I'm getting ready to start the final steps at getting my '72 442 ready to paint. I started this car many years ago but life and doing 2 full time jobs and other stuff got in the way. About 12 to 15 years ago, I bought a gallon of Viking Blue lacquer and a gallon of high performance clear and a gallon of DP60 primer and two qts.(I believe) of DP40 hardener and was wondering what the shelf life would be for these. Has any one used this type of primer and hardener after this many years. I know the color and the clear lacquer will still be good but hope to avoid shelling out the $$ for new primer/hardener!

Thoughts, opinions and experiences welcome. I should have finished this car years ago when I was young but life's stuff got in the way. Now that I'm old I want to finish the 442 up and be done with restorations. I've never been this far behind on a project ever and am not as confident as I used to be.....LOL! I have time now that I'm retired but all I have to do is get motivated.

OLE442

 

Has the hardner ever been opened at any time? If so it will probably be toast or at least too risky to take a chance on messing up a complete paint job. The paint is expensive but the work and prep make it look cheap. Check with others that do this for a living. I was in the coatings business for about 40 years (not automotive) and the hardeners in my industrie all had expiration limits on actavators and hardners and sometimes the coatings them self...... Tedd

 

Tedd:

No, the containers have never been opened since I bought them years ago and they have been stored inside my home all this time.

That’s a coincidence that you worked 40 years in industrial coatings. My Father worked 40 years for Sherwin Williams ....most of the time in Industrial Coatings. He passed away in 1993 in Houston, TX! I could've asked him, if not …..but then, I think he'd chance it and try to use the stuff....LOL! He was a Great Depression kid!

 

If the cans haven’t been opened you might make a couple test panels and see what you get. Throw one out in the sun & see if anything noticeable happens. Give them a few days & sand part of each. If it sprays properly, adheres well & shows no reaction you can probably use it.

 

I've used this epoxy primer many times and have finished using cans with several years on the shelf. If unopened since new you have nothing to worry about however the solids in the base material will have settled to the bottom of the can so you will need to spend some time digging those up and blending them back into the rest of the primer.

You will find the price has at least tripled since you originally bought it and they only sell a version without lead additives these days.

BTW, This is nasty stuff to shoot, be sure to wear a mask...

tc