Paint guide
1K or 2K Touch-Up Paint: Which One to Order
Every color in our paint finder comes two ways, at the same price. 1K Basecoat is color only: you spray it, then clear over it. 2K Direct Gloss is color and gloss in one, cured by a hardener, with no clear. Here is how to choose.
The difference at a glance
| 1K Basecoat | 2K Direct Gloss | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | One component, sprayed as it comes | Two components: the paint and a hardener, joined just before you spray |
| How it dries | As its solvents evaporate | The hardener reacts with the paint and cures it |
| Gloss | Dries flat: the clear gives it gloss | Glossy on its own |
| Clear coat | Needed, sprayed over it | Not needed |
| Tri-coats | Yes, the only way we mix them | No |
| In a spray can | Ready to spray | Turn the ring in the base to release the hardener, then use it within about 12 hours |
| In a spray gun | Thin it with the reducer the finder adds | Mix in the activator the finder adds |
| Safety | Solvent paint: spray with fresh air and a respirator | Its hardener contains isocyanates: the respirator the can names, and gloves |
| Price | The same as 2K | The same as 1K |
Which should I order?
Order 1K Basecoat when
- your color is a tri-coat: it only comes this way (why);
- the repair has to blend into the paint around it on a visible panel;
- you'd rather not have a hardener in the color coat.
Order 2K Direct Gloss when
- you're painting a whole part on its own in a solid, metallic or pearl color (not a tri-coat), and want one product with no clear;
- the part sees fuel, chemicals or weather: the cured 2K film is made to resist them.
What one aerosol job costs
The paint costs the same either way. 1K needs a can of clear on top; 2K doesn't.
| You order | Paint | Clear | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1K Basecoat + SEM 1K clear | $37.02 | $27.23 | $64.25 |
| 1K Basecoat + SprayMax 2K clear | $37.02 | $28.81 | $65.83 |
| 2K Direct Gloss | $37.02 | None needed | $37.02 |
Standard formula, one 6.7 oz can. Some colors cost more to mix; the finder shows your color's price. With a spray gun, 1K takes reducer and a clear, and 2K takes activator; the finder adds the reducer or the activator when you choose a size.
Spraying a 2K can
- Shake the can for two minutes, counting from when you hear the mixing balls.
- Take the cap off the base of the can, fit the metal ring into the lug in the base, pull it fully down (about 1/2 inch) and turn it a full turn. That releases the hardener.
- Shake for at least two more minutes once the ball moves freely, let the can reach room temperature (about 68Β°F), and test-spray on a card.
- Spray in crossing coats from 6 to 10 inches. When you're done, turn the can upside down and spray until only gas comes out, so the valve stays clear.
- Use it within about 12 hours at 50 to 77Β°F; kept cool, it can last a few days. Hardened paint can't be saved.
Questions
Which is more durable, 1K or 2K?
2K Direct Gloss cures with a hardener into a film made to resist chemicals and weather. A 1K basecoat gets its protection from the clear sprayed over it; with an aerosol, the finder offers a 1K or a 2K clear.
Do I need clear over 1K Basecoat?
Yes. Basecoat dries flat and gives the color only; the clear gives the gloss and protects it. 2K Direct Gloss needs no clear.
Why can't I get a tri-coat in 2K?
A tri-coat is built in layers: a color coat, a see-through pearl coat over it, then clear. 2K Direct Gloss is one coat of color and gloss, so a tri-coat is mixed as 1K Basecoat only, two cans. More about tri-coats.
How long do I have once I activate a 2K can?
About 12 hours at 50 to 77Β°F and up to 60% humidity. Kept cool, an activated can may last a few days. After that the paint hardens in the can, so activate it on the day you spray.
Do 1K and 2K cost the same?
Yes: $37.02 for a 6.7 oz aerosol, $176.80 a quart, $335.92 a half gallon and $636.48 a gallon, in either system, for the Standard formula. 1K needs clear on top; with a spray gun, 1K takes reducer and 2K takes activator.
Is this the same as 1K and 2K primer?
It's the same idea, a hardener or none, applied to primer instead of color. Our 2K vs 1K primer guide covers that choice.
