How To Paint Your Car Matte / Flat BLACK - Do It Yourself

Worked with the "flat" finish with a couple of different vendors at my old job. Whether you decide to use a flattening agent in clear, or a flattening binder in your paint(implying single stage paint over sealer/primer), all the variables come into play on the final finish of the job. The level of tack of the base/sealer coat will directly affect the flatness of the top coat. Spraying a flattened topcoat over a wet base will inhibit the flattening agent in the topcoat. Also, using too high of a ratio of hardener in the top coat will inhibit the flattening of the the topcoat too. The critical situation is that we still need to promote adhesion. Spraying over a base that is dry & not scuffed with either scotchbrite or any grit of your choice will inhibit adhesion and that's not a situation we want. Scuffing also implies additional steps of prep. My advise is this: Shoot the top over a base that's nearly dry, and remember to NOT mix as much hardener in your topcoat as normal. Try a 5:1 with 1, or 6:1 with 1.5 part temperature appropriate reducer. A thinned topcoat will cut into the base. This will promote the adhesion matrix and pass blending with, as Pete demonstrated, very fast drying flattening agent as you lay it down. Play with your overlap(I like one third with sharpest edge on the fan) and aim for a barely wet application. Warmer ambient temperatures(75F++) dry faster & flatter if you hit the base & hardener conditions right. Good luck with touch-ups.

Author — Flannel

Been looking for something like this for 3 years now . I can't believe it was so simple ....thanks alot bro. You saved me and made me alot of money with this trick

Author — the dreaming COW

Thanks for the tip Pete. We're definitely going to give it a try here at the shop. Love your videos, keep it real. 👍

Author — Street Freaks Garage

Great vids man. Your opinions might not always be popular, but they're tempered by years of experience. Wisdom ain't easy to come by these days, thanks for doing what you do. You've helped screw my head on a bit straighter as a DIYer.

Author — Hiro Protagonist

Wow PETE!! THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS VIDEO! You sir have really taught me a lot over the last few months!

Author — Yota Doug's Tool Collecting Channel

Great video Pete. You were one of the first DIY guys I watched 9 years ago. I have finish a few motorcycles since then. Godspeed brother.

Author — Woody

Yes, that is the way. Like he said; 2 parts might have been a little more flat but next to the glossy new exterior, it’s gonna be perfect.

Author — Angelo Nicassio

I like the fact that I can hear My Friend Pete when he talks. There are so many fads out there with paint colors and gloss levels, always use something that will hold up to the UV on outside panels, PPG has a pre flattened clear in their Global line that is awesome, and consistent gloss level, many manufactures have been going the way of semi gloss on their high end vehicles. You should show an extreme money saver version and use corn starch in your clear, it will give you a flat finish as well.

Author — Hogshooter Hotrods

JOHN DEERE BLITZ BLACK PAINT. I've been painting cars and motorcycles with it for around 15 years... Best matte paint I've ever used, it's super durable and UV resistant if you use a catalyst/hardener, I use Auto Body Master "Wet look" catalyst. Also, make sure you use the John Deere reducer/thinner, as anything else will make it tiger stripe. I've tried acetone, thinner, laquer thinner, etc and I've found the John Deere brand to work the best, and it's not very spendy. Blitz Black is $40/gallon, reducer is around $30/gallon, and the Wet Look catalyst is around $25-30/pint. I've tried the SEM "Hot Rod Black", and it's OVERPRICED JUNK! I've tried many paints for a matte/flat look, and Blitz Black is the best I've found, I'll never use anything different.

Author — Mike Erickson

Great video! I never knew you could mix this. This will save some money for sure.

Author — The Spearsy Spin Mike Spears

You did great Pete. If any of my customers asked about this process. I'll refer them to this video. 👍

Author — Share Bear

love your channel been watching for 4 or 5 years. I've been painting cars since i was 16. you do it for a living, i do it for a hobby and on my own cars and bikes. In your experience what spray gun gives you the most bang for the buck? i currently use a MAC econoline for primers and a Develbiss Finishline for single stage and Base /clear, i am looking for a new gun that will handle the high solids clear and solvent based color better. I dont plan on using the water based base coat.

Author — Chris Spencer

I did an awesome semi gloss black paint job on my 40 Ford pickup. The paint cost $8.50 for a quart of Rustoleum semi gloss. I mixed it with a quart of lacquer thinner and had two quarts of sprayable paint. It did the whole truck. Eight years later it's still holding up. I can buy semi gloss clear from my paint supplier so I don't see the advantage to making my own.
Before you go off on me Pete I just want to add that even though I've been in the same business as you since the 60s I still learn new things from some of your videos. You inspired me to make a couch out of the trunk of a 50 Ford.

Author — Al's hot rods and rat rods

Hey Pete luv ur yt stuff, would u recommend a hvlp or lvlp gun for a small backyard air compressor for partial panel spraying? Or better save up for bigger compressor?

Author — Joe Clone

Thanks my friend Pete for showing us how to save money and have a good looking flat black paint job. I would have made mistakes if I didn't watch this video.

Author — SNOOP U 2

Love your energy love the quality of work you do it's nice to see a person have passion for their trade and Please Make sure you do a video when you have finished the Mercedes.

Author — Ben Tarded

I am telling my son about this product, procedure and how to mix. He is 34 and doing a lightly flat white on his EL Camino. His choice and what he wants. He worked in the body shop at a dealer, palm sander on orange peel (1, 000 grit, 2, 000 grit and 3, 000 grit) and I was shocked to hear him tell me because I learned that from you to go fast, save time and money on product. He subscribed to your channel and saw that video of yours. Didn’t know. But one thing for sure, he and I both have learn things. Thank you Pete for reinforcing tips!

Author — Dean Kay

This seems like the best place to get my questions answered. I'm going to spray paint my truck, I paid cked out a matte finish, it's yellow, almost the color of I'm going to put a clear coat on it also, but now I'm reading maybe I shouldn't have picked out a matte finish🙄. Can I still clean it the same way as normal or is it going to be particular, so should I go with a gloss?

Author — LISA LANHAM

Enjoyed the tutorial. Excellent segment

Author — Dan Blythe

Beautifully done, and doing it right..

Author — just1Nic Mechanical & Welding