Welcome to the Hard Surface & Automotive Guide! This guide covers the application of Createx Colors paints on hard surfaces, including automobiles. Follow the basic application process and use a test panel before all applications. Remember to supplement this guide with the product's Technical Data Sheet available at www.creatextech.com
Dry Times for Adequate Curing are set for70⁰F / 21⁰C and 50% Relative Humidity
• Extend drying times in colder temps. down to 60 deg. F⁰, painting under not recommended.
• Allow paint to dry in temperatures over 60 deg. F⁰ during the initial 48 hours after application.
PAINT MIXING & REDUCTION / SET-UP
For best results, add 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear to paints, then thin as needed with 4011 Reducer
4050 UVLS Gloss Clear
4050 is a urethane clear that when mixed with Createx paints, creates an acrylic – urethane resin blend.
• Airbrush: Add ~ 10% v/v to Createx paints, then thin with 4011 Reducer, ~ 10% - 30% v/v.
• Spray-Gun: Add ~ 10% v/v (9:1) to standard & fluorescent colors,
add ~ 20% v/v (4:1) to pearl & metallic colors. Thin with 4011 Reducer ~ 10% - 20% v/v.
• Allow mix 10+ minutes to acclimatize before spraying for best flow and leveling.
• candy2o has 4050 mix ratios different from other Createx paints. Refer to candy2o TDS for more.
• AutoBorne Sealer does not require mixing with 4050.
4011 Reducer
4011 is the recommended thinner for all Createx Colors paints and clears.
• 4011 mix ratios are guidelines. Add 4011 in amounts to achieve best atomization.
• 4011 breaks water surface-tension. Allow mix 10+ minutes before spraying for best flow and leveling.
• Generally, 4011 is added to colors ~ 20% v/v for airbrush and 10% v/v for spray-gun. For colors mixed with
4050, ~ 10% more 4011 is added: 30% v/v for airbrush and 20% v/v spray-gun.
4030 Balancing Clear
4030 is another mixing clear. Similar to 4050, adding 4030 to paints creates an acrylic – urethane resin blend.
• Compared to 4050, 4030 creates a softer coating, which may be beneficial for airbrushing. 4050 is generally
best for spray-gun, however, for airbrush use, both 4030 and 4050 work well.
• 4030 is less viscous than 4050, so colors don’t have to be as thinned as much for airbrushing.
• 4030 is not recommended for use with candy2o. Mix candy2o with 4050.
No Pot-Life
Createx paints do not have a true pot-life. Colors are generally sprayable up to 48-hours, after which sprayable
viscosity may change, to which more 4011 Reducer can be added.
• Avoid adding 4011 Reducer or other thinners to colors intended for storage more than 48-hours.
• Keep capped air-tight when not pouring paint. Store in paint cabinet or a box in a dry, cool closet.
Spray-Gun
• Tip-size: 1.2mm – 1.3mm
• Mini Spray Gun: 0.8 – 1.2mm
• PSI: Follow spray-gun manufacturer’s settings, often the upper psi limit of spec’d setting
• Best used with high-flow air couplings on hose fittings.
• For smaller tip-sized airbrushes, use transparent colors such as Wicked Colors, Illustration Colors, Createx
Transparent Airbrush Colors. Wicked Opaque Colors also work well with small tip-sizes.
• Thin as needed to achieve a fine atomization, adding 4011 Reducer in small increments at a time.
Createx paints are compatible with any primer, paint, and clear type. If applying a primer, allow it to thoroughly
dry, then sand or scuff before applying paint.
320 – 800 grit may be used to prepare Createx paints.
• 600 – 800 grit when airbrushing direct to substrate or using transparent colors.
• Medium & coarse scuff pad may be used with the scratch marks will be covered by AutoBorne Sealer.
• Dry sand only. Do not wet sand Createx paints.
• Clean with a solvent-based, post-sanding (mild) degreaser r 99% isopropyl alcohol.
• Dry surface with lint-free cloth.
• Do not use a water-based cleaner before painting. Use solvent-based cleaner.
START with AutoBorne Sealer
Apply AutoBorne Sealer direct to prepared primer or substrate.
• Apply AutoBorne Sealer direct to substrate or primer after preparation.
