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I think with all the importance that majors put on only using their full line products, it would be nice to a write up on compatibility,

Testimonials on each product, and maybe a comparitive chart with other's products would be nice as well
 
the only other product would be base . unless you get into ebay cheap crap most all base will work.
 
I meant an explination of WHY SPI is compatible with other company's bases, when those companies imply that using anything but their primer, base, and clear is forbidden
 
they ONLY say that for "warranty" issues and marketing. and those of us that have done this long enough know the warranty is a load of u know what. they say if you use anything other than their primers with their base/clear that it voids warranty blah blah blah. warranty claims are like pulling teeth with the big guys.
 
58 Mark

I get calls all the time, I'm out of your primer can I use, DuPont or ppg over yours and my answer always catches them off guard- over or under they will work just fine.

Am I right or wrong?

OK the Ford f150 and 250's are built with Dupont, so if one gets damaged does the shop have to use Dupont? No any system he wants that will match the color.
Otherwise, shops would have to have 4-6 mixing systems in their shop.

Years ago I was at the Saturn plant doing training on first shift and second shift, the Saturn's were painted with BASF and in the Touch up room was a Diamont mixing system and a couple of gallons of DuPont and a gallon of PPG on the bench.
My question was are you changing paint lines?
The answer was no, basf does not match those three colors, so they had two in Dupont and one in PPG.

The paint used on the cars are different then what comes in the mixing bank.
 
That's the kind of thing I'm talking about. When I first heard about how good SPI products were from autobody101, I came here expecting to find basecoat. All my layman experience told me that you have to use a paint system from primer to clear that has all been formulated to work together.

It might be helpful for people like me visiting the website to have some kind of FAQ that addresses why that's not the case. I realise that small time jobbers likke me may not be your target audience, but we're also the best word of mouth that money can't buy.
 
Well, the problem 58 is you have to be careful as a manufacturer what you post about other companies, the FAQ is kinda off limits or it would be so watered down it would be useless.

What made SPI great is the knowledge that no company can be the best at everything, so we will keep the choices small but try to make every item to do the best job they can.

Lets use an example of PPG but to keep me out of trouble we will use the time period of 2000 and prior, as the facts then do not apply today in anyway.

They had perhaps the best epoxy back then in their original DP.
The original K36, was one of the best primers at that time.
Clears they had one good one 82, rest not good.
Base coats, very user friendly at that time.

Dupont back then had great clears.
bad bases.
lousy primer system.
They were still living off of their Variprime legacy.

This is why the difference between a good painter and a really great painter is he is going to use the item that best fits him and he could care less about the system.

Take an honest look at really good painters and notice how they mix the systems for their own benefit.
It is a rare occasion you see a professional restorer or a professional rod builder use one system all the way through as the quality of work they demand in the final finish cannot be accomplished with just one system.
Not to say it can't be done but they are working twice as hard to get the results they want.
 
well you know best, but I can't see it hurting anything to quickly explain that your products are fully compatible with all bases.

funny you should mention veriprime... here's my 58 before I painted it... look familiar?

2000juneveriprime.jpg
 
58mark,

Companies have to be careful about umbrella statements like that about products that they cannot control. Here is an example. Let's say Barry puts it in writing that his product is compatable with all base systems. Some poor misinformed soul would buy base from Summit (or similar) and then use it with SPI primer and clear. When problems start to show up, Barry is going to take the blame because a big company like Summit must have better products and quality control than a little company like SPI.

When I was trying to decide if I wanted to start using SPI, I did some internet research and then gave them a call. I talked to James. He was polite and had thorough answers for every question I had. If people want to know anything about SPI producs, or vertually any other company's paint, all they have to do is call SPI.
 
In my opinion its best to do what you do best as a business, and not worry about what everybody else is doing.
 
strum456;7028 said:
58mark,

Companies have to be careful about umbrella statements like that about products that they cannot control. Here is an example. Let's say Barry puts it in writing that his product is compatable with all base systems. Some poor misinformed soul would buy base from Summit (or similar) and then use it with SPI primer and clear. When problems start to show up, Barry is going to take the blame because a big company like Summit must have better products and quality control than a little company like SPI.
Click to expand...


ok if summit stuff is junk, then what other places are junk? TCP global? Kirker? Not all of us are putting Universal under $1000 worth of base
 
summit and tcp dont make their own paint. they are not paint companies. they are private labeling from other companies. if i am not mistaken summit is kirker relabeled and tcp is some econo ppg line. if anyone knows about mixing products its custom painters and i can tell you that i dont think in 10 years i have ever once used the same system all the way through. it just aint happening. all that can be said here is quality products = quality results.
 
what's a maco?

I was planning on using kirker black diamond, (it's an activated base coat that I hear is quite good) but if there are compatability issues between the kirker line and SPI clears, maybe I should use the black diamond clear to be safe
 
it's about the same price as SPI. Price isn't the issue. It's compatability
 
That's the assumption I've been going on all along, and that was my plan. Strum indicated there would be problems though so I thought maybe I should reconsider. I'd RATHER use SPI
 
I have SPI Universal over Kirker urethane on my daily driver for over 3 yrs now
and it's still looking great, and no chips so far, lot's of parking lot dings but
the paint has held really strong.
It's probably due to the clear (LOL)
 
I personally would find a different base, but that is up to you. Black is probably the cheapest color you can find. I would check with Chad and see what he can do with the Pro-Spray.

A couple of years ago I did a couple of jobs with one brand from start to finish. They were done when SPI had bases though.

Aaron Thomas
 
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