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!

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 10% 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.

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

It must be neutralized first or you will have adhesion problems. Call Us!

No! Each chemical has a different weight by volume, each product uses a wide variety of different chemicals. Always mix by volume.

Yes, of the same product type of course.

Absolutely not, our activators are product specific.

Absolutely not, our products and activators are specific to their counterparts.

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.

If you’re in a hurry or lack heat in the winter.

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.

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.

48-72 hours.

Only with another SPI 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.

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.

You can apply additional coats up to 7 days wo sanding assuming the vehicle is stored indoors and not driven.

180-320 grit.

For basecoats, anything over 6-7 days and you really need to scuff it and spray a sealer coat or another coat of 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.

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.

You can reduce it with urethane reducer from 5-50%.

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.

Safely- 450 degrees fahrenheit

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.

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.

Yes! SPI primers, clears, and additives work with all common modern basecoat systems including waterborne bases.

Several years if sealed and stored properly.

Yes. If the product says 0.0 VOC or 2.1 VOC, then it is legal to use in these restricted areas.

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.

Every one of our clear coats is polyurethane based.

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.

Most of our customers find that our Regular Build 2K Primer is perfectly suited for both collision and restoration work.

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.

Our High Build Primer comes in handy for very rough work, so think of it as your last resort before using polyester primer.

No.

Two coats of High Build equals three coats of Regular Build. That’s all.

None.

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.

Wait a minimum 4 hours to overnight, but we would prefer overnight for safety. Lightly tack off with a tack cloth first.

It must be stripped, anything less than stripping is a short-term gamble.

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.

30-60 minutes over bare metal to make sure its flashed out of the porous metal. Same with plastics.

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!

Absolutely not, lacquer thinner is a much lower grade and may contain more moisture than a urethane grade reducer.

Cut a sliver of plastic off the back and put it in a cup of water. If it’s a floater, use the Promoter.

No.

See each product's Tech Sheet.

Check under our Products menu above, there are two articles titled "Adjusting Your Gun" and "Gun Adjusting Guidelines". ​

Thinner or acetone are most common.

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.

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.

No but they do a great job and are a must for high-end paint work. Keep your compressor drained of water too.

You need air that is clear of water and oil- there are many ways of doing this.

Look for a system like the DAD-500, they run about $700, but you can often find knock-off’s in the $200 range.

Monday through Thursday 8AM to 4:30 or 5PM, and Friday 8AM to 3:00PM ET.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and pre-paid checks only.

No.

No, we only sell what we make.

No, we do offer some single colors though.

Yes, contact Doug Kennedy @ 519-437-9193 for all Canadian orders.

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!

No. This is how we are able to offer our retailers exclusive territories.

yes! Not only do we offer low minimum freight prepaid orders, but we will also protect your territory as well.

Yes! contact Doug Kennedy @ 519-437-9193

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.

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.

2:30-3PM ET for ground orders. 2PM ET for freight orders.