RE: Klass Kote thinners
I believe there is some misinformation it the previous post. I want to be as polite as possible, so I am asking for some facts to back up the the above statements. Having said that I would like to share the
information that I know about these products.
Klass Kote (spelled with a K and not a G) is a special line of epoxy paints made by Diversified Solutions, LLC for model builders. The company's primary business is making industrial coatings. Klass Kote is a small portion of their business. The K&B Super Poxy line of paint is not Imron paint, a Dupont product. Note that the spelling is Imron, and not Emron. The source of K&B Super Poxy was a paint manufacturer from Washington state, and their primary business was supplying aircraft paints. Years ago I saw paint samples at K&B in the manufacturers cans, with their name on the cans. Since I am not certain of correctly remembering that manufacturers name, and at the risk of getting it wrong, I would rather not take a chance of incorrectly identifying them. Even though the EPA eventually made K&B change their paint to something that was less of a health hazzard, Imron is far more dangerous, and always has been more dangerous. Imron should only be sprayed by someone wearing an air feed respirator.
The manufacturers of these paints put a lot of time and resources into the developement of modern paint products. Substituting thinners and reducers is asking for problems. Using cheaper products for cleanup may work, but I've found that frequently my guns don't get as clean. Recently I painted a fiberglass wingtip for
a full scale Blanik sailplane with Klass Kote, and the results were amazing, and the owners were thrilled with the results. I also painted a 42" fiberglass strut with Klass Kote that is going in a multi million dollar wind tunnel in Europe. Over the years I paint many gallons of K&B Super Poxy, and I still have a dozen or so cans. I've also painted several Dupont products, including Imron, which I still have some of. There are many substitutions that can be made with modern paint products, but if you decide to experiment, by all means do a trial to test to make sure it works. Finally let me give two examples of what can go wrong. I substituted laquer thinner in some clear epoxy paint, and because I sprayed it on a day when the humidity was very high the paint turned milky or cloudy. Had it been a dry day, I probably would have gotten away with the substitution. You may have read that Klass Kote catalyst can be used in K&B Super Poxy paint, and it can, and it will dry, but it won't be fuel proof, and thinner proof. Guess how I know? The important thing to remember is if you are mixing different paint products together, or experimenting with different thinners, then do a TRIAL to prove compatibility, and satisfactory results. Good luck, Greg