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These ready-to-spray colors can be used on metal, fiberglass, plastic, vinyl, wood, concrete, and glass.

4003 Auto Air Reducer 
Reducer is intended for thinning Auto Air Colors for use with smaller sized airbrushes. Although water may be used up to 10% to thin Auto Air Colors, Reducer is recommended because it adds binder to the colors as it thins them so the adhesive properties of the colors will not be lost. When thinning Auto Air 4600 Series Candy Colors, use Auto Air Transparent Extender.

Proper preparation is crucial to ensuring a successful paintjob. Prepare surface using normal custom painting methods with attention to the follow:

Clean surface thoroughly, before and after sanding. Use a solvent based degreaser/ panel wipe.

Scuff: Over primed surfaced, use 600 grit wet & dry paper or rough-grade scuff pad.

1.   When applying graphics over urethane finish which serves as base color for Auto Air Colors, scuff with 800 grit wet & dry paper to avoid large scratches.

2.   Sanding and/or scuffing needs to completely remove any gloss points from the surface. Close attention needs to be made with crevices, edges, folds and other areas that are difficult to sand with broad strokes. 

Light Coats – Apply Auto Air Colors in light coats.

3 Coats: Auto Air Colors may be used as a 3 coat process: 2 very light coats and 1 medium coat. Avoid wet coats. 4200 Series Transparent and 4600 Series Candy Colors may require additional coats. 4500 Series Colors should be applied in only light coats.  See specific color series technical sheets for further information.

• Initial coats have a speckled appearance. Additional coats fill in coverage producing even finish.  Final coat should fill in field of color and serve as the “orientation” coat.
   

• Working in lightly layered coats is important to ensuring successful results. A light coat of a water-based paint is much thinner than a light coat of urethane paint. This is the most important thing to remember in having success with the Auto Air Colors; WORK IN EXTREMELY LIGHT COATS. Do not try to get total coverage from one coat.  Avoid wet coats. Wetted coats may cause pigment to migrate causing a “fish-eye” effect.
   

• There are no time windows when working with Auto Air Colors.  Additional coats may be applied at any time once the underlying coat has dried. Additional coats may be done within minutes of the last coat or several days may pass before the next coat is applied.

Recoat Time:
Booth conditions- Generally 2-4 minutes.

Open conditions- Generally 5-15 min., depending on humidity levels. Use of moving air and/or heat will reduce recoat time. Allow coat to dry prior to application of next coat. Curing each coat with heat is recommended but not necessary if colors are applied in light coats and final finish is completely cured prior to taping or clearing.

Mid-Coats: Use 4004 Transparent Base as mid-coat prior to taping or clearing recommended.
Transparent Base serves as mid-coat to protect colors from markings during taping. Transparent Base also works to create a smooth texture over colors prior to clear coat application.

• Apply 1 – 2 coats after curing underlying paintjob.
   

• Humid conditions: use of a urethane mid-coat (colorless urethane binder) may work best instead when protecting colors prior to taping in high humidity conditions.
   

• Colors such as 4500 Series Hot Rod Sparkle and Sparkle Flake Colors create a textured surface due to large pigment size. Applying mid-coat prior to clearing creates smoother surface for clear coat application

• 
  Use mid-coat with 4600 Series Candy Colors. After curing, use of urethane mid-coat recommended prior to taping or clearing.

Auto Air Colors can be cured in a spray booth with air movement, by infrared heat lamps, or a heat gun

Curing in Spray Booth-  A spray booth is the preferred environment for painting vehicles with the Auto Air Colors.

Bake paint at 120-150ºF for 15-20 minutes or until colors are completely dried.

For quicker drying times, increase airflow rate and booth temperature.

Curing in Open Conditions- Recommended minimum temperature 70ºF and low humidity. Curing Auto Air Colors in humid or cold damp conditions may require extended exposure to heat.  Use airflow to speed up drying time. Cure when colors are wet or dry.

• Auto Air Colors are cured with heat.  Use heat gun or infra-red lamp to cure colors. If not curing with heat, allow colors ample time to dry prior to taping or clear coat application. Drying time will vary depending upon environment.
   

• In Infra-red lamp (IR) – allow lamp to cure colors at a safe distance generally over 12 inches to prevent blistering paint.  Duration may vary from 5 – 30 mins. coat buil-up, wetness and conditions. Cure colors dry to the touch without tack.
   

• A heat gun is effective when curing smaller areas such as body panels, tanks, fenders, helmets, etc. Generally colors cure 1-2 minutes per square foot. Keep heat gun moving and at a safe distance of 6” or more to avoid blistering. Cure colors dry to touch without tack.

When used correctly, Auto Air Colors will not peel when taped. Most types of tape work excellent. For transfer tape, use a high tact tape.

Tape Time:
Cure with heat 5-30 minutes. Curing with heat prior to taping highly recommended. Cure thoroughly and let paint surface cool to room temperatures prior to taping. 

Booth conditions:  without heat but airflow: 30 min. to 1 hr.

Open conditions: without heat 12 – 24 hrs.

Helpful Tips for Masking and Taping.
1.) Use of 4004 Transparent Base as Mid-Coat prior to taping.
Use of Transparent Base or a urethane mid-coat/ inter-coat clear over base color prior to taping allows for easier application as overspray may be removed without marking colors. Application of mid-coat also allows tape to better adhere to Auto Air Colors. The mid-coat creates a less-textured surface upon which masking material, fine-line tape and low-tact tape can better lay down without lifting (not peeling the paint up, but the tape lifting off the surface). Use of urethane mid-coat recommended when taping in humid conditions. 

2.) Recoat With Base Colors- To create a cleaner, crisper edge along the tape line, apply another coat of base color prior to applying graphics color. Auto Air Colors porous texture creates spaces between the tape and surface which subsequent coats may crawl into, creating a bleeded edge.  Additional coat of base color fills in open spaces under tape, creating a crisper line when the graphic color is applied.

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