Total Finishing Supplies

Professional Finishing

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

MLC Agualente + & Surf Prep Pads

9/14/16       
JoeW Member

I have been using MLC Agualente (Clear and Pigment) and Valspar Zenith for years. About 2 years ago I tried the Surf Prep and have used it ever since. It worked great with both MLC & Valspar products.

I just started a new job with the new Agualente Plus (Pigmented). The primer was fine. It powered perfectly and the pads had no build up as usual. When I sanded the Agualente Plus between coats, It started clogging almost immediately with very little powder. At first they were small nail head sized blotches that took a great deal of compressed air to remove and then larger spots. It was so bad I had to go back to 320 sand paper by hand.

I always let the Waterborne dry at least one hour before I sand. Tried it on more doors after I let dry longer and the last one I let dry over night. No change.

I contacted the Regional MLC rep that I have dealt with for years. He said he was not surprised, since they have had other issues concerning the new formula. (Dry Times, Stacking Time, Wraping Time etc The primer has not changed.

He said the new formula appears to affect how long it needs to dry and suggested using very thin coats and a lot of moving air over the items after it skins over.

Curious, if anyone else has had other issues with the Agualente Plus. So far I'm not very impressed.

The Surp Prep has really spoiled me and I definitely do not want to revert back to sanding with paper.

9/14/16       #2: MLC Agualente + & Surf Prep Pad ...
Mastercabman

I used Mlc waterborne a few times
I'm not too impressed with it
But I don't have much time with waterborne
I mainly use solvent. LOVE CV!
Aqualente plus takes too much time to dry
The dry finish feels a little soft
Kind of like pre cat lacquer
Maybe it gets harder with time?
As far as sanding the primer was great
But the pigmented finish not as good but ok
I need to learn/experiment more about waterborne

9/15/16       #3: MLC Agualente + & Surf Prep Pad ...
MarkB Member

We have had the same problem with the new Agualente. Its horrile. Drytimes are abysnal. The last gallon we had went into the trash and no more. The old formula dried fine and scuffed fine. This stuff is horrible. God forbid its 95 and humid. Your dead.

9/15/16       #4: MLC Agualente + & Surf Prep Pad ...
jonathan mahnken

I notice it being soft and gummy, but not unsandable. I have a problem with it cratering terribly out of my airless after the first coat. I thought I had it fixed with a diffeerent tip, but the problem is back. Its totally bumming me out

9/16/16       #5: MLC Agualente + & Surf Prep Pad ...
JoeW Member

Well, I have been really frustrated with the Plus. It is like starting over. I have been using waterborne for about 10 years and had the old Agualente working pretty good.

Since I made my post, I have been experimenting, trying to get a handle on it. I have wasted a lot of valuable time. Not much luck. One more thing I found that helps, is after sanding between coats, place it back under the fans for a while. Its almost like sanding exposes paint that needs more drying. It definitely reduces bubbling.

I do use a CAT AAA. I still can't get the settings right. As I said I feel like I have started all over. Waterborne is a pain to learn anyway, I sure don't want to go through it again. I am going to call CAT and see if they have any recommendations since they work so closely with MLC.

9/16/16       #6: MLC Agualente + & Surf Prep Pad ...
Charles Member

I talked to someone from MLC sometime this past year after Plus came out. The "new" primer is the same as the original formula. However, the topcoat is different.

I use the clear Plus for the topcoat. I do not use the clear primer. I tried it once (rep gave me a test gallon), but did not see much benefit. To be fair, with my old gravity cup guns I did have to thin it a lot. I never tried it with my new pressure pot systems. The clear Plus seems to work ok for me. I have learned to do both topcoats on one side (the "back" side), then let set overnight. The next day I do two coats on the "front" or "show" side, then let set overnight again. Otherwise I get blocking marks from the drying racks.

For pigmented, I gave up on the original Agualente since I experienced mineral streak bleed-through with the primer too many times. That cost me $$$. I believe the primer for pigmented Plus is the same as the original primer formula.

I use MagnaClaw and HP White (tinted if needed) solvent borne for paint-grade projects. Very nice results with this combination.


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)