Auto paint question

[Aaronw]

In 2004 I bought a pint of USFS green paint, it is Dupont Centari acrylic enamel. It came with a small quantity of hardener that the paint guy said was optional but recommended for the best finish. I also have the laquer thinner it was supposed to be thinned with.

Anyway, I've never used it as I have since found some "close enough" matches in spray cans and I'm kind of lost with anything more than a basic job with the airbrush. This paint wasn't cheap though so I'd like to get around to using it up, but have several questions.

#1 since it says it is an acrylic enamel, that means it is not a urethane paint correct? I ask because of the hardener that was suggested to add. I'm not used to regular paints requiring an additive. Urethanes have enough issues that I don't even want to start down that path.

#2 Sealed in the can, and stored in a cool dry place do I have any real shelf life issues to worry about?

#3 How much of each bit should I use? and do I thin before or after adding the hardener (if I should even use it).

#4 anything else I should know about it (recommended psi, spraying tips, etc?)

I'm a rattle can and single color acrylic airbrush user, so if this paint will require any special techniques it is safe to assume I don't know that.

I do have a cartridge respirator with the appropriate cartridges for use with most paints and a paint booth exhausted outside, so my lungs should be covered.

I have a Paashe double action airbrush (VLS I think).

Thanks

[Mike Kucaba]

Go to google and input dupont centari and see if the instructions come up.

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

Ok Centari doesn't need the gloss hardener. If you intend on polishing it out, you're probably better off without it, but that's optional as the guy said. Thin it with lacquer thinner to a reasonable consistency and spray it at anywhere from 30 to 60 lbs.The higher the air pressure the finer the orange peal will be.

No Centari is not a urethane, but the hardener you're adding is. Centari is supposed to be thinned to 18 to 20 seconds through a viscometer, but that'd be a little to thick for model use.Your best bet is to thin some and see if it lays down smooth, if it doesn't, thin it some more.

As for storage, if the can is near full, it'll store for yrs if it isn't thinned. If it's thinned it still should be good for at least 6 mos.

I thought they did away with Cenrati yrs ago ? When they first brought it out, it was great. It had the properties of lacquer and the ease of enamels and shined like a mirror. In fact it shined to well and they deadened it so it'd match factory paints.Thus they started using gloss hardeners to get the shine back. Go figure, lol It polishes out great.

[Aaronw]

Thanks, I'll probably skip the hardener then from what you've said.