Majic Brand Diamond Hard Water-Borne Acrylic Enamel

[rmaynard 15,434]

Since I didn't get any action on this post within the paint recommendation thread, I'll just start a new one.

I have disparaged Majic paint in the past (rattle can and oil-based quarts), and I still stand by anything that I said. However, I was looking at industrial water-borne acrylic enamels today. I was looking for something that I can teach a 13 year old to apply with an HVLP sprayer. Water-borne because it's safer than oil with hardeners or acrylic urethanes with activators, and it's water clean-up. I know that the EPA will be requiring all body shops to switch over to water-borne in the near future.  

 

So I came across this. It's water-borne, and the safety data sheet reads pretty well. Reviews that I've seen have been mixed. Anyone have any experience with this particular paint?

 

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,297]

The question is " can you get a 13 year away from the video game " to teacher him how to use the sprayer ?

[ri702bill 8,316]

33 minutes ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

The question is " can you get a 13 year away from the video game " to teacher him how to use the sprayer ?

Thumbs up and OFF the XBox....

[JoeM 7,873]

I looked at it too. Somewhat sceptical, but was the same when the water urethanes came out. They seem to work good. 

Intrigued by the 1-3 hour dry time.

Jump in there and let us know.

[rmaynard 15,434]

4 hours ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

The question is " can you get a 13 year away from the video game " to teacher him how to use the sprayer ?

This boy has three lawns that he cuts each week. He loves gardening. Video games are not that important to him. He wants to learn.

[rmaynard 15,434]

3 hours ago, JoeM said:

I looked at it too. Somewhat sceptical, but was the same when the water urethanes came out. They seem to work good. 

Intrigued by the 1-3 hour dry time.

Jump in there and let us know.

Got a can today. Haven't had a chance to do anything yet. More to follow.

[JimSraj 429]

Nice to hear there are still a few kids that like to do and learn real things and skills. Give him all he can absorb to keep the interest up!

[953 nut 55,188]

I too have been curious about the water-born enamels but not to the point of taking the plunge.        I will be interested to see how it works out.

[adsm08 2,046]

@rmaynardThis is the exact stuff I used on the Speedex. I bought three quarts, one primer, one red, one yellow. My feelings on it are mixed.

 

The red I was able to pour right out of the can into the gun and spray with only stirring it up a bit for consistency. The primer was badly separated and required a lot of mixing to get it to a usable state, and I had to do this every time I used it. The yellow. The yellow was bad. The instructions for the paint say to mix it no more than 10% water to thin as needed. To get the yellow to a viscosity that would go through a gun I had to mix it nearly two parts water to one part paint. It came out of the can like frozen molasses.

 

I have had some issues with it coming off easily, but mostly in areas where the metal was greased and I couldn't clean it well enough because after 50-odd years the stuff was just so soaked in to the metal. I also cut through it to bare metal quickly when trying to sand out imperfections, but that may have been a film-thickness issue, which is user error, rather than an actual problem with the paint.

 

It does clean up easily.

 

While it looks good on the tractor, I don't think it will ever produce the mirror finish that I saw on some of the stuff at the big show.

 

I can't say how well it will hold up long term, since it hasn't been on very long, but I was using it to teach my boy to spray, and for that it is good, if you get a can that is well mixed and not too thick.

Edited July 2, 2022 by adsm08

[pacer 3,169]

After TSC changed to Majic I went thru some 5-6 rattle cans and one quart and that was a most awful experience! Each can different consisistency, take DAYS to dry in a variety of different reds..... I'll just stick with good ole dependable Rustoleum!

[adsm08 2,046]

19 hours ago, JoeM said:

I looked at it too. Somewhat sceptical, but was the same when the water urethanes came out. They seem to work good. 

Intrigued by the 1-3 hour dry time.

Jump in there and let us know.

 

Dry time is dependent on temp and humidity. It does dry fast. I was painting with it through most of May and early June. Most parts were dry enough to handle gently in under 30 minutes, but my hood has a few finger prints in it where I wasn't gentle enough.

 

In an hour it will genuinely be dry. It takes longer to fully cure.

 

The other thing I noticed was that if you keep a respectable distance and don't get too close it was really hard to put runs in the paint.

[pacer 3,169]

To clarify my previous post, the Majic paint I tried was NOT the water based. it was the enamels that replaced the ..... crap, I cant think of the brand it replaced, been quite a while back! Was dang good paint tho.

[rmaynard 15,434]

12 hours ago, pacer said:

To clarify my previous post, the Majic paint I tried was NOT the water based. it was the enamels that replaced the ..... crap, I cant think of the brand it replaced, been quite a while back! Was dang good paint tho.

I agree that the Majic in the spray cans is probably the worst paint I have ever used.

[rmaynard 15,434]

21 hours ago, adsm08 said:

 

While it looks good on the tractor, I don't think it will ever produce the mirror finish that I saw on some of the stuff at the big show.

 

 

I'm not expecting miracles, just a decent finish. Thanks for your input. 

[kpinnc 12,005]

11 hours ago, rmaynard said:

agree that the Majic in the spray cans is probably the worst paint I have ever used.

 

Agreed. I bought a couple cans just to cover a few scratches on a hood once. Both were noticably different colors, but it wasn't meant to be pretty. That was about 7-8 years ago. I think it's still tacky... 

Edited July 3, 2022 by kpinnc

[adsm08 2,046]

5 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

 

Agreed. I bought a couple cans just to cover a few scratches on a hood once. Both were noticably different colors, but it wasn't meant to be pretty. That was about 7-8 years ago. I think it's still tacky... 

 

If it was oil based it will never really dry without a hardener.

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

I have used Majic rattle cans and Rustoleum rattle cans… I‘lol stick with Rustoleum…

[kpinnc 12,005]

7 hours ago, adsm08 said:

If it was oil based it will never really dry without a hardener.

 

Guess someone failed to show me how to add hardner to a rattle can. 

[adsm08 2,046]

8 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

Guess someone failed to show me how to add hardner to a rattle can. 

 

Beats me. It's why I don't use, and probably why I rarely even see, oil based in a rattle can.

[rmaynard 15,434]

Seems a lot of water has gone under the bridge since I started this thread. Never got around to trying the paint until today. And... I opened the previously unopened can that I bought back in 2022 and it was as hard as a rock. Not a good start.

 

More to follow 

[kpinnc 12,005]

59 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

it was as hard as a rock. Not a good start.

 

Well, that's an improvement for Majic paint!