Ray you have many years in the industry, can you recommend an industrial paint that is priced decently?
Thanks, Fred
Sure.
I have used the urethane AIC product:
AIC. You have to go to a Sherwin Williams automotive store to get it. So, you need to check if it is available in your area.
Sherwin Williams liked it so much, they actually bought the company. I liked it too.
I used it on some airplane parts. I wanted to use automotive paint, but could not find the color I needed. They came out great, and it has held up perfectly.
This is a true urethane paint, that is reasonably priced. I do not know the current prices. But, I bought a pint a few years ago, for under $10. The reducer is acetone, so you can literately buy a $2 bottle of nail polish remover, and use it, (I did). The bad news is, since this is meant for fleet work, they only sold the hardener in quarts. And, that will run you probably $80. They may have added hardener in pints, since then. But, I doubt it.
If you are planning to do enough painting to use most, or all of a quart of hardener, (that would be gallons of paint), than spending $80 is not such a big deal. Once opened, a can of hardener has a limited shelf life. If it is kept tightly sealed, and cool, you may get 2 or more years out of it. if it is kept loosely sealed, and in a hot environment, it may only last 6 months.
Like most low end products, it's slow drying in cooler weather. But, it is much faster than Rustoleum. And, much higher quality
If you have an inferred heater, it will help greatly.
Painting this stuff in the summer, even outside in the sun, on the right day, would be great.
A step up from that is, Sherwin Williams Ultra one, single stage urethane. It dries fast, and is not real cheap. But, it's not crazy expensive. The same product is available at NAPA paint stores, under the Martin Senior brand, as Tec One. This stuff only costs a couple bucks more than acrylic enamel. And, is a much better product. This is what I actually wanted to use on those airplane parts I mentioned.
Many will suggest acrylic enamel, which is okay, if you like 50 year old technology. But, that is senseless, when for a few dollars more, you can use the current technology.
You can also see what your local body shop supply stores have. There are lots of low end products available now, that are decent. Ask the local stores what they have, and use Google, to see if people like it.
Buy a fresh disposable paint respirator, ($15-$20), and put it and gloves on, before you even open a can of issocyanate hardener, to mix the paint. When you finish painting, clean up, and leave the area, before removing the respirator. Keep it in a sealed container. You can get about 40 hours of use out of one of these, if you treat it right.
Also keep in mind that, paint off gasses toxic fumes for at least 24 hours after you spray it. So, either wear a respirator, or ventilate the area well, if you enter. Bringing the family in the garage to show off your handy work, while these fumes are still present, is not such a good idea.
