Use of PPG Delstar DAR color over MP170 Epoxy Prim

Normally you wouldn't want to cross-mix manufacturer's product or quality lines. However, there can be some limited exceptions.

I use the MP170 regularly after I abandoned the PPG premium DPLF as being unnecessarily expensive. It's simply a more economical choice (and just as good IMO) for an epoxy primer, providing a PPG Delstar warranty is not being pursued. While I have not used Delstar over it, I have used DuPont's Centari - the Delstar primary competitor - over it with great success. I've also used the MP successfully under PPG's premium Deltron "Concept" acrylic urethane instead of the normally recommended DPLF. I like Delstar also and have used a lot in years past but it is no longer available in my area. I am quite confident that you would not have a problem with Delstar over OMNI MP. I certainly would do it if I were still using Delstar. Just don't use premium line ingredients in an economy line field mix. Or vice-versa. For example, don't use a DPLF catalyst in the OMNI MP. Use the proper OMNI MP catalyst.

If you don't have the tech sheets, I can link you to them if you wish. There will be no indication that PPG gives any endorsement of cross-line mixing of products though. They just don't do that. It's not in their interest to do it. You need the tech sheets however for basic usage instructions, so let me know if you don't have them.

Rod

I don't think there is any specific advantage to the Delstar over the MTK except I don't think it is as hard and may be less likely to chip. It is more expensive than the MTK acrylic urethane - too expensive in my opinion compared with the economy line competitors available. That's why no jobber in my area stocks the mixing tints for it anymore. As an acrylic enamel, it can't compete economically with the economy line OMNI products - either their MAE acrylic enamel or their MTK acrylic urethane. Or with simlar lines from others such as DuPont's NASON. I remain surprised that DuPont's Centari is still around since it is comparable in price to the Delstar. The base/clear urethanes have taken over the auto refinish market and the demand for an expensive acrylic enamel, even a hardened one, is not very high. Both Centari and Delstar are excellent acrylic enamels though. You are unlikely to find any better or easier to spray ones. They both have a long and outstanding history but their days are numbered. They both represent older chemistry and are currently overpriced, in my opinion.

The MTK is readily repairable. I've re-shot it the following day with no problems. You may be thinking about OMNI MAE. Unlike MTK, the use of a hardener is optional in MAE. PPG does not recommend any attempt at recoating MAE unless a hardener is used. I have never tried it so I would have to say that anyone using MAE w/o hardener should not count on any easy repair effort. That's the reason I have stopped recommending OMNI MAE w/o hardener for those that don't have a supplied-air respirator and instead recommend DuPont's NASON Fast-Dry or, if one wants to pay the price, DuPont's Centari in a non-hardened field mix. Those are both claimed to be repairable after a certain dry time, even without using a hardener. I have never tried it, but that's what the manufacturer claims. I haven't used any DAR/DXR80 in about 15 years and can't remember specifically any repair experience. I certainly would expect it to be easily repairable, just like the MTK, provided you use the DXR80 hardener additive.

Here are the tech sheets for Omni MP Epoxy and Delstar Acrylic Enamel

Rod