I bought cheap paint, and now I have questions.

[derekf]

At a little rinky-dink swapmeet this past weekend, there was a guy with a rinky-dink little booth selling Sherwin-Williams auto paint.

Well, I knew I needed paint; and the price was nice, so I picked up a 'kit' - one gallon of single-stage black and 2 quarts of reducer.

I asked all sorts of questions about prep and flattening the paint while I was there, but I neglected to ask about hardener. When I got home, I went up on S-W's auto paint website to see what they said about hardener for that paint, but couldn't find anything that indicated that the paint I bought even existed (Ultra 7000 single stage).

The reducer is in an unmarked square can with German text stamped into the top (from a babelfish translation, it seems to mean you can cut the corner off the can to get the last little bit). The paint, well, it looks like paint. There's no identifying numbers on the can itself so I can't identify any details on what it really is.

So... questions:

Anyone know if S-W makes (or made in the past) an Ultra 7000 in a single stage? (I imagine I could call one of the Dallas S-W stores but they probably wouldn't be happy with the paint's origin)

Are single stage paints (assuming acrylic enamel) all pretty much universal so even if it's not really S-W paint in that can I could use the proper S-W hardener? Likewise, are flattening agents universal so I could get a flattener from S-W? (I need to redo my dashboard top)

I'm thinking to break out my spare pass door for the Elky, paint it with this paint, and mount it on the car for a couple of months just to see how it holds up before I do the whole car with it - good plan?

[WELTERRACER]

I just bought some of what i believe to be the same paint you just bought from a guy on EBAY.. Try searching for paint on ebay and email the guy selling it about your questions... I bought the Extreme 9000 torch red base paint..

[ProdigyCustoms]

Yeah, there was / is Ultra single stage. I never used it, it may be discontiued. I use Sherwin Williams for years, it is very good stuff, but I never used the Ultra single becaues I rarely shoot single stage excpt as a primer. And I use another of their lines for that.
German writing on the can thouguh sounds strange. I would check that out.
Call the local store, it will not be a problem. The branch manager here offs the mis match paints at our local monthly swap meet. It is probably on the up and up.

[derekf]

Thanks, y'all. I'll call the SW shop tomorrow.

[derekf]

Local SW shop says SW never made an Ultra 7000 single stage (not meaning to contradict, Prodigy - their SS is just "Ultra"), he's asked me to bring everything I bought up there and he'll try and figure out what it is - up to and including mixing some up and shooting a test panel.

I was most impressed with his willingness to help even though I may or may not really have SW paint. I guess I'll find out on Monday what I bought.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Yeah, it might have been called ultra one stage or something like that. I remeber seeing something, just never messed with it. Anyway, if it is their Ultra line that is there better line of materials.

[malibu9in]

If I were you I would paint some lawn furniture with that paint not your pride and joy. It only costs a little more to fly first class. Not trying to be cocky ,just saving ya a headache.

[derekf]

S-W rep did a lot of playing with the paint and it looks like I bought a gallon of the Ultra 7000 basecoat and some unlabeled reducer of unknown type for a pretty good price.

I had hoped to go single-stage, but I guess I get BC/CC after all. Hopefully I'll be able to avoid the things I screwed up on the first time. It'll be a bit before I'm ready to shoot the car anyway.