Chassis refinish....DPLF and topcoat..

[Jim V.]

Ok...I am desperate for some expert help!!!!!....one more shot. I have my c2 front control arms in two coats of DP90LF. Lookin good... but

1. Is a topcoat recommended? PPG tech says, "you bet!...if you don't you are on your own!" I suspect they are lookin to sell product.

2. If topcoating, PPG has three black DCC urethanes...9000, 9300, and 9700. Which would be recommended for C2 chassis black? 9000 is a brownish black, 9300 has blue and white tints but is supposed to be darker than 9000. 9700, per PPG, is the darkest, even darker than 9300. Hmmmm..

3. Is their an less expensive alternative for a top coat, other than skipping it?

Thanks all!

[Dick W.]

[Jim V.]

Re: Chassis refinish....DPLF and topcoat..

Thnks Dick. With so little flattener to achive 90% gloss, do you have to add reducer as well? PPGs spec sheet just shows the 60% gloss blend with no reducer. What proportions do you run between color, reducer, and flattener for your 90% gloss? I am realy liking the look of the straight DP90LF. I wonder what the gloss percentage of the straight DP90LF is? I am thinkin around 70-80%. Do you suppose PPG is just lookin to sell more product by recommending a top coat?

Thanks
JimV

[Chuck S.]

Re: Chassis refinish....DPLF and topcoat..

"Do you suppose PPG is just lookin to sell more product by recommending a top coat?

Probably not...they're giving you advice for a bullet proof coating so that the customer doesn't come back complaining, but whatever PPG's motives, it's material: DP90LF is too flat...not enough gloss for control arms.

[Wayne P.]

Re: Chassis refinish....DPLF and topcoat..

I have a frame behind my garage that was painted with DP90, no top coat. It's been sitting there in the weather for 10 years, uncovered. Still looks pretty good.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Chassis refinish....DPLF and topcoat..

"...but whatever PPG's motives, it's material: DP90LF is too flat...not enough gloss for control arms."

I typed too fast; I should have typed what I was thinking, or "IMmaterial", i.e. It doesn't matter why PPG told you DP90LF must be top coated...DP90LF gloss is incorrect for the control arms.

[Dick W.]

Re: Chassis refinish....DPLF and topcoat..

PPG is not just trying to sell product. As Chuck says they do not want you coming back later with a complaint.

I mix according to the product sheet. I measure as accurately as possible. This allows me to duplicate the color/gloss next time I need it. I do not have the product sheet here at the house. I will have to look at it tomorrow when I get back in the shop.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Chassis refinish....DPLF and topcoat..

Dickie, how do you keep that heavy DX685 from settling to the bottom and causing the gloss to change during the job? This has driven me crazy to the point I'm almost ready to try to get the gloss right with spray cans. Do you have an agitator gun? Trying to shake the gun doesn't work for me.

[Dick W.]

Re: Chassis refinish....DPLF and topcoat..

Chuck I have never had that problem. (or maybe I am so blind that I have never noticed) Agitage the DX-685 vigorously before mixing. When shooting a frame, a quart cup does not last very long. I gently shake the gun occasionally.

[Dick W.]

[Chuck S.]

Re: Chassis refinish....DPLF and topcoat..

You can use DX685 as a flattener in many of their top coats.

The last time I used it was in Concept DCC strong black, whatever that number is. I painted some flexible trim; my result was all over the place from satin (intended) to semi-gloss...I shook the gun (Gravity feed HVLP) as much as I could the whole time. The flexibilizer added yet another variable...I had like five components (paint, catalyst, reducer, flattener, flexibilizer) I was trying to estimate and guess at from the chart

I always shake my paint good without the catalyst, and then mix the catalyst in by stirring well, and then shoot. I have found that five minutes of shaking with catalyst causes things to move along a little swifter than you like.

[Jim V.]

DCC or DAU...

Dick....I may have ordered the wrong stuff. I ordered DCC. What is the advantage/disadvantage or the DAU vs the DCC? I know the DCC is pricey at $70/qt.

Thanks

[John M.]

Re: DCC or DAU...

The DCC is a great topcoat for a frame. I use it all the time, and it also uses the 685 flattner. I think that DCC is the best single-stage urethane on the market! JMHO

Regards, John McGraw

[Jim V.]

Flattening DCC...

John...do you have experience flattening to 80% gloss for control arms? I am looking for the mix proportions and I am unsure as to the use of reducer. PPG only shows mixes for up to 60% gloss.

Looks like DAU was replaced with DCC in Jan of 06.

Thanks

[Dick W.]

Re: Flattening DCC...

Jim, refer to the link for DX 685. I probably would reduce the amount of DX 685 about 2 oz. if using DU5 or DU6, adding the like amount of appropiate reducer. With DCX hardener, I would use 17 oz. of DX and add 3 oz. or reducer.

This is all based on a quart of DCC

http://www.ppg.com/refinishftpsite/docs/P-162.pdf