Understanding Zolatone Before You Start

The Zolatone coating consists of 2 components; a background (base) material and the color fleck. This color fleck (and the mechanism for delivering it) is highly unique and is part of the proprietary Zolatone process. The color fleck also demands special handling and application techniques for successful use.

Zolatone's color fleck material is sealed in a chemical capsule when it is manufactured. This capsule is opened up during the spraying process to create the textured, multi-colored Zolatone finish. It's kind of like putting paint into tiny chemical balloons; and then dropping those little balloons to create a multi-colored look.

Since the color fleck capsules are designed to be opened up during the spray process, product preparation (mixing) is critical. If Zolatone is mixed incorrectly or too vigorously, the color fleck capsules may rupture, allowing the color fleck to blend with the background color, or may adhere to each other, making the material too lumpy to spray. If Zolatone is not sprayed correctly the color flecks will not be opened and blended at the right time or in the right proportions. It's really quite easy to apply Zolatone perfectly every time. But, for a Zolatone application to look like our color samples, it is necessary to follow our instructions completely.

When you first open a can of Zolatone

During storage & shipment, the color fleck capsules will settle at the bottom center on the can. A layer of clear liquid may form on the top.

Mix Zolatone exactly like this

When you first open a can of Zolatone, you will probably see a layer of clear liquid that has separated and risen to the top of the can. You may actually see the contents of the can moving on their own. Don't be alarmed. Zolatone is a specialized chemical coating which is active, not an ordinary paint.

As you can see in the illustration, the color fleck capsules will have migrated to the center and bottom of the can. The color flecks always remain in suspension and do not adhere to each other. A gentle stirring will redistribute the color flecks throughout the background material. To keep from breaking the color flecks during stirring and to insure proper fleck distribution, we ask that you follow this procedure exactly.

Step One

Begin stirring gently at the top and around the sides of the can. Do not stir in the middle at this stage of preparation

Begin stirring gently at the top of the can and around the sides. This will start to mix the liquid while the motion of the background material begins to redistribute the color flecks.

Step Two

Gradually insert the stirring stick further into the can and more toward the middle. You may begin to GENTLY bump the mass of color flecks to help redistribution. Do not push the stir stick through the mass of color flecks.

Stirring gently around the sides, gradually insert stir stick farther into the an and toward the middle. Do not push stir stick through the mass od color flecks.

Step Three

Continue to insert the stirring stick further into the material as you stir gently with a more up and down motion. By the time you reach the bottom of the can with the stirring stick, the color flecks and the background material should be thoroughly mixed.

Be sure to stir gently and work your way down the sides and middle of the can. By the time you reach the bottom, the Zolatone should be completely mixed.

CAUTION: Do not use an agitator or shaker. You may "box" Zolatone by pouring it back and forth from one container to another after uniformly intermixing as described about. Do not thin, do not reduce, do not strain, and do not shake.