[Private_collector]

Gary,

Every brand & type of paint has different mixing requirements. The makers specifications should answer all questions in relation to your enquiries. Although you have not been given a proper label, the supplier should be able to supply the 'Data sheet' for correct mixing, thinning/reducing product, spray technique and most importantly...safety precautions! Also of great importance is the exact substrate preparation needs. Use of the right primers and fillers for the type of paint can be vital. For example, if you have used enamel primer, but intend to use an acrylic top coat.........well, the enamel will 'fry' up once the acrylic thinners are applied, and you will get a god awful mess. You can do things the other way around though. Acrylic undercoating can be covered with enamel or 2 pack paints, so long as you 'key' the two paints properly with right grade of sandpapers.

Without all the appropriate technical info for your paint, you won't get a finish anywhere near as good as your potential best. As others have said, there is also a great difference between the thinning/reducing products, and you MUST use the correct one for your paint. Then there is possibility that you can also add a hardener product, to effectively turn fairly standard enamels into a product of much greater resiliance and longer life.

A note of caution: all paint is dangerous if inhaled (and other ways into the body), but some, such as large proportion of the 'two part' urethanes contain chemicals that, when mixed, create free floating isocyanates. That is essentially, Cyanide gas! Inhaling these fumes directly will certainly damage the lungs. This damage may not be evident until years later, when lung problems such as shortness of breath or chest infections start happening. The correct respirator must be worn.

Anyone can apply spray-paint. It's not a hard job to do.............but, to achieve your very best results, you will certainly need all the information to assist you.

Hope this helps.

P.S: I always use a graduated/marked mixing cup for achieving desired proportions of paint components. These come in many sizes and have a range of mixing ratios clearly marked on the sides. Get a metal stirring stick too! They also have the mixing ratios for most paints, and are just as effective as the measuring cups, if you can't find them, plus they are very easily cleaned and will last forever if looked after well.