The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Satin Finish

I am looking into painting my truck this summer after I get all the body work and and little stuff done. My question to all of you body and paint experts is how to achieve the Satin finish that's prevalent in the ol' school hot rod world?(I wont use the word rat rod,because I think that term is way over used and over done)"no offense Leonard".I dont want just a primer truck but a Satin finish.
Is it a type of clear coat that they use? Something they mix in the paint before the clear coat? I've tried TCP global and a couple of other place's websites and can't find anything on satin finishes. I saw the hot rod flatz on TCP but that's more on the lines of a flat primer look and not satin. Please, somebody lead me in the right direction.
Thank you, Josh

I have heard of folks putting a flattening agent in the paint..Joe

Check with your local automotive paint shop. They should be able to mix you up any color in any kind of finish you want.
As to how they do it, it's a matter of adding the proper amount of flattener to the paint. Most of the systems I've seen don't use a clear for flat or satin paints.
You may want to check the Hot Rod Flatz site directly, as i do beleive they have satin finish paints, too. I also saw a satin paint being used on a project truck (Knucklebuster) on Gearz. Give me bit, and I'll see if one of they guys over there knows what brand it was.

if you paint base coat clear coat, then they add flatening agent to the clear. sometimes they add it to paint for door jambs and underhood to match factory finish

JAWDY,
Eastwood advertises a ROD look satin black paint in there catalog.
If ya want another color then addin a flattening agent will do ya.
Tim

The cheap way they do it is with John Deere Blitz black, which is the satin black. It is actual paint, not primer, and will seal well. You'll hear different reviews about it and the biggest complaint people seem to give is that you can't paint over it - what they don't realize is that it's an enamel paint and must be painted over with enamel, not acrylic like most automotive paints today. Another way to do it is like the others have mentioned and add a flattening agent to the clear coat. That way you can have whatever color you like as a flat or satin finish (based on the amount of flattening agent you use).

My research on this indicated the best way to do this is to use a base/clearcoat system and add flatener additives to the clear. It's easier to fix mistakes in the clear too as you can easily sand and reshoot another coat. Remember that on the final coat, there is no color sanding or buffing allowed with flatened paints so you need to be a good painter and have a decent booth if you care how it looks.

I am trying to stay completely away from the flat, satin black. I was looking at maybe a Satin green or a satin blue. Just have to figure out how to make satin look. From the sounds of it it's all in the flatting agent? I read in one of the magazines a guy was talking about how he got his Satin paint job and he said he used a satin clear coat. I've looked and looked but can't any satin clear coat. Guess i will have to do more research.