Newsletter August 2015

Well, it seems the Confederate flag was a big hit with ya’ll last month! You know, I never even gave that flag much thought until the recent “political correctness” brought it to my attention. Now, I’ve got stickers of it on all my vehicles, and have even ordered a fifty foot flag pole that will sport the Texas flag on top and the confederate flag under it.

My challenge to all of you: Read the history of that flag. In doing so you’ll find that it has absolutely nothing to do with race. Challenge #2: For every “one” that gets taken down, put “two” up!

Just when I thought I was done with tattoos, I’m even thinking of getting a Confederate flag below “The Beatles” tattoo on my left upper arm…..LOL!!!

The above information all came to me via my response to our lovely president and his Liberal administration. I guess that’s the good that comes from his insatiable appetitite for “change”. Had it not been for the “division” that he brought about, I might never have noticed how much I love this country and its history. I also might not have been as interested in the political process either. With that said, I have to tell you that I am really excited about Donald Trump! Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks he is the right man, at the right time, for leading the country

I have a good friend that happens to have voted for Obama…..TWICE! Now most of you are probably scratching your heads thinking “why the hell would Rick have a “friend” who voted for that idiot”? Well, let’s just say he’s my “token” Democrat….LOL! He really bought into the Obama thing, and I know he did so for all the right reasons. Like so many others, it’s not his fault that we were deceived. Here’s why I’m bringing him up. He came over to visit recently and the first thing he said to me was “hey, what do you think about Donald Trump”? I told him that until recently I never thought much about him, but right now I am really impressed………… He responded “he’s got my vote”!!!!!! Now that’s change you can believe in!

Many times over the last 7 years I (as well as millions of other Americans) have felt a sad and pitiful feeling in my stomach whenever Ronald Reagan was brought up. I know I’m not alone in thinking what an awesome man he was and how America really needed him now more than ever. The sad truth was, when you looked and listened to any potential candidate, you not only had Ronald Reagan in mind as your reference point, you knew that there was no one remotely close……….until now!

Common sense, American pride, tough negotiator, patriotic, don’t take no shit, self made, accountable, understands business….on a global scale, straight shooter, knows how to deal with both sides, and can’t be bought! Some of you may think it a stretch in comparing him with Reagan, but I have studied much of Ronald Reagan’s life, and I’m stating right here, right now, Trump has what it takes! Can you imagine him teamed up with Ted Cruz?

With the Texas heat also comes many paint related issues, and every year it seems to be the same thing. I have always said that out here in Texas a painter needs to learn how to paint twice a year! This is because we live in a bit of an extreme part of the country. I will list below some of the complaints as well as solutions…… Cause: The MS-78 has 3 hardeners….. MH-78F (Fast), MH-78N (Normal), MH-78S (Slow). The “slow” is just not slow enough. Matrix has known of this problem for at least two years and has done nothing about it. The reasoning as I have been told is “if we make an extra slow hardener it will take the low cost out of a low cost clear”. My response is / was “look, you made the clear, put a Matrix label on it (which gave it a full warranty), and priced it to kick the ass of every cost effective clear on the market, so finish what you started”! I even went so far as to tell them “make an extra slow hardener option, price it where you need to, and at least we can accommodate the customer”…….they did nothing!

So, the “Solution”: You cannot use MS-78 when it’s hot! You have to change over to MS-52 or MS-42 and forgo the cost difference!

This situation infuriates me to no end, and ironically, the cost of them making an extra slow version is exactly what they’re forcing you to do anyway!

This is what happens when you have stupid individuals calling the shots on product development (that’s the bad news). The good news is…….these individuals are soon to be exposed for who and what they are. There’s a new sheriff in town, and the name is “Valspar”!

Ok, so I realize that I just mentioned this as an alternative to the MS-78 in hot weather. It is a viable alternative, but you must decrease your air pressure! I will repeat what I’ve talked about extensively in the past “USE A DIAPHRAM REGULATOR!” The only gun I will endorse is an IWATA, and when you use an Iwata LPH-400, LPH-300, or LS-400, and you use the Iwata “AK1R-2″ diaphragm regulator “8 to 10lbs at the air cap” IS 19 to 21 lbs on that gauge!!!!!!!!!

There’s more to this story though. About two years ago I (as well as many customers) noticed that the MS-52 clear was drying faster than it used to. I have posed this dilemma to qualified Matrix personnel who should know. When I did, it was met with “non comment”. I’m nobody’s fool, and I use this clear regularly, and I am willing to bet the formula has been altered. Furthermore, since it shares the same hardeners as the MS-42, I know the clear is what got changed. Coincidentally, this was about the same time that certain individuals within the Matrix management starting making a mad push to up sale MS-42! At the very first meeting where I was in attendance being spoon fed this B.S. I got up and voiced my opinion loud and proud. I will repeat it now publicly for all of you: “MS-42 is hands down the best clear on the market “bar none”, but why would you approach a collision shop with 42 as a viable option”? “We (speaking as a body shop owner) are held to putting the customers vehicle in a “pre- loss” condition, and MS-42 is WAY OVERKILL for collision use”! “In my neck of the woods, we get $28.00 dollars per paint hour to cover paint AND materials. With what you are proposing, we will most definitely lose money”! “There is no way in hell that I will walk into a customers shop and lie to their face by telling them that they should be using MS-42 instead of one of many more viable “Matrix” options”!