• 6013 AutoBorne Silver Sealer is the metallic base for candy2o.
• 6000 Transparent Sealer is an adhesion promoter for plastic & more and is the most adhesive sealer.
• Refer to AutoBorne TDS for more.
UVLS 4050 Gloss Clear may also be used as an adhesive ground-coat, replacing AutoBorne Sealer.
• 4050 is the best adhesion promoter for glass, and a few other substrates, please see below list.
• Only use 4050 as adhesive coating, do not use UVLS 4051 Satin, 4052 Matte or 4053 High Gloss.
• Refer to UVLS TDS for more.
Substrate – Best Createx Adhesive Coating
• Steel, Stainless Steel – 4050 Gloss Clear can be applied directly to metal; however a catalyzed (2k)
urethane or epoxy primer is recommended for “edge-to-edge” priming as it provides best protection
against corrosion in exterior conditions. 4050 is best for spot priming small, exposed areas of metal.
• Aluminum – AutoBorne Sealer
• Fiberglass – AutoBorne Sealer
• Glass – 4050 Gloss Clear
• 3D Print Composite Material, Nylon – AutoBorne Sealer
• Wood – AutoBorne Sealer
• Automotive finish – AutoBorne Sealer
• Brass – 4050 Gloss Clear
• Chrome – 4050 Gloss Clear
• Polished substrates not scuffed – 4050 Gloss Clear
• Latex – 5092 Bloodline Adhesion Promoter
• Flexible vinyl – 7040 Adhesion Promoter
• Rubber – 7040 Adhesion Promoter
Createx paints have good adhesion when airbrushed direct to an existing finish.
ensure even the lightest airbrush lines adhere well to the surface.
• Prepare first by sanding 600 – 800-grit sandpaper, then cleaning with a solvent-based degreaser or 99%
isopropyl alcohol using a lint-free cloth.
Spray-Gun Application
• Follow the spray gun manufacture’s recommended inlet psi settings.
• Apply paint in 50/50 overlapped pattern.
• Coats should be medium wet with fine, wetted droplets hitting surface to create coating.
• Surface distance is generally 6” – 8” from spray-gun.
• Apply first coat medium wet. A light tack-coat is not recommended to avoid texture.
• Allow each coat to dry matte before applying the next coat.
• Re-coat times are approximately 10-minutes in a spray-booth, 20-minutes in an open-environment.
• Use moving air running across the painted surface to assist drying. Do not use heat to force-dry paint as
this will result in a loss of adhesion.
For exterior and automotive paintjobs, a durable clear must be applied over Createx paints.
• For best results, allow Createx paint to thoroughly dry for at least 1-hour prior to clear.
• No time windows. Createx paints may be top-coated with a clear any time after drying.
• Sanding Createx paints prior to applying a clear is never required for adhesion of clear.
top-coating with a catalyzed (2k), solvent-based, urethane clear is recommended.
• Use a slower, higher temperature reducer for best adhesion and leveling.
• Avoid fast-cure clears, reducers, and additives.
• Apply the first coat of clear medium-wet. A tack or acclimation coat is not recommended.
(2k) clear so paint is not directly exposed to water.
• Make sure to apply clear on edges, anywhere paint is exposed to ensure pin-hole free coverage.
• Createx paints may dry to the touch in 10 minutes to 1-hour. Final cure is not until 48-hours.
• Time to Tape and Dry Sand: ~ 45-minutes.
• Time to Appling Clear Coat: ~ 1-hour in a spray-booth, ~ 4-hours open environment.
or humid conditions, allow paint extended drying time will ensure best application of clear.
• Use a post-sanding (mild) solvent-based degreaser to clean colors after they’ve thoroughly dried.
• Do not clean paint with a water-based cleaner.
• A lint-free tack rag made for water-based / waterborne paints works best to clean with.
• Allow tack rag to “gas out” after opening package and before using onto fresh paint,
and avoid pressing down hard onto paint. A light wipe with a damp tack rag is best.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Read cautions and warnings on labels & Safety Data Sheets, available at www.creatextech.com.
Always spray in a well-ventilated area. Always wear a NIOSH / MSHA approved respirator when painting.