Return Policy
Unopened and undamaged returns are accepted up to 30 days after purchase for the original purchase price to the original credit card only and are subject to a 5% restocking fee. Returns must be sent via UPS or Fedex Ground only at the purchasers expense. It is illegal to send Hazardous Materials through the United States Postal Service.
If the product was damaged when you received it then we will require pictures of the damage prior to shipping the product for return. Make sure you package the products sufficiently with loose fill to avoid damage or spills in transport.
Activator Shelf Life
All times are based on Activators stored inside at a stable temperature of 55 degrees or higher.
Epoxy Primer Activator-
Good 3 years unopened
Good up 1 year after opening
2K Primer/Sealer Activators-
Good 2 years unopened
Good 30 days from opening
Clearcoat Activators-
Good 2 years unopened
Good for 6 months after opening
Soda blasting – neutralizing techniques?
It must be neutralized first or you will have adhesion problems. Call Us!
Can i mix your product ratios by weight, for example using a gram scale?
No! Each chemical has a different weight by volume, each product uses a wide variety of different chemicals. Always mix by volume.
Can I mix and match activators to make my own speed?
Yes, of the same product type of course.
Can some activators be used with other products? Ex.- I have some 4002-4 left, can I use that in my 2100 or 4100?
Absolutely not, our activators are product specific.
FAQ Disclaimer:
These are some of the more common questions that we receive. The answers given below are generalized responses as every situation is different and could have multiple solutions depending on many different factors. When in doubt just call the Tech line!
Can I use another company’s activator with your product, or your activator with another company’s product?
Absolutely not, our products and activators are specific to their counterparts.
What temperature range are the different speed activators good for?
Fast up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, Medium/Normal up to 85, Slow up to the low 90. Use Slow or Very Slow for overalls when its 70 or higher.
Should I use an accelerator?
If you’re in a hurry or lack heat in the winter.
Should I use Retarder?
If you have a big job and its hot and humid, it absolutely will help, or add to clear for a final Clear Flow Coat, it is also great to add to primer in the summer.
Which rust converter do you recommend?
None! Epoxy adhesion will be compromised leading to problems. The rust needs to be ground off, or the section cut out and replaced. If you insist you can use Ospho to remove it, but call us for proper neutralizing techniques.
What is the pot life of mixed epoxy?
48-72 hours.
Can I tint my epoxy?
Only with another SPI Epoxy
What is the time frame to top coat epoxy?
Top coat with more epoxy or 2K primer up to 7 days wo sanding. Top coat with base or single stage wo sanding within 24hrs.
Can I epoxy directly over the E-Coat or do I need to remove it?
Some replacement parts get shot with a lacquer primer, if yours has that you will need to strip it. A simple test is to take a shop rag, wad it up and dampen it with thinner or reducer, rub a 6-8” circular area for 10-15 seconds. If the coating transfers to the shop towel it is a lacquer primer and will need to be removed. If you have only a few specs here and there then you should be safe to simply scuff with a Scotch-Brite pad or 320 grit and shoot epoxy over it.
How many hours or days between coats can I wait to spray the epoxy?
You can apply additional coats up to 7 days wo sanding assuming the vehicle is stored indoors and not driven.
I sprayed the vehicle with epoxy over a month ago, what grit sand paper do I need to use before I lay another coat?
180-320 grit.
I sprayed the vehicle with epoxy over a month ago, can I sand or scuff and go straight to top coat?
For basecoats, anything over 6-7 days and you really need to scuff it and spray a sealer coat or another coat of epoxy.
Can I just leave my vehicle in epoxy?
Yes, and many people do. Just know it if it’s not garaged, it will need to be scuff and re-coated every 2-5 years.
Can I leave my floor pan, frame, suspension components and firewall in epoxy primer only?
Absolutely and thousands of people have over the years, and that is the best thing to do unless you are trying to match the vehicle color.
How much should I reduce my epoxy to use it as a sealer?
You can reduce it with urethane reducer from 5-50%.
Everyone seems to be bragging about your epoxy primer on these internet forums, why?
Our SPI Epoxy Primer has unsurpassed corrosion protection, excellent chemical resistance, dries to a sem-gloss so you can see where your dings are, is easily sandable, and has excellent adhesion to untreated aluminun.
What is the maximum temperature your cured epoxy can withstand?
Safely- 450 degrees fahrenheit
What is the difference between 2.1 VOC Euro Clear and Euro Clear?
2.1 VOC Euro Clear uses a 2.1VOC compliant solvent and mixes 4:1. While Euro Clear mixes 4:1:1 with both a catalyst/activator and urethane reducer.
I'm doing a restoration quality paint job, so which clear should I buy?
Universal Clearcoat is our premium restoration clear which we have built our name on since 1997. Just one of the huge advantages Universal Clear has is it never becomes hard to buff, which is important when you paint a car in pieces and assemble months later.
Will SPI products work with my xxxx brand of basecoat?
Yes! SPI primers, clears, and additives work with all common modern basecoat systems including waterborne bases.
What is the shelf life of reduced basecoat?
Several years if sealed and stored properly.
Are your products legal in California, Delaware, or Canada?
Yes. If the product says 0.0 VOC or 2.1 VOC, then it is legal to use in these restricted areas.
What's the difference between 4.4 VOC Universal Clear and 2.1 VOC Universal Clear?
The only difference is 2.1 VOC Universal Clear simply users a special compliant solvent so it can be sold in California, Delaware, and Canada. Some customers say 2.1 VOC Universal Clear has a little more flow to it as well.
