Frequently Asked Questions

PURCHASING

Q: What stores carry your products?
A: We are working with select organizations to develop a national network of stocking distributors. Information will be posted to the site shortly listing the locations where you can purchase our products. Meanwhile, all products can be ordered directly through us and shipped directly. (You can check the "What's Hot" section for news about new distributors)

Q: Do you have any minimums?
A: We have no minimum order. We welcome 1-gallon buyers.

Q: I’m an individual with no company. Can I still buy from you?
A: Yes. We will sell to anyone who has a use for our products. We deal with many first time painters who have limited experience. We simply ask that you educate yourself to use our products safely. We are here to help.

Q: What is the smallest container you sell?
A: All products are available in 1-gallon containers with a few select items available in quarts and pints. Most products are also available in 5-gallon cans. 55-gallon drums are stocked on some primers and any product is available in drums by special order. Lead-time for production of 55- gallon drums is usually less than 5 days.

Q: Is it better to buy in 5-gallon cans instead of 1-gallon cans?
A: Depending on how quickly you plan to use the paint, you can save some money by purchasing in 5-gallon cans. If you plan to use 5 or more gallons at a time, there is a cost saving of $1.25 per gallon by purchasing the larger containers. Some customers order a mix of both 1’s and 5’s of the same color because they anticipate the use of varying quantities on specific jobs. If you are not sure of how much you will be using at a time it may be better to purchase in 1-gallon cans. You will generate less waste and the cans are easier to keep sealed when not in use.

Q: Do you charge sales tax?
A: We collect sales tax only in the state of New York and New Jersey. If you use our products as part of a service that you sell or provide to others you may be considered resale.
If you are located in the state of NY or NJ and have a resale or tax exempt number please fax or mail us the appropriate certificate for our files. If you need a blank form, please call our customer service department and they will fax it to you.

SHIPPING

Q: How much does shipping cost?
Click Here for details on shipping or click on the Shipping button on the left of the Home Page.

Q: How do hazardous charges apply to the items I want to order?
A: Hazardous shipping charges apply only to items that are considered flammable liquids. These are items that have a flash point below 100°F. Hazardous charges only apply when items are shipped via ground service using UPS or FedEx. There are no hazardous charges on orders shipped via common carrier. The current hazardous charge for a single package shipped via UPS or FedEx is $17.00 per package. This charge applies to the complete package and not to individual items. A package containing 2 gallons of hazardous goods will incur a hazardous charge the same as a package containing 5 gallons. The Hazardous fee is an independent charge separate from the regular shipping charges. We do not make a profit on any freight or hazardous charges. All fees detailed here are our costs, passed on to our customers
Click Here for a list of items that are subject to hazardous shipping charges.

Q: Is there any way to avoid hazardous charges?
A: YES! There is a break-even point where U.P.S. hazardous charges plus freight charges will equal approximately the same as a common carrier minimum charge. Common carriers do not charge hazardous fees. East of the Mississippi, this break-even point can be as little as 12 gallons when your order includes hazardous items. West of the Mississippi the break even point is approximately 24 gallons. We will always advise you when placing an order as to what the freight charges will be and we will always choose the least expensive method.
Keep in mind that a common carrier minimum charge can be used to your advantage when your order is larger than the break even gallon quantities because we can always ship more gallons without incurring additional freight charges. A common carrier minimum charge will cover your order up to 44 or 48 gallons for no more than it will cost to ship 24 gallons. A huge savings in freight!

Q: How long does it take to receive my order?
A: All products are shipped from Amityville, New York. Transit times range from 1 to 5 days across the country
Click Here for U.P.S. Service Map that shows transit times to your area.

APPLICATION

Q: Can I use Magnet Paints with other companies’ products?
A: Yes. Most paints and finishing systems are compatible with each other when you are dealing with the same types of systems. It is impossible to predict the results of every combination of primer and topcoat. It is generally safe to assume that by applying a competitive topcoat or primer in combination with another companies’ product, as long as those types of product are designed to be used together, you should not experience a problem. It is important to always conduct a test application prior to commencing with the complete job.

Q: How much hardener do I use?
A: 4800 Series Enamels – 1 pint of UEH100 Urethane Enamel Hardener per gallon of 4800 Series Enamel.
9000 Series Acrylic Enamels – 1 pint of 79HS High Solids Super Wet Look Catalyst per gallon of 9000 Series Enamel
5000 Series Acrylic Urethane Enamel – 1 quart of 160HS High Solids Activator per ¾ gallon of 5000 Series Enamel.

