Flatting agent

General Discussion
1

I’m trying to mix my own speed coat using clear acrylic. But what is a flatting agent? Any idea of a good recipe?

2

Hey Greg,

If you referring to water base acrylic applying it with cheese cloth with the material thinned out a little and dragging the cloth the full width of the board so you don’t leave any lines and can the board in one pass will leave a very nice even coat. Three coats put on about 10 minutes apart in a well ventilated area works well.

Laquer base acrylic is another approach and although it doesn’t brush well you can can build up a nice base with a couple of brush coats then wet sand it down after about 30 minutes of curing time and finally leave very glossy finish by sparying the top coat on.

I think that of all the techniques in producing a good finished surface progressively finer grades of wet dry sandpaper is a technique that is very hard to beat.

Mahalo, Rich

P.S. Did you get my email on the fish-fin templates? Just wondering cause I’ve haven’t seen any response.

3

…speed finish recipes:

-ALL mat finishes

.you need acrylic or polyester clears o lacquers or varnishes its all the same. go for the mat ones. go to an automotive paint shop.

. 1 part clear + 1/2 hardener + 10% solvent oil

. air spray 3 thin layers per side

. sanding only with rubbing paste and kerosene

now you obtain a perfect sealer in a mat finish

Second recipe: if you dont obtain a mat lacquer, you need:

. acrylic or polyester fast clear (with out hardener)

. mat additive. youll find these adds in gel and in powder, go for the gel types.

. thinner

. the lacquer + 6% mat additive + 25% thinner

. air spray 3 thin layers per side (man, let it dry)

. sand sligthly with 1500 grit and compound paste

thats all

4

Thanks. So the mat additive is the stuff that gives it body? I’m off the the auto paint store.

5

… …mat additive is that a mat additive…

6

no matting agent makes the paint matt. or flat/dull looking