Has anyone shot a complete car with flex n flat?

Before I start this thread, please let's not turn this into a ******* match over suede vs primer.

I have changed course on my model a. It was being built for my kid but he is more into the late model stuff so we bought him a newer car.
So I have inherited this model a coupe.

I want a durable flat/suede primer look, so I am opting for a single stage that I can tint to my liking for the UV protection. I flattened my T bucket with the PPG flattener but I really never cared for the finish. It was a little splotchy.

This car is going to be a daily so I was thinking that it might be a possibility to spray the car/frame in the flex and flat bumper paint.

I have read all the threads covering this subject, thanks to the new search function. Thanks Ryan.

Just wondering the results if anyone has tried it.

Thanks
Root

 

here is one I did for my dad.

 

What paint did you put it over?

 

other than the gloss clear on the roof, the whole thing is ppg basecoat...(wiith flex-n-flat over the rest)

 

That looks nice MF.

 

Chromabase.

 

Looks good.

 

I just used PPG Flexed and Flat on a bike job. Make sure your catalyst is NEW. Also, reseal the paint tightly and keep it out of extreme heat before you use it. I painted this motorcycle during 100 degree weather here...

When I first opened the new can and used it, it went on like velvet and looked beautiful. I used the same paint later in the week after it sat on my bench in the heat and I got little nuggets of white flattener all over the place. !@#$$%^^!!!

It's good stuff but I wouldn't use it when it's old or has been exposed in the can. Tear it up!

 

I bought 2 qts of Rust-oleum semi gloss black $15.00 at Walmart and did the underside of my 31 it takes about 3 days to dry but I really like the results although may be too glossy for some. They also make a flat you could mix 1/2 and 1/2. It's tough stuff! Oh you might want to cover EVERYTHING up when spraying!

 

I wonder if the shelf life was out when you got it?

 

we had some nuggets in the top coat,too. not a lot, but still annoying...

 

All of the cars I have done have been with the flex and flat...check out the album in my profile.

Make sure you strain the clear!! That's why they are getting the white spots. I was in a hurry once or twice with small items and didn't strain....ended up with the white spots. None of the others had white spots. Don't worry about shelf life. I've had half cans sitting arround for almost a year and had no problems.

Minimum two coats!! I tried one coat to be cheap and it ended up streaky.

I like to thin it maybe 10% extra. Flows real nice.
Clark

 

If you are doing a solid color I would do a single stage eurethane with the flattener mixed by the paint suplier. they can use the formula for bus hoods to get the right amount of flattener.

If you're using a metalic or pearl color use the flat clear.
Clark

 

On my truck, we flattened out the paint. It was uniform with no splotches. I liked the "flatness" of it a lot. I think when I do the color change on my truck this winter, I'm going to try a flat clear. Good luck with your new car Root.

 

I actually want the red oxide/brown primer look but with uv protection. Don't want to have to separate the car from the frame again.

 

I strained it with 3 filters every time. It worked fine when it was fresh out of the can. I think it was a combo of a very hot week and old product...

 

the other 2 cars i had in semi-gloss were both lacquer single stage, no clear. one gallon of paint and 1 quart of flattener. i think those held up better than the flex-n-flat. if you're looking at a solid color, that's what i'd suggest, especially if you want to paint it again without compatibility issues. i know of of one that had flattened enamel (shot at maaco) and it did not look good...

 

Your local paint shop should be able to mix you up a brown/red flat single-stage enamel. Just paint everything together to get the same amount of gloss. I know my car looks splotchy up close, but that's because I can't spray and the gun I used was shot. A friend of mine has a '39 Chevy coupe painted with exactly the same paint and it looks beautiful - like a big sheet of velvet d****d over the car.

 

Clark has this look on lock, IMO. He turned me on to the Flex'd n Flat Clear for 2-stage jobs which is what I like to do. While I haven't tried it yet, thats the way to go compared to other methods.

That was chunks of the flattening agent, the **** needs to be shaken for a week straight before you use it! I had straight flattening agent on the mixer for at least 30 min prior to using it and it still was chunky.

 

Shop I used to work at painted a steel (at one point....) 40 willys black with flattened clear. It was middle of August, over 100 for a week straight. I watched that ****er get painted four times trying to get it right. I don't think it's as much the product as it is technique. You can change the gloss level a lot by how you spray. I've done the same batch of clear on two different pieces and had different gloss levels just by changing the flash times between them.
The paint will milk out off your p***es are not consistent or too heavy (three heavy coats will do it) and become splotchy in spots. you do have to shake the piss out of it. then shake it some more. also use a slower reducer/hardner than you normally would for the conditions to help it float out the flattening agent. and shake it again!
On really flat (low gloss) pieces I like to do a fog or dust coat right after finishing the last coat of clear. seems to keep everything very consistent. just be sure to shake it some more.
If you push your flash times you will keep a bit more gloss. but be sure to shake and stir then shake the paint before mixing it.

jon

 

flat clears are tricky.

u must mechanicallly mix the product, especially the flattner. it falls out of suspension and gets clumpy, it will get white specs everywhere if u dont.

second, its all in the application, its commonly referered to spraying a candy blindfolded.meaning u must spray it even and perfect or every flaw will show up, spotting is from the gun being too far away, or a dry, and streaks are from improper overlap, or being super heavy in one p*** and dryer in another.

i personally dont like flex n flat, one cuz i cant get it in my area, and when i was able too i didnt like it cuz solvents will actually soften it and can damage it.

also the easiest and one of the best flat paints on the market is hotrod flatz by kustomshop down in san diego, suprised no one mentioned it. its a pre flattened urethane single stage that comes in, solids, pearl, and metallics. http://www.tcpglobal.com/kustomshop/ksflatz.aspx

for a good flat job, i spray normal clear first, sand it, then spray 2 coats of the flat clear, it gives a better finish.

there is no reason to go more then 2 coats, any more and u can run into more streaking and blotchy issues.

 

Clark is a pioneer! My flex and flat daily driver is holding up really well. Been painted for over a year and sits outside everyday. We got the white spots really bad too but then Clarky told us to strain it and we didnt get any white spots after that.

 

So what makes the colors "pop"? Are there some that look better than others? I am ***uming the metallics are mainly what everyone is using?

 

It looks great... but ****s to spray. Our wagon has been painted for over a year & seems to be holding up fine. I clean it with windex.

 

Yes color choice makes a difference. Purple doesn't seem to pop as much. I'm thinking the mix of blue and red are fighting each other for it to pop like some of the other colors.

If you decide on a metalic color let me know.
Clark

 

Everbody is saying how hard it is to spray. I think it's easy. You do have to be carefull cause there is no sanding and buffing.

I'm not a pro painter either. I've been painting since I was 16 but at the most I do a couple of cars a year.
Clark

 

the boogie van is covered in ppg's pre flattened flexible clear and it looks great it covers a base of ppg kia blue

 

Try DX 685 from PPG

 

Ptown...what's DX 685?
Clark

 

its a flattening agent.