Q: Can I use any spray equipment?
A: Yes. MAGNET finishes can be sprayed from any equipment you own or plan to purchase. Conventional siphon feed, gravity feed, airless, air assisted airless, pressure pot or HVLP. If you need help selecting equipment, call or email us.

Q: Can I apply your paint by brush or roller?
A: The 4800 Series may be applied by brush, spray or roller. The 9000 and 5000 Series are best suited for spray application but some brushing can be done in small areas. The reason for this is that solvents in the 9000 and 5000 systems will evaporate very quickly and cause brush drag and poor flow and leveling.

Q: How much reducer do I use?
A: This is probably the most commonly asked question. It depends on what type of spray equipment you will be using.

       Conventional Air Spray:
4800 Series – Thin 10 to 15% using ER100, SR200 or QR500
9000 Series – Thin 5 to 15% using R740, R760 or R720
5000 Series – Thin 5 to 10% using R740, R760 or R720

       Airless or Air Assisted Airless Spray:
4800 Series – Thin 5 to 10% using ER100, SR200 or QR500
9000 Series – Thin 0 to 10% using R740, R760 or R720
5000 Series – Thin 0 to 10% using R740, R760 or R720

       HVLP Spray:
4800 Series – Thin 5 to 10% using ER100, SR200 or QR500
9000 Series – Thin 0 to 10% using R740, R760 or R720
5000 Series – Thin 0 to 10% using R740, R760 or R720

Q: Can I apply your paint without a primer?
A: It is always best to prime bare metal before top coating. Some companies make claims that their topcoats have a built in primer and can be applied directly to bare metal. This is usually accomplished by incorporating some rust inhibitive pigments into the enamel. While in theory this seems like a good idea, there are drawbacks. First: A sacrifice of gloss occurs because any time you start to add pigments to what is supposed to be a high gloss product, the gloss naturally diminishes. Second: There is always concern of rust through when the paint film gets scratched or broken. When a proper primer is applied direct to bare metal, you guarantee added protection so that scratches in the topcoat will be protected by the primer thus preventing moisture from migrating to the substrate where rusting will begin. Third: Primers are formulated for superior adhesion when applied direct to metal.

If you are repainting equipment that still has an old paint finish and you do not plan to remove the paint by sandblasting or other means, you can power wash and scuff sand the old paint prior to topcoating. It is advisable to spot prime all bare areas first and grind any rust off followed by spot priming.

Q: Can I use your paint on wood or concrete?
A: The 4800 Series is ideally suited for wood and concrete. Use with the UEH100 Hardener for ultimate durability.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRODUCT & TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Q: Do I really need to use hardener?
A: We will answer this question on a system by system basis.

Our 4800 Series is a urethane modified alkyd enamel. The UEH100 Enamel Hardener is an optional additive that will dramatically increase the gloss retention and durability of the 4800 Series. In situations where you can justify spending the extra money for the hardener, it is a wise choice to do so. Since the cost of you or your employees labor far outweighs the cost of materials, using the hardener will extend the life of your paint job thus saving you the cost of the labor to re-paint sooner than necessary.

Our 9000 Series is a high quality acrylic enamel fleet finishing system. The 79HS Catalyst is used with this system to provide higher gloss, gloss retention, impact resistance and abrasion resistance. In situations where you are refinishing fleet vehicles it is always advisable to use the 79HS. For high quality industrial finishing, the 9000 Series is an excellent choice because it dries very quickly and has outstanding gloss and gloss retention. The drawback of using the 9000 Series without the 79HS is that the paint film is susceptible to marring.

The 5000 Series is a premium quality, low VOC acrylic urethane fleet finishing system. It must be used with the 160HS Activator or it will not cure.

Q: Which of your finishing systems is right for my end use?
A: There are so many end uses for the products we offer. People typically call us because a friend who has been happily using our products has recommended them or they have seen an ad of ours a trade publication. To select the correct finishing system a few questions need to be asked.
How often are you painting your equipment now? Are you happy with the durability you get with your current finishing system? Are you looking to save money or get the best value for your dollar? Would you upgrade to a better product if we could give it to you for the same or even less than it is costing you now? How much painting experience do you have?

