Createx Colors Intercoat 4030

4030 Balancing Clear
Water-Based, Urethane Clear
A Clear for Mixing with Createx Colors paints

Updated October 2023. Supersedes previous versions and any conflicting label text and usage instructions.

Description & Essential Information

4030 Balancing Clear is a colorless, water-based clear made with urethane resin made for mixing with Createx paints. 4030 appears milky in solution and dries to a satin, clear finish.

4030 is generally added 10% per volume to Createx paints. The Createx paint & 4030 mixture is thinned as needed with 4011 Reducer, ~ 10% -25% per volume depending upon airbrush tip-size & air pressure and adjusted for best flow & atomization of the paint.

Although 4030 can be used as a carrier-medium for candy2o, 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear is the recommended carrier-medium for mixing with concentrated candy2o dye colors. 4050 holds candy2o in a more homogeneous suspension and holds a more even color compared to 4030.

Adding 4030 Balancing Clear to Createx paints, and other water-based acrylic paints, creates an acrylic – urethane resin mix which:

• Improves flow and reduces tip-dry while spraying.
• Promotes leveling for a smooth, texture-free coating.
• Improves adhesion to plastics, 3D print material, fiberglass, urethane, epoxy, wood, aluminum, and most any hard-surface or rigid substrate.
• Improves durability (mar resistance)
• Improves leveling for a smooth, texture-free coating.

Allow 10+ Minutes Before Spraying

After adding 4030 Balancing Clear and thinning with 4011 Reducer to Createx paints, allow 10+ minutes acclimatization before use. Adding 4011 will lower the surface tension of the water in the paint mix, for improved leveling which produces a smoother, texture-free coating.

Add 4030 Balancing Clear 10% per. vol.

4030 is a resin and may be added in any ratio without affecting adhesion.  Generally, 4030 is added to Createx paints at 10% per volume. Greater amounts may be added, however best results come from simply adding 4030 10% per volume.

4030 can be used as the carrier-medium for mixing with concentrated candy2o dye colors. However, 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear is the recommended carrier-medium as it holds the dyes more consistently for even color coats compared to mixing with 4030, especially when applying candy2o with a spray-gun. For light airbrushing, mixing 4030 with candy2o does work, although the candy2o dyes will leach (“bleed”) more into top-coated colors compared to mixing with 4050.
Thin candy2o dyes mixed with 4030 Balancing Clear as needed with 4011 Reducer, generally 10% per volume.

Inter-Coat, Protective Clear

4030 Balancing Clear may be used as a light, protective clear, often referred to as an inter-coat clear. 4030 works as an inter-coat clear best applied with an airbrush over small areas as opposed to 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear which works better when applied with a spray-gun over larger areas. While not intended as a top-coat clear for exterior application, 4030 does work well to “lock down” underlying paint, for example before applying tape & masking over colors during graphic applications. 4030 can also be used as a pear-flake carrier for airbrushing colors such as Wicked Cosmic Sparkle and Hi-Light Interference pearl colors.

4030 dries to a satin finish. When used as an inter-coat clear,
4030 is best thinned ~ 5% - 10% with 4011 Reducer and applied in medium-wet coats. 

Apply 2 – 3 coats with a 50/50 overlapping pattern

• Airbrush – 0.5mm ~ 25 - 30 psi
• Spray-gun – 1.2mm – 1.3mm ~ 18 – 22 psi inlet

Painting Flexible Substrates

4030 Balancing Clear is flexible.  4030 can be mixed with Createx paints when painting flexible substrates such as flexible foams, plastics and urethanes. For painting very flexible substrates such as latex and very flexible urethane and rubber, try adding both 5092 Flex Additive and 4030 together,
for example, Createx paint mixed with 4030 10% per volume, 5092 Flex Additive 20% per volume, and thinned 20% per volume with 4011 Reducer. Amounts can vary, however adding both 4030 and 5092 to Createx paints makes a very flexible paint that has good adhesion and scratch resistance.

Drying Times

Mixing 4030 with paint assists in decreasing drying times as the urethane resin in 4030 dries faster than the acrylic-resin in the paint. While time to cure for Createx paints mixed with 4030 is approximately 48-hours for a full cure, general drying times are decreased when 4030 is added.

Pot-Life & Storage

4030 does not have a pot-life after mixing with reducer, nor do Createx paints when mixed with 4030. It is only when a reducer such as 4011 Reducer is added that the shelf-life is lessened for which the paint mix remains in a sprayable viscosity.

However, 4030 promotes drying and curing, only add 4030 to colors intended to be used within ~ 3 – 4 weeks, and always keep bottles capped airtight unless pouring paint. Store away from direct light in a cool, dark environment such as a paint cabinet or box in a closet.

4030 thinned with 4011 Reducer, or other Createx reducer, is best applied within a 12-hour period for best spray consistency, flow and leveling. Every time reduced 4030 is introduced to fresh air, some curing occurs at the surface level introduced to air, which promotes curing and will eventually increase viscosity and affect spray performance.

Cleaning 4030 from the Airbrush or Spray-Gun

4030 and colors mixed with 4030 are best rinsed from the airbrush or spray-gun with 5618 Airbrush Cleaner or 4011 Reducer. Use 4008 Restorer as a rinse for final clean to remove dried paint from metallic parts.

Cleaning 4030 Balancing Clear after Curing

4030 should only be cleaned after it thoroughly dries. Use a post-sanding, solvent-based degreaser or odorless mineral spirits to clean.
Often, a dry, tack-free wipe is adequate to clean 4030 or Createx paints mixed with 4030, except for candy2o. candy2o should not be directly touched with a cleaning rag or solution when mixed with 4030 as the degreaser will promote the dyes to leach, and any marks left from lint-free rag will show in the final finish after the clear is applied.

Health & Safety

Use in a well-ventilated area.  Avoid contact with eyes. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after use.  Do not ingest. When spraying or sanding, use a properly-fitting NIOSH approved respirator per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Eye contact: Rinse with clean water for 15 minutes.  Seek medical attention.
Inhalation: Use in in well-ventilated areas and wear a NIOSH approved respirator.
Refer to 4030 SDS for additional information.