...

[BONUSCAB]

I'm cleaning up my frame and some other parts (most all of them) under the bed of my truck. Wire wheeled everything, brushed on Rustoleum Rusty Metal primer and I am gonna top coat (brush) everything with low gloss black Valspar Tractor and Implement paint. I did a hand full of parts alreaddy with the Valspar and I am not happy with how long it is taking to dry. It's been five full days and the paint still feels "soft" and I can pick at it with a finger nail. It hasn't been particularly humid during this time, either. I did a bunch of reading up on this paint on the interwebs and everyone says add the valspar hardener and it will dry a lot faster. My question is on how to mix this when I will not be using the entire quart at once. The ratio listed on the can is 8oz to a gallon. That is two ounces to a gallon. Can I pour what i think I am gonna use to do one coat and add a "splash" of hardener? On the hardener it says it takes 30 minutes to activate, and then it has an 8 hour shelf life.


Also will thinning the paint help it brush on any better? Right out of the can, it's very, very thick. It's doesn't seem to lay down and smooth out like the Rustoleum.

[RandyP]

The ratio listed on the can is 8oz to a gallon. That is two ounces to a gallon.

Well, where to start.

8oz to a gallon is a 1/2 pint to a gallon. So that's a 1 to 16 ratio. Mix the paint and hardener in a separate can, stir well and let it sit for the amount of time to activate that is recommended. Put a lid on it when you're not brushing it on and then when done. Toss it the next morning as it will be a hard jello brick.

[BONUSCAB]

Originally Posted by RandyP

Well, where to start.

8oz to a gallon is a 1/2 pint to a gallon. So that's a 1 to 16 ratio. Mix the paint and hardener in a separate can, stir well and let it sit for the amount of time to activate that is recommended. Put a lid on it when you're not brushing it on and then when done. Toss it the next morning as it will be a hard jello brick.

I'm trying to avoid tossing out paint.

[RandyP]

Then don't add hardener and wait a year on it to dry. Without hardener it is never going to fully cure. With hardener the mixed paint will not last more than 1/2 a day.

Welcome to the 1970's and enamel paint.

That's why you only mix what you need to do the job at hand, in a separate container.

[franken]

I think randy's point is how did you (the OP) decide 8=2?
You don't follow instructions, you don't get desired results.
BTW, you let this stuff harden in the gun, toss the gun to, or work hard...

[bilfman]

I lol'd
Posted via Mobile Device

[BONUSCAB]

There was a typo on my end. I did some mathing and figured out I need one tablespoon hardener per eight ounces of paint. (0.5:8)

My next question is, will I do harm tot he parts that have a coat of paint with no hardener in it, by going over them with paint that I've added hardener to?

[Jaysonb]

I used valspar low gloss black on all the stuff under the hood, and the frame of my truck. I found that mixing it 8-1-1 gave me the results I was looking for. It was a little to flat mixing it 16-1.

[Cape Codder]

It comes out to 1 ounce per pint, Can't you use 1 pint at a session? if not cut it inhalf again. A shot glass is about an ounce.

[BONUSCAB]

A pint is a lot of paint to brush down at once. I mixed eight ounces up at a time with one tablespoon (half an ounce) in plastic cups from the dollar store. It worked out great, but a little glossier than I would liked it to have been.