HARDNOSE PAINT is a beautiful, two-component coatings from POR-15, that is stronger than any color paints you have ever tried. The long lasting brilliant colors will look terrific wherever you use them, and will withstand incredible abuse. It is an excellent topcoat for POR-15 Rust Preventive Paint. HARDNOSE PAINT has unusually good hiding power when applied according to directions, and two coats should always be applied. HARDNOSE PAINT has excellent adhesion characteristics, is not sensitive to sunlight, and is highly chemical resistant.

Product Composition:

Your Hardnose purchase consists of two items:

1) A green paint can, labeled Hardnose, which contains the basic resin formulation.

2) A smaller light blue can, labeled Hardener/Activator.

Warning: Your can of Hardener/Activator is sealed tightly. Remove the lid carefully and cover with a paper towel while prying off inner seal to avoid accidental spillage or splash. Your Hardener/Activator is very sensitive to moisture and humidity, so open it in a dry area. Keep both hardener and resin tightly capped when not in use. This is very important for maximum shelf life.

Mix 1 part Hardener/Activator with 4 parts Hardnose in a separate, re-sealable container. A clean glass jar works well as does a clean paint can with lid. Stir the combined contents thoroughly. When the coating is thoroughly mixed, thin as required.

Partial Mixes:

You may mix partial quantities of Hardnose for small jobs, and you may use any measuring device you happen to have around (coffee scoop, measuring spoons, cups etc.). All you have to do is follow this formula:
 

Mix 1 part Hardener/Activator with 4 parts Hardnose.
 

Hardnose Paint  has a long pot life, up to 8 hours, if the lid is kept on the mixed batch when it is not in use.

Surface Preperation:

Surface to be coated should be dry and free of grease, oil, and other contaminants. Use POR-15 Marine Clean, diluted 1 part Marine Clean to 8 parts water to remove light contamination. Then rinse with water and allow to dry.

Applying Hardnose Paint over other Primers:

Repeat instructions above, then sand surface lightly with 240 grit sandpaper and wipe clean with dry tack cloth and paint.

To Paint over a cured POR-15 Surface:

Clean with Marine Clean as above, then sand with 300 grit sandpaper and apply one light to medium coat of POR-15 Self-Etching Primer. Allow to cure for 30 Minutes at 68O F(20OC), or longer in cooler temperatures. Apply Hardnose as final finish.

As a Complete POR-15 Paint System:

Apply two coats of POR-15 Rust Preventive Paint over a sandblasted surface or a surface prepared with Marine Clean and Metal-Ready. Then apply one light to medium coat of POR-15 Self-Etching Primer as soon as POR-15 Rust Preventive Paint has cured to ensure maximum adhesion. Allow POR-15 Self-Etching Primer to cure for 30 Minutes at 68OF (20OC), or longer in cooler temperatures. Apply Hardnose as final finish. If surface has any irregularities that you wish to remove, apply a medium coat of Tie-Coat Primer over the cured POR-15 Self Etching Primer. Allow this to cure for 2 to 3 days, then sand smooth and finish with 300 grit. Wipe down with dry tack cloth and apply Hardnose.

Application:

Apply a minimum of 2 medium coats for general automotive use, and a minimum of 3 full coats for heavy marine and industrial use. Hardnose may be applied by brush, spray, or roller. You can use any type of brush you prefer; Hardnose will flow out immediately, eliminating brush marks.
 

•Lay down a medium covering coat, but be careful to avoid runs. A second coat may be applied when dry to the touch, usually 15 – 20 minutes later, though the second coat may be left up to 2 days before re-coating without sanding. Best method: recoat at 2–3 hourly intervals.
 

•In temperatures below 64OF (18OC), drying times will be extended and consequently runs may be more likely. To minimize this in colder temperatures, small items can be warmed with a heat gun, or air temperature raised for larger items. Do not overheat items above 75OF (24OC).
 

•Thin only with Xylene, if thinning is needed.
 

POR-15 Solvent or lacquer thinner may be used for cleanup. Hardnose may be thinned up to 25%, though you will need more coats to retain dry film thickness.

 

NOTE: when applying a second or third coat by brush, surface tension may increase between coats. To reduce this tension, add Xylene to the mix so the coating will drop and flow out properly. For best results, apply at 68–75OF (18-24OC) with less than 70% humidity..

Spray Painting / Spray Booths:

Hardnose prefers low pressure application.

Siphon or Pot Gun application: use approx. 25 psi (180 kpa).

HV or top container gun: use approx. 15- 18 psi (120 kpa).

At 60–71OF (16–22OC), thin 5–15%. At 71–82OF (22–28OC), thin 15-25%.

Avoid temperatures over 82OF (28OC) where possible.

Spray booth ideal temperature is 71OF (22OC), 50% humidity, low air flow.

Remember, thinning rates are a guide only. Consider also the type of gun, air temperature, and humidity. Hardnose can be cut with regular compounds if you have a run or imperfections, though it is best if you leave it for a week or two before cutting to make sure coating is hard (runs may take longer to fully cure due to added thickness).

Humidity Control:

Humidity should be 60% or lower when spraying Hardnose because the higher humidity may cause it to set up too quickly and before it has a chance to flow out evenly, thus resulting in a wavy appearance. This is especially true in high-humidity southern climates during the summer. Whenever possible, spray in a humidity-controlled(air conditioned) environment. Best temperature is 68-75OF (18-24OC). If this is not possible, apply Hardnose in the morning when temperatures are at their lowest. Hardnose can be applied successfully in higher humidity, but temperatures must be below 77OF (25OC). In temperatures over 86OF(30OC), the humidity must be low. Avoid high humidity and high temperatures.

Curing:

Remember, Hardnose will not perform as specified until it has cured for a minimum of 4 days at an average temperature of no less than 68OF(18OC). For example: Do not put engine parts into service before the 4 day cure time.
 

Elevated temperatures will not speed up cure. Do not oven-bake parts.

Questions and Answers:

Can I apply Hardnose over metal?

Yes, you can, but you won’t get the same adhesion or leveling as you do with Rust Preventive Paint as a primer.

Can I apply Hardnose directly over POR-15 Rust Preventive Paint without POR-15 Self-Etching Primer?

Yes, you can, but adhesion problems might occur on edges or corners. Also, runs are more likely.

What if I have different size cans or cans with different batch numbers? I want to make sure my final coat is 100% color uniform.

Make sure that at least one can will be enough for the entire final coat. If not, you will need to blend some of the resin cans together so you will have enough for the entire final coat.

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