Prior to the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, we got word from Summit Racing that they have rolled out a proprietary automotive paint refinishing system. The more we read about it, the more we liked it. Simply put, Summit has developed a complete system with all the components you need to paint your car at home—from a bare-metal restoration, or a “scuff and shoot” quickie. The acrylic urethane system offers high quality results, a choice of 20 colors, and most cars can typically be painted for around $300 in materials. Here’s what the press material says:
Summit Racing Equipment has introduced its Auto Refinishing System. The product line includes top coat paints, activators, clear coats, primers, and paint reducers—all at a significantly affordable price. Summit’s Refinishing System features Universal Urethane top coat paint, primer, and clear coats. These components mix in a 4:1 ratio with the Summit Universal Activator. That makes the Summit paint system easier to mix than other paints, which require multiple activators and different mix ratios, so it’s ideal for non-professional, do-it-yourself painters.
Summit Racing Single-Stage Urethane Top Coat Paint is made with premium resins and pigments. This formula makes it resistant to damage from UV exposure, chemicals, weather, and stone chips. Because it is a pure acrylic urethane formula, there are no oils to stain or yellow over time, allowing the paint to hold its color and gloss for a longer time period than acrylic enamels, synthetic enamels, or lacquer top coat systems.
The paint is available in 20 colors: Black, Pure White, Bright White, Red, Candy Apple Red, Yellow, Orange, Silver Metallic, Gray Metallic, Bright Blue Metallic, Ultra Blue Pearl, Mocha Frost Pearl, Hot Rod Black, Sour Apple Green Metallic, Bright Orange Metallic, Mayan Gold Metallic, Dark Jade Metallic, Black Cherry Pearl, Medium Charcoal Gray, and Plum Pearl Metallic. Prices start at $79.95 per gallon.
Summit Racing 2K Urethane Primer features a fast-drying formula that can be applied over sealers, primers, OE finishes, and body filler. It has a high-build property to conceal low spots, and is ready for block sanding in just three to four hours. It is priced at $39.95 per gallon.
Summit Racing Medium-Solids and High-Solids Clear Coats flow and level beautifully and remain easy to buff days after application. The medium-solids formula delivers a professional finish for an outstanding price—just $49.95 per gallon. The high-solids clear coat provides an extremely durable deep gloss finish and is priced at $59.95 per gallon.
Universal Urethane Activators are designed to simplify the mixing process for non-professional painters, and mix in a 4:1 ratio with the Summit Universal Urethane Components. Three different activators provide greater flexibility during paint, clear coat, or primer application. The Fast Activator is for use below 70° F; the Medium Activator is for use between 70° F and 80° F; and the Slow Activator is for temperatures above 80° F. The activators are priced at $19.95 per quart.
Summit Urethane Reducers allow do-it-yourself automotive painters to get professional results without a climate-controlled paint booth. There are three different formulas to choose from: Fast Reducer for use below 70° F, Medium Reducer for use between 70° F and 80° F, and Slow Reducer for temperatures above 80° F. In addition, Summit Racing offers a special Zero-VOC Medium Reducer for use in areas with strict environment compliance regulations, such as California. All Summit Racing Urethane Reducers come in quart cans and are priced at $9.95 per quart.
An alternative to the Urethane 2K Primer, Summit Racing Epoxy Primer is great for restoration work, offering unparalleled adhesion to bare metal. Ideal for use after sandblasting, it provides excellent durability, unbeatable corrosion resistance, and has no lead, chromates, or isocyanates. It mixes in a 1:1 ratio with epoxy catalyst (sold separately) and can be used on metal, fiberglass, aluminum, body fillers, and over existing finishes. The primer is available in quart ($19.95) and gallon ($49.95) sizes. The catalyst is available in quart ($16.95) and gallon ($39.95) sizes.
Summit Racing offers two prep solvents to prepare the surfaces for primer or paint: Wax & Grease Remover, and Surface Wash. The Wax & Grease Remover is a strong blend of solvents designed to lift wax, grease, oils, silicone, road grime, and other residue off surfaces—an important first step in any paint job. Ideal for use after the sanding and body prep stages, Surface Wash is a gentler blend of solvents designed as a final cleaning before primer or paint application. Both the Wax & Grease Remover and Surface Wash are priced at $9.95 per quart.
Fish Eye Eliminator eliminates the “fish eye” effect that results when contaminants—debris from the shop, inside the airlines, or even from the person spraying the paint—fall on to the vehicle during or just prior to painting. Fish Eye Eliminator is formulated to ease surface tension from small debris and film and allows the paint to successfully flow over the imperfection. Fish Eye Eliminator is just $9.95 per pint.
Typical Material Costs:
1 gallon epoxy primer $49.95
1 quart primer catalyst $16.95
1 gallon 2K primer surfacer $39.95
1 quart universal activator $19.95
1 gallon single-stage urethane top coat $79.95
1 quart of universal activator $19.95
1 gallon high-solids urethane clear coat $59.95
1 quart universal activator $19.95
For more information, log on to www.summitracing.com, or call 800-230-3030. Look for a complete story on the Summit Racing Auto Refinishing System in the March 2009 issue of Popular Hot Rodding.