PPG DPLF and Delstar

I am painting the (red) cast iron on a Ford. The paint store I have been going to was not aware of an MP170. When I expalained that MP170 was an epoxy primer, I was told they had an epoxy primer, but it wasn't MP170. I later learned it was DPLF.

We also discussed the Omni line, and this particular store was aware of it, but did not carry it, because they were tagerting higher end.

So I have decided to go with the MP170 and Delstar acrylic enamel, mainly because they are easily available.

Given that, how many coats of each should I plan of each?

Sorry, that should read "DPLF and Delstar..."

DPLF is PPG's premier epoxy primer. It replaces the older DP which was a leaded version (the LF in DPLF stands for lead-free). I can certainly verify the outstanding performance of the DP, having used it for a long time. I assume the DPLF is of similar high quality but I have no particular experience with it, having changed to the OMNI MP170 because of cost. Your supplier must cater to the high end market only if they don't carry PPG's "economy" OMNI line. You will likely find that the DPLF will run two to three times the cost of the MP170.

I would plan on two coats of the epoxy and three of the Delstar.

Here's a pdf data sheet for the DPLF and here's one for the Delstar. I notice that PPG does not currently publish a data sheet showing use of Delstar without the DXR80 hardener. I strongly suggest you verify with your supplier that the current formulation of Delstar can be used successfully without the hardener. You might want to actually check a can label prior to spending any money. Delstar could be used years ago w/o the hardener but any newer formulation may not permit it since there would be essentially zero demand for such a mix today in the auto refinish business. Be careful also because the reduction ratios may be different with or w/o the hardener.

Rod

Well, I don't sand it intentionally :o). I guess I just got into the habit of two coats years ago. As I recall, the old DP called for 1-2 coats and I always did two "for good measure". I am sure that one coat per the tech sheet would be satisfactory.

I don't know about the low-end versus high-end epoxy. I do know the high-end old DP was outstanding. I once put two coats of it on a sandblasted front cowling on a 1978 Honda. It was never topcoated with anything. The car was always outside here in NH, never undercover, for 10 years. While the DP eventually faded from the original grey-green color, there was not a hint of any rust showing through after all that time. I don't think you can beat that for performance of a primer at any cost. Would the MP170 do as well? I don't have the long term experience with it and have always topcoated anything I have used it on so I can't say. It seems to work very well after about three years. I can't see spending more for the primer than the topcoat. I suppose if I were using $300/gal color I would spring for the DPLF. As I like to say: I am not painting a Mercedes here...only my tractor, or truck, or whatever. There was someone on this board a while back that thought OMNI was the absolute worst paint there was. I don't agree. Call me cheap but I think the OMNI line is perfectly satisfactory for the vast majority of uses.

I have three major manufacturers represented in my local area. PPG, DuPont and Martin Senour (NAPA). I have used DuPont very successfully in the past in addition to PPG but have no experience at all with Martin Senour. I am confident that any of the major brands are competitive in both cost and performance among similar lines. As you indicate though, a lot depends on the guy doing the actual mixing. A poor attitude or inexperience of the guy behind the counter can give a bad name to the best of paints. I happen to settle on PPG simply because of good past experience and because I know I can get the correct color shade for my AC early persian orange.

Rod