If you are painting equipment that gets a constant beating and your painting cycle is frequent we don’t recommend that you spend a bundle on paint. On the other hand, MAGNET pricing is so attractive (60% less in many cases) compared to companies like Dupont, PPG and others, that we can usually give you a grade of paint better than you normally buy at a significant savings. Many new customers call and express their discontent with the fact that they have been spending a fortune on paint and they can’t understand why. Many people are spending top dollar for big name automotive products and they thank us dearly when we take the time to educate them a little and then save them a lot.

Our 4800 Series is an outstanding value and provides a sharp, long lasting gloss at a very economical price. The 4800 Series is often compared to Rust-O-Leum or a Dupont Dulux type enamel. It comes in a wide choice of colors including many popular heavy equipment and agricultural/farm colors. Custom colors are also available.
Uses for the 4800 Series include: Rubbish removal equipment such as dumpsters and roll-offs, truck & trailer bodies, farm implements including tractors, fork lifts, amusement park rides and equipment, construction and off road equipment and all types of machinery.

If you are painting trucks and any sort of commercial fleet vehicles, you need to use a system that will stand up to repeated washings and retain its gloss over a long period of time. Our MAGNACRYL™ 9000 Series Acrylic Enamels are available in most popular truck and fleet colors as well as custom colors.

If your requirements are severe and you need the ultimate in durability, shine and resistance to chemicals, fuels, corrosives, and repeated washings, MAGNATRON™ 5000 Series Acrylic Polyurethane Enamel should be your choice. Many popular and custom colors are available here as well. Common uses for the 5000 Series include: Trick cabs and bodies, cement and salt spreading vehicles, heavy equipment, marine vessels, oil field machinery, bridges, chemical processing equipment, etc.

Q: Which primer should I use?
A: If you are painting with the 4800 Series, you can use any of the primers you see in our product line. The 500 Series or 600 Series are rust inhibitive industrial primers or the 300 Series Universal Automotive Non-Sanding Primer.
If you are painting with the 9000 Series or 5000 Series you will prime with the 300 Series Universal or 1900 Series MAGNAPOXY™.
Never use the 500 or 600 Series primers under the 9000 or 5000 Series.

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Q: How long does your paint last?
A: As a general statement regarding the longevity of each of our painting systems:

4800 Series will yield a 2 to 4 year paint job.
9000 Series will yield a 3 to 6 year paint job.
5000 Series will yield a 5 to 10+ year paint job.

Naturally there are many factors that contribute to the life a paint job. Many of our customers come to us after thay have been spending a lot of money for automotive paints. They have come to realize that no matter how much they spend, they are always repainting sooner than they expect. No matter how often they paint, in 2 or 3 years their equipment is looking shabby and is in need of paint again. The amount of abuse that your equipment gets in the field should dictate how much you should spend on paint.

Q: Do I need to use a Clear Coat?
A: If you want dynamic gloss and extra protection, clear coating is an added step you may choose to protect a quality single stage finish paint job. Clear coats are also widely used in today’s base coat/clear coats processes. MAGNET does not produce base coat products. Our 9000 Series and 5000 Series systems are both single-stage finishes and will both accept our clear coat over them. MAGNACLEAR™ is our latest creation and you’ll find more information here on our site. Please note that our 4800 Series should not be clear coated.

Q: What is the shelf life of your paints?
A: All products kept in unopened containers have a shelf life of greater than 2 years. Hardeners, activators, catalysts and CHASSIS SAVER™ are all moisture sensitive products and have a tendency to thicken over time once their containers are opened. Keep all containers tightly sealed when not in use.

SAFETY

Q: When I spray, do I need a respirator?
A: Always! If you are using a hardener, catalyst or activator of any type, you risk damaging your lungs if you do not wear a respirator. Always make sure your painting area is well ventilated and that your respirator fits properly.

Q: What do I do with the unused portion of paint?
A: Any unused portion of paint should be stored in its original container with the lid tightly sealed. Never return any paint that has been mixed with hardener, activator or catalyst to its original container. Only mix the amount you expect to use for the pot life duration of the paint system. You can always mix more if you run short. Partial cans of paint such as our 4800 Series when used without hardener may form a skin on the surface of the remaining paint in the can even when tightly sealed. To prevent this, you can sprinkle a small amount of reducer over the surface of the paint in the can and then seal it tightly. Don’t use too much. A few ounces are sufficient and when you open the can again you can simply mix it into the paint with no adverse effects. If your leftover paint does form a skin, the paint can still be used. Simply cut the skin out against the side of the can, stir the contents well and pour the paint through a strainer to remove any debris or pieces of skin that may remain in the can.

