So, back when my dad started restoring his 53' Ford F-100, he got the paint bought/mixed for it from a local auto part store, but then we moved and our new local paint shop sells a different line of paint components (ShopLine). So The truck is mostly painted with a few exceptions, and I still have most of a can of base paint, but am out of the activator and top-coat we were using with it. I'm kinda hopping to use up the last of the base coat before having more mixed. It's Dupont ChromaBase, which you're supposed to use 14305s, or 77X5S activator with. Are there any equivalent activators I can use or do I really need to find a store that sells Dupont? Same question with the top-coat. Can I use something else or am I asking for trouble. (Haven't asked the paint shop lady yet. Just thought I'd pick your brains first).
Dupont is long gone.....now called Axalta. But I doubt they have any products that are compatible with Chromabase. Your best bet is to find some leftover stock, preferably unopened. Keep watching Ebay. Do not try to use any other brand or system activator. Chromabase/clear was excellent paint, I used it for years.
I was afraid of that. I think this paint was mixed back in 2014-2015. I've been googling to see if there's a paint shop in the greater Houston area, but stupid google of course comes up with every store that has "dupont" and "paint" on their website. Googling the activator itself gets some hits, but not cheap. I'll get a quote to mix a new batch and compare it to forking out for old stock activator. All that's left is the hood, tail-gate, doors, and a couple small misc. pieces.
Axalta is the same as what Dupont was. Dupont sold their coatings division and it continued under the Axalta name. Find an Axalta distributor and go talk to them. You need to look for Auobody supplies and then one that sells Axalta not Dupont and paint. There are probably activators that will work with the old paint. If you can't get an answer from them let me know and I can talk to the local Axalta rep (who also worked for Dupont) and see if he has a suggestion.
I was able to get some activator from an Axalta distributor down in Houston. All they had in stock was slow acting though, so I'll need to wait for a warm day to do the job. Thanks for the input guys!
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