Thinner for Cobra Colors

[KevinY]

I need to buy some PPG Duracryl DTL-105 thinner. I remember leon having a link on his website for the list of suppliers of PPG paints. Does anyone still have this link for any chance?

Thanks.

[KevinY]

Nevermind.

After a lot of googling, I finally found it:

http://www.ppg.com/cr-refinish/phase...istributor.asp

[klutz_100]

18 minutes is a lot of Googling!?!!? j/k

[KevinY]

haha. Well, when I posted the 1st message I had already spent like 2 hours

Anyways, I called 7 of the closest paint shops listed on that website. 6 of them didn't have it, and the only one who had it wanted to charge me $38 for 1-gallon. I know this stuff only costs around $20 , so on principle alone I won't give my business to them.

Are there other good alternatives to DTL-105? This stuff seems so hard to find...

Originally Posted by klutz_100

18 minutes is a lot of Googling!?!!? j/k

[MPWR]

Leon had a comparable thinner made by DuPont, but it was even more difficult to find. I certainly have never seen DTL-105 for less then $30+ a gallon. (And I've never seen it in anythng smaller than a gallon.) It may seem expensive but there really isn't a good alternative. I use CobraColors (or what I have left of it) heavily, and am a bit over halfway through a gallon in a bit under two years. It has definately been worth the $30+ I bought it for.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

I rarely need to thin Cobra Colors, when I have done it a few drops of Mr. Color Thinner did the trick-too much of it isn't good, but a few drops is all it needed. I think Tamiya lacquer thinner would be okay as well, unless you are really thinning it down a lot.

Black Gold's House of Kolors paints aren't prethinned and they work much better w/Gunze or Tamiya thinners because the automotive thinners were way too hot for even some of my sealer coats, using Gunze or Tamiya thinners made the paint flow through the brush more like a nice enamel, and no more ghosting or crazing.

[KevinY]

I guess I'll just to have shell out the $38...
So is using those generic Lacquer Thinners you see in hardware stores a definite no-no?

Originally Posted by MPWR

Leon had a comparable thinner made by DuPont, but it was even more difficult to find. I certainly have never seen DTL-105 for less then $30+ a gallon. (And I've never seen it in anythng smaller than a gallon.) It may seem expensive but there really isn't a good alternative. I use CobraColors (or what I have left of it) heavily, and am a bit over halfway through a gallon in a bit under two years. It has definately been worth the $30+ I bought it for.

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by KevinY

So is using those generic Lacquer Thinners you see in hardware stores a definite no-no?

For reducing CobraColors? Yeah, I definately wouldn't use generic laquer thinner. You might get lucky and find a formulation that won't react with CobraColors, but it won't spray as well as DTL-105. And you'll never convince me that having some possibilty of the paint/thinner reacting hours or months later is worth saving a couple of bones. They just work too well together to seriously consider anything else.

You can use it for cleanup, but honestly I've found that DTL-105 cleans CobraColors better than the generic stuff, too.

And if you're worried about not being able to get through a whole gallon, you can also order PPG laquers online (in somewhat larger quantities than Leon sold)- and it appearently works with Zero paints as well (though I haven't tried).

[KevinY]

I don't have any of the other lacquer thinners either. I've read that thinking Cobra Colors paints is optional, but that it is necessary for Moon Mud (primer).
I'm still learning to use the airbrush and I've found out that it is easier for me to use thinner paint.

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomMX-5

I rarely need to thin Cobra Colors, when I have done it a few drops of Mr. Color Thinner did the trick-too much of it isn't good, but a few drops is all it needed. I think Tamiya lacquer thinner would be okay as well, unless you are really thinning it down a lot.

Black Gold's House of Kolors paints aren't prethinned and they work much better w/Gunze or Tamiya thinners because the automotive thinners were way too hot for even some of my sealer coats, using Gunze or Tamiya thinners made the paint flow through the brush more like a nice enamel, and no more ghosting or crazing.

[KevinY]

MPWR, thanks for the link to PPG lacquers online. I was able to order a quart of DTL-105 for $15!

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by KevinY

I've read that thinking Cobra Colors paints is optional, but that it is necessary for Moon Mud (primer).

It is absolutely necessary to thin CobraColors. Even more so for Moon Mud and clearcoat. You can spray it unthinned, but there's really little point. I spray it almost cut 50/50- it goes on extremely smooth properly reduced.

Plus it makes CobraColors very economical. It's not hard to get 2 or 3+ bodies out of a bottle.

[73superduty]

Wish I would have read this earlier. My dad works at a paint jobber. I could have gotten DTL-105 for 10% over cost.
I'll still look into it on Tuesday after the holiday and find out.
Chris

[patoffspyder]

Originally Posted by MPWR

It is absolutely necessary to thin CobraColors. Even more so for Moon Mud and clearcoat. You can spray it unthinned, but there's really little point. I spray it almost cut 50/50- it goes on extremely smooth properly reduced.

Plus it makes CobraColors very economical. It's not hard to get 2 or 3+ bodies out of a bottle.

Yeah, listen to him. Since MPWR told me to thin CobraColors, my results are lot better. Just too bad Leon closed his shop :-(