What are your clears based on?
Every one of our clear coats is polyurethane based.
What's "Production" about your Production Clear?
Only the price! Unlike anything else in this price range, our Production Clear is a premium upper-medium solids true polyurethane product that only requires two coats even if you want to wet sand and buff. While not very profitable for us to make, this clear will blow you away when compared to other 4:1 clears.
What's your most popular 2k Primer?
Most of our customers find that our Regular Build 2K Primer is perfectly suited for both collision and restoration work.
What's "Turbo" about Turbo Primer?
While all our 2K primers are sandable in 30-40 minutes, Turbo Primer is 100% cured within 3 hours which makes it perfectly suited for high volume production and restoration shops.
When do i need to use your High Build Primer?
Our High Build Primer comes in handy for very rough work, so think of it as your last resort before using polyester primer.
Do you offer a polyester primer?
No.
What is the mil difference between regular and high build primer?
Two coats of High Build equals three coats of Regular Build. That’s all.
What is the speed difference between sanding times in Turbo 2k and Regular 2k?
None.
My vehicle was originally painted with enamel. Can I apply your products over it?
Yes, if the enamel was activated. If you are unsure if the enamel is activated, spray a small test coat, if un-activated it will wrinkle almost immediately. If it wrinkles then it needs to be stripped.
My vehicle was just painted with activated enamel, how soon can I apply your Clear over the activated enamel?
Wait a minimum 4 hours to overnight, but we would prefer overnight for safety. Lightly tack off with a tack cloth first.
My vehicle is currently painted with Lacquer, what basic steps should I take?
It must be stripped, anything less than stripping is a short-term gamble.
What is the difference between Wax and Grease removers? Which one on bare metal, which on primer?
Waterborne is the most common in the restoration shops and on bare metal and the solvent borne is most common in body shops due to its speed.
How long should I wait before the next step after cleaning with Waterborne Wax and Grease Remover?
30-60 minutes over bare metal to make sure its flashed out of the porous metal. Same with plastics.
Can I clean over body filler work with Wax & Grease remover?
Yes, but body filler is porous and will absorb the water content from the Wax & Grease remover. This means it will need extended time to dry otherwise it can cause bubbling of the epoxy or primer it is coated with. Blow it with the compressor air nozzle and wait a minimum overnight to 24 hours to allow it to fully dry, even if it already looks dry!
Can I run down to the local box store and grab some lacquer thinner if I run short on reducer for mixing?
Absolutely not, lacquer thinner is a much lower grade and may contain more moisture than a urethane grade reducer.
How do I determine if I need to use Plastic Adhesion Promoter?
Cut a sliver of plastic off the back and put it in a cup of water. If it’s a floater, use the Promoter.
Do you recommend any specific paint guns?
No.
What tip sizes should I use for each step?
See each product's Tech Sheet.
How do i adjust my paint gun?
Check under our Products menu above, there are two articles titled "Adjusting Your Gun" and "Gun Adjusting Guidelines".
What should I use to clean my paint gun?
Thinner or acetone are most common.
Where should I be regulating air pressure?
At the gun regulator only! You want as much psi at the compressor and to the end of your hose as possible. You will want a minimum of 125PSI at the wall or compressor, then regulate down to the 18-40lbs needed with the gun trigger pulled.
I’m thinking of renting or buying a compressor- what Gallon, CFM, HP rating do you recommend?
The absolute bare minimum to paint an allover is a 5HP 220v with a 60-gallon tank. Anything less than that and you’ll be painting the car in sections/pieces.
Do I need high-dollar air dryer system?
No but they do a great job and are a must for high-end paint work. Keep your compressor drained of water too.
Do I need an inline water trap/filter?
You need air that is clear of water and oil- there are many ways of doing this.
I think I want a dryer, what should I get?
Look for a system like the DAD-500, they run about $700, but you can often find knock-off’s in the $200 range.
What are you hours of operation?
Monday through Thursday 8AM to 4:30 or 5PM, and Friday 8AM to 3:00PM ET.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and pre-paid checks only.
Do you accept PayPal, Bitcoin or other forms of online payment?
No.
Do you sell sandpaper, respirators, paint guns, paint sticks and mixing cups?
No, we only sell what we make.
Do you mix basecoat colors to paint codes?
No, we do offer some single colors though.
Do you have distribution in Canada?
Yes, contact Doug Kennedy @ 519-437-9193 for all Canadian orders.
Can i buy your products online anywhere or how do i find a jobber?
No. Simply give us a call at 706-781-2220 to see if we have a local SPI Jobber in your area, if we don't then we can ship to you direct and shipping is FREE!
Do you sell your products through WD warehouses?
No. This is how we are able to offer our retailers exclusive territories.
Are you actively seeking jobbers to sell your products in the US as well as globally?
yes! Not only do we offer low minimum freight prepaid orders, but we will also protect your territory as well.
Are you actively seeking SPI Jobbers in Canada?
Yes! contact Doug Kennedy @ 519-437-9193
Do you export around the world?
Yes. We will ship our products to your US based freight forwarder with free shipping and from there your broker will get the products to you.
I'm in a pinch, can you overnight my coatings?
No, because the products are considered dangerous goods. Give us a call and we can check if there is a jobber near you that may be able to get it to you quicker than us.
How late can i call to get a ground order out the same business day?
2:30-3PM ET for ground orders. 2PM ET for freight orders.
What if I need technical help after hours?
Call or text 404-307-9740 - 7 days a week