Click Here to read a typical warning from one of our labels regarding respirator use.

COLORS

Q: Can you match my colors?
A: We can match any color. Send us a dry swatch on a piece of sheet metal or any non-porous surface. Coated cardboard is good too. Please keep your sample swatches a minimum of 2" x 4". If available, a liquid sample will enable us to provide a better match. If you are submitting a wet sample, please try to provide it without any thinner or reducer added that you might have used for spraying. Indicate how many gallons you will need, which one of our paint systems you would like the color matched in and provide us with a contact phone number so we can call you with a price quote.

CHASSIS SAVER™

Q: Does Chassis Saver™ come in other colors?
A: Chassis Saver™ is available in gloss black, antique-satin black and silver-aluminum. Clear will be available soon.
NOTE: We do have the ability to create some custom colors and aluminum colors from Chassis Saver. For more information, please call our customer service department and leave a message at extension #100. An explanation of your application will be necessary before we will agree to do any work to create a custom from Chassis Saver. Pricing will only be available when we have more info regarding colors and your application.

Q: Can I paint over Chassis Saver™?
A: Yes. Within 24 hours you can apply any of our finishing systems over Chassis Saver™. After 24 hours the Chassis Saver™ surface should be scuff sanded to ensure proper adhesion of the topcoat.

Q: Do I need a primer under Chassis Saver?
A: Chassis Saver™ has been formulated for application directly to clean sandblasted steel or right over tightly adhering rust and scale. Only if your surface to be painted is completely smooth will you need a primer. If you can not sandblast or mechanically abrade the surface before applying Chassis Saver™, a primer such as our 300 Series Universal Automotive Primer or 1900 Series MAGNAPOXY™ Epoxy Primer should be used. Self etching primer from commercially available sources will also provide adhesion to smooth metal.

Q: What happens when Chassis Saver™ is exposed to sun?
A: When exposed to direct sunlight, Chassis Saver™ will lose its gloss and turn a dull almost grayish black. Silver will not change significantly. At no time does it give up its ability to stop rust and corrosion. Chassis Saver™ does its job no matter what type of environment it is exposed to.

Sample Hazardous Labeling Info

IMPORTANT: May be mixed with other components. Mixture will have hazards of both components. Before opening the packages, read all warning labels. Follow all precautions.

NOTICE: Repeated and prolonged overexposure to solvents may lead to permanent brain and nervous system damage. Eye watering, headaches, nausea, dizziness and loss of coordination are signs that solvent levels are too high. Intentional misuse by deliberately concentrating and inhaling the contents can be harmful or fatal. Do not breath vapors or spray mist. Do not get in eyes or on skin.

WEAR A PROPERLY FITTED VAPOR/PARTICULATE RESPIRATOR approved by NIOSH/MSHA for use with paints (TC-23C), eye protection, gloves and protective clothing during application and until all vapors and spray mist are exhausted. In confined spaces, or in situations where continuous spray operations are typical, or if proper respirator fit is not possible, wear positive-pressure, supplied-air respirator (NIOSH/MSHA TC-19C). In all cases, follow respirator manufacturer's directions for respirator use. Do not permit anyone without protection in the painting area.

Keep away from heat, sparks and open flame. Avoid breathing of vapor or spray mist. Avoid contact with eyes and skin. Do not transfer contents to bottles or other unlabeled containers for storage. Close container after each use. Vapors may spread long distances. Prevent build-up vapors. During use and until all vapors are gone: Keep area ventilated - Do not smoke - Extinguish all pilot lights and turn off heaters, stoves, appliances, non-explosion proof electrical equipment, electric tools and any other sources of ignition. Do not take internally.

IN CASE OF FIRE: Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray fog, or alcohol foam. Closed containers may rupture or explode when heated. Keep cool with water spray.

FIRST AID: If affected by inhalation of vapor or spray mist, remove to fresh air. In case of eye contact, flush eyes immediately with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes and call a Physician. In case of skin contact, remove promptly by wiping, followed by waterless hand cleaner and soap and water. If irritation persists, see a physician. If swallowed, CALL A POISON CONTROL CENTER, EMERGENCY ROOM OR PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY; have label information available. DO NOT induce vomiting. Remove and discard contaminated shoes and clothing or launder before reuse.