Here’s the irony in all of this: The meeting I just mentioned was prefaced by discussing the competitive nature of today’s collision industry. Specifically, the fact that we, as jobbers, need to be both knowledgeable and diligent in making sure our customers are profitable on paint and materials! Can you believe that??? I swear to you, that is exactly how the meeting started!

That very meeting (along with a huge deal for Matrix that got totally screwed up) is what put one particular person on my “forever shit list”.

Anyway, when it comes to “collision” refinishing or “pre-loss”, here is what I would use:

RSC-310 (although it has only 3 choices of hardener, it still functions well in hot weather)

There are other Matrix / Refinish Solution options, but the above mentioned are the ones that I would use.

MS-42 clear can definitely be used anywhere, and if a collision shop decides that this is the clear they want to use, it will be just that….”THEIR DECISION”…..NOT MINE!

As a jobber representing the Matrix line (or any other line for that matter), a customer will be told face to face what their options are. This will be done with zero deception and zero hidden agenda. If after that “they” choose to use the MS-42 option that is totally acceptable to me.

This clear is a super productive product designed for extremely quick turn around. It is especially popular with the mobile refinishers like Doctor Bumper, and “Doctor Vinyl”. Note: “Doctor Vinyl” is a franchise that does not necessarily endorse Matrix, But “The Paint Spot” does.

MS-15 is for one or two panel applications. The product information sheet will tell you that it can be buffed in as little as 1 hour, but our customers routinely buff this clear in 30 – 45 minutes. For best results this clear should be applied in no more than 2 medium wet coats with a 3 minute flash time between. If you’ve sprayed this product and experienced “die back”, you’ve put too much on too soon!

These relatively new products from Matrix are really taking a foothold in the industry. Now many of you remember the predecessor “MP-1000″ that came out several years ago. and have been using one of the two ever since. The MP-1000 was both a primer and with the use of “MC-1000″ could be converted into a sealer. Because of the mixing ratio difference between the primer version and the sealer version (and all you boneheads that are mathematically challenged), Matrix decided to separate them into two different products, make them both a standard 4:1 mix ratio, and give them two new part numbers.

MP-200 is the primer version. It is the greatest product imaginable over a myriad of substrates, and I have personally used it on titanium, chrome, plastic, steel, aluminum, brass, lead, and glass. All body work is done on top of this product. Unlike self etch, epoxy, or self etch with epoxy primer over it, MP-200 will not chalk or breed rust if left out in the weather. Because this primer is on the substrate prior to filler, the corrosion protection / foundation is solid. This has allowed Slix to put lifetime warranties on all restoration and custom work with zero issues for several years now.

MP-210 is the sealer version, and offers all the characteristics mentioned above, except it is a wet on wet sealer (does not require sanding prior to top coating).

Because of its characteristics, it will not suck the gloss out of the top coat (like so many of the other products on the market). It can also be sprayed on new O.E.M. or after market “E Coated” panels WITHOUT sanding, as long as the part has been cleaned with MXW-9001 (waterborne grease and wax remover) first.

Because of its substrate versatility it has made itself a great choice for our fleet customers. We actually sell more MP-210 sealer to our fleet customers than automotive refinishers!

I have to tell you that I have never been a fan of using sealer, but here’s what I’ve done recently that makes me want to rethink that. I recently had a “mop and glow” job to do for a friend that wanted a truck painted. “Mop and glow” is what we call a paint job that’s going on a vehicle that has no business being painted. This poor truck was rusted, delaminated, dented, and even had some gypsy bondo work that looked like it was done at a swap meet. I took 220 grit on a D.A. and sanded this thing, put one coat of MP-210 on it, and then sprayed 2 coats of Northstar (BLACK) , and that truck came out TITS!! No sanding scratches period!

Most of you are probably familiar with the SEM aerosol interior paint, and most of you jobbers probably stock them. My question is WHY?

I used to stock some of that stuff, but it wasn’t long before I figured out what a “suckers bet” it was. With Matrix you can mix as little as 1 ounce, the cost is significantly less, choice of reducers for different conditions, and because it utilizes the MX-57 hardener, it is bullet proof compared!

The MIP / MIS option has become extremely popular with our mobile interior customers, and has replaced much of the waterborne and lacquer materials because it’s so much more user friendly and so versatile. Here’s a weird story: A couple of weeks ago I get a call from a guy that wants carpet touched up. I call one of our customers that does that kind of stuff (Casey, from Dr. Bumper). He goes out to check the job out and then shows up over here with a sample to match. It was green shag carpet from a house! Until then, I had just assumed it was a car this guy was talking about.

This house carpet had to be forty years old, had bleached out spots, was still in the house, and this guy was steadfast on keeping it! We matched it in the MSB line, mixed one quart, and Casey proceeds to mask off the dudes house and paint 1500 sq.ft. of shag carpeting. Long story short, the job came out awesome, was done in less than 3 hours, and the customer was happy as a pig in shit with his reconditioned green shag carpet!

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