Paint people...can I use a diffrent company's base coat activator?

[AKcharger]

I was about to go spray my hood with NASON® (Dupont) and noticed they didn't give me any base coat activator! It's the perfect day for it! Can I use another manufactures activator or is this a big no no??

[bill440rt]

Does the Nason basecoat require a catalyzed activator?    Or is it just a reducer/thinner?

If it's catalyzed I would advise against it. Anytime I tried that mix-up stuff I ended up with a paint cup full of jelly. 

[AKcharger]

It does, 1st time I've used Nason, I always use PPG but I'm matching the paint on my '72...that has Nason on it. Plus Nason uses some weird ratio of 8 parts base coat to 1/2 part activator to 4-8 reducer. 

Copy...well so much for a warm low humidity day to paint

[hemi-hampton]

I thought acivated basecoat was optional. With PPG there DX57 activator is optional. I never use it, mainly because it makes denibbing harder plus you can run into problems down the road if you use it. Where I work now though doing factory repairs on factory new cars they want us to use it or we use High bake paint which is a real pain in the ass. LEON.

[bill440rt]

I know PPG's DBU basecoat requires the use of a catalyzed reducer, and the reducer has a shelf life. Their DBC line of basecoats does not use an activated reducer.
Not familiar with NASON's line of paint, but as a lower level paint line I'm surprised they have a basecoat that uses an activated reducer.

Anytime I've intermixed PPG with DuPont hardeners/reducers and vice-versa, they didn't mix very well and got dumped.
Better to wait and use the appropriate stuff.

[hemi-hampton]

Yeah, I'd Strongly advise against mixing different brands of paint together. Results can sometimes become a nightmare, better to not risk it, LEON.

[AKcharger]

Thanks Guys!

[jaak]

Is it Nason 'Fulbase'? If so I can't remember what the tech sheet says about it, but I have used it before. Its been a long time ago, but seems like I remember the rep telling me it called for a base activator, but he said I didn't need it, and he didn't try to sell it to me. So I know for sure you can use 'fulbase' without and activator and you will be fine... really I see no sense for a base activator, but maybe guys more knowledgeable on paint technology can fill me in on that.

Jason

[john108]

I used Nason Select Clear 465-00 over a base coat, in my engine compartment.
The mixture ratio was 2:1:20% reducer.

[AKcharger]

Hi Jason

it is "full base" hmmm maybe they did right not selling it, I wish they would have told me 

[jaak]

Hi Jason

it is "full base" hmmm maybe they did right not selling it, I wish they would have told me 

Like I said, maybe some of the more tech savvy folks can answer why it calls for an activator, but I have used fulbase in the past... it flashed fine like any other base I have used. IIRC I used Nason clear on it, it has held up fine after 6-7 years.

Jason

[AKcharger]

OK well I called the paint shop and the Lady said we didn't need the activator. Cool...then I asked what the mixing ratios were, she said look on the can....I did, it calls for activator so the can's mixing ratio is out the door

Any suggestions???

[jaak]

Just leave the activator out, according to the tech sheet 8 parts (base), 1/2 part (activator), 4 parts (reducer).... so that makes 8:4 which equates to 2:1.
FulBase tech sheet>>>>  http://pc.dupont.com/dpc/en/US/html/visitor/common/pdfs/b/product/nsn/Nason/fulbaseb-cbasecoat.pdf

Post pics of your work!

Jason

[AKcharger]

Perfect! Thanks Jaak!


Sure will, weather looks nice enough to paint on Wednesday

[AKcharger]

Good and bad....the mixing went fine, activator wasn't needed
I painted my brothers motor cycle at the same tine as the hood, cycle parts came put great but hood not so much. At least the underside is done. I have some paint and clear left so I'll try agin next week

[jaak]

What happened with the topside of the hood?

Jason

[AKcharger]

Had runs and a few fish eyes  I thought prep was good but I might have been in a rush. Perhaps hanging it vertical might have contributed as well. Good part is it shouldn't take too much to fix..and now I have a good substrate 

[Lord Warlock]

Ive run across this situation several times, while using Nason paint.  The full acrylic single stage doesn't usually need activator but the polyurethane usually calls for it, and if using single stage, the clear is actually inside the activator so you would want to use it.  Like yourself, I've run into what I consider a perfect paint day and reached for leftover activators before, I don't advise doing so, sometimes it works fine, sometimes it works out bad.  Easier to make a quick run for some activator.  With base coat clear coat paints many just use the reducer to activate the paint, House of Kolor paints usually just have reducer and no activator.  I only had to use activator with the HOK primer.  

Nason is just the house brand at the local finishmaster shop I use.  While I like the base coats, clears always give me problems.  A fine line between a wet coat of clear and a sag or run appearing.  My hood didn't like being hung vertical, it worked better for me to hang all 4 corners but use longer hangers on one so it hung at a reclined angle, but still had a slope to let paint flow downhill slightly.  (put a brick or two under it on a flat surface and it is enough. 

[AKcharger]

Yeah, well I'm going to bit the bullet and bring it to a shop and have them shoot it.  I like doing stuff my self but want it to come out nice.