Revamping your floors anytime soon? There might be a chance that you’ll be reaching for a 2-Component Paint product at the home depot. We take you through the important things you need to know about them. Welcome to your quick guide to Boysen 2-component paints!
What are 2-Component Paints
To put it simply, 2-component paints are paint products that come in two parts. When you buy these at the store, instead of just one can, you take home two—a bigger one and a smaller one. These two parts are mixed together before they’re applied to your surface.
The usual paints that fall under this category are epoxies and polyurethanes such as Boysen Epoxy Enamel and Hudson Polyurethane Floor Varnish. Epoxies and polyurethanes are known to be durable paint films for floors and metal surfaces. These paints are typically corrosion-, chemical-, and water-resistant.
Why They Come in Two Parts
Why do paints like Boysen Epoxy Enamel come in two parts anyway? Epoxies and polyurethanes need a catalyst or curing agent—this is the smaller of the two cans—in order to dry. Apply the bigger can without the curing agent and it will stay wet and sticky on your surface no matter how long you wait.
In essence, the curing agent plays an important role in the chemical reaction necessary for the paint film to form and, therefore, for the paint to dry on the surface.
Why don’t other paints come in two parts? It’s because the way in which a paint product dries depends on what type it is. Alkyd and lacquer types, for example, form their paint films through evaporation and oxidation. And, a lot of epoxy and polyurethane types need a catalyst.
When Working with 2-Component Paints
Because 2-component paints are not as straightforward to use as their 1-component counterpart, there are several things you need to be aware of when using them.
1. Mixing ratio
The necessary info you need about a paint product can be found on the product label. For -component paints, make sure to check what it says about the mixing ratio. This is usually 3:1 or 4:1 (paint to catalyst) depending on the product. Boysen makes this easier by packaging its 2-component paints in 3 or 4 L cans for paint and 1 L cans for catalyst.
Getting the ratio wrong will result in paint that dries too fast or too slow which then affects the formation of the paint film. You won’t get that beautiful paint job you’re after.
2. Induction Time
After mixing the paint and catalyst, you need to wait before you can use and apply the product. This is called the induction time. For Boysen paints like Epoxy Primer, Epoxy Enamel, and Acqua Epoxy, the induction time is 20 minutes. Make sure you don’t skip this step. Not following the recommended induction time may cause paint defects.
3. Pot Life
Pot life pertains to how long a 2-component paint can be used after it’s been mixed. After the pot life has elapsed, the product will thicken or harden and be difficult to apply. For example, 5 hours is the pot life for Boysen Epoxy Primer and Boysen Epoxy Enamel. On the other hand, 8 hours is the pot life for Boysen Acqua Epoxy.
When using these paints, it’s wiser to mix only what you need for the day. Then, return the lid of the remaining unmixed products. Also because of their shorter pot life, once a 2-component paint has been mixed, leftovers cannot be stored for use at a later date. (For other types of paint, here is a useful blog post: How to Properly Store Leftover Paint.)
4. Recoat Time
Like any other paint type that needs more than one coat of paint, make sure to check the recoat time. Recoat intervals can range from 4 to 12 hours for 2-component paints depending on the product. Stick to this, because while the surface may feel dry to the touch in a few hours, the film underneath may still be soft.
Recoating sooner than what’s recommended can lead to peeling paint and unsightly brush/roller marks. (Learn more about recoating here: Recoating: What Every DIY Painter Needs to Know.)
Good luck and happy painting! If you have any questions or inquiries about Boysen products, send an email to [email protected]. You can also call the Boysen Technical Service Department at (02) 8363-9738 local 413 to 418 during office hours for a one-on-one consultation.
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