KBS MAXX Clear is applied by cleaning the surface with KBS Klean, mixing 3 parts Base to 1 part MAXX Activator, then brushing, rolling, or spraying at 1.5 to 2.0 mils DFT per coat. Apply between 45 and 110 degrees F. Touch dry is 30 minutes, recoat window runs 30 minutes to 3 days, and it is polishable at 24 hours with full cure at 7 days.

KBS MAXX Clear Application — At a Glance

45°–110°F
Application Temp Range
Stay 5ºF above the dew point
3:1 Mix Ratio
Base : MAXX Activator
Doubles in viscosity in 30 minutes
30 Min – 3 Days
Recoat Window
1.5–2.0 mils DFT per coat
24 Hrs / 7 Days
Polishable / Full Cure
Touch dry in 30 minutes
ALWAYS WEAR PROTECTIVE GLOVES AND SAFETY GLASSES. ALWAYS WORK IN A WELL-VENTILATED AREA. Please heed all labeled warning and caution notices on all products.

To achieve expert results, please take the time to carefully read and understand the following directions before you begin your restoration project. These directions are meant to be general guidelines only and do not cover every application or environmental situation. If you have remaining questions or concerns, please contact us for technical assistance.

Surface Preparation:

Clear Coating Over an Automotive Base Coat

Apply base coat as per the manufacturer's directions. Allow to dry, which is normally about one hour.

Note: If the surface being clear coated will be consistently exposed to sunlight, be sure your automotive base coat is UV stable.

Clear Coating Over Cured Coatings

Clean the surface with KBS Klean diluted 10 parts hot water to 1 part KBS Klean. If needed, scuff with 600-1200 grit sandpaper and repeat the cleaning process. Rinse and allow to thoroughly dry.

Note: If the surface being clear coated will be consistently exposed to sunlight, be sure your base coat is UV stable.

Clear Coating Bare Metals

For ferrous metals, clean with KBS Klean at a dilution rate of 10 parts hot water to 1 part KBS Klean (10% strength) using a soft non-abrasive cleaning pad. Rinse the KBS Klean solution immediately, making sure you do not let it sit on the surface and dry in a way that leaves water stains.

For aluminum, clean with KBS Klean at a dilution rate of 25 parts hot water to 1 part KBS Klean (4% strength) using a very soft non-abrasive cleaning pad. Wipe the surface and do not soak. Rinse the KBS Klean solution immediately, making sure you do not let it sit on the surface and dry in a way that leaves water stains.

Clear Coating Wood

Wood surfaces should be smooth and dry with the wood having a low moisture content. Remove all existing failed coatings, sand smooth, and remove dust. Thin the initial coat of KBS MAXX Clear 30-50% with KBS #1 Thinner and apply a single covering coat to seal the wood. Allow to cure 24 hours. The wood will generally need to be sanded smooth again, since KBS MAXX Clear tends to raise the wood grain with the first coat. Sand the surface smooth with a fine grade of sandpaper (280-320). Apply at least one additional full coat for general applications, and a minimum of 3 coats for marine or industrial use.

Clear Coating Fiberglass or Carbon Fiber

Clean the surface with KBS Klean diluted 10 parts hot water to 1 part KBS Klean. Scuff with 600-1200 grit sandpaper and repeat the cleaning process. Rinse and allow to thoroughly dry.

Do not apply if the surface temperature is below 45°F or above 110°F, or if the surface temperature is within 5°F of the dew point. Always clean the surface well with KBS Klean. The surface should be free of all grease, dirt, oil, rust, and foreign material that would be detrimental to proper adhesion and the desired performance of the coating system being applied.

Questions about prepping your surface for KBS MAXX Clear?

Mixing and Mix Ratio:

Always mix KBS MAXX Clear Base thoroughly. Use of the KBS Hurricane Paint Mixer or a similar mechanical mixing blade attached to a variable speed drill is highly recommended.

After the KBS MAXX Clear Base has been mixed well and is smooth in consistency, in a mixing cup or container, carefully measure 3 parts mixed KBS MAXX Clear Base. Add 1 part MAXX Activator. Mix thoroughly, again using a mechanical mixer such as the KBS Hurricane Paint Mixer.

KBS MAXX Clear Base and MAXX Activator are pre-thinned and ready to brush, roll, or spray, but you can add KBS #1 Thinner or Xylene as needed at this point, then mix well again with a mechanical mixer.

Application Characteristics:

Mix Ratio: 3:1 (Base Component : Activator)

Reducer: Ready to apply. KBS #1 Thinner or Xylene may be added if needed.

Pot Life: Doubles in viscosity in 30 minutes.

Dry Times:

Touch: 30 minutes
Through Dry: 1 – 2 hours
Hard: 3 – 4 hours
Recoat: 30 minutes to 3 days

Force Cure: Allow 15 minutes to flash, then 20-30 minutes at 140°-180°F.

Full Cure: A function of time, temperature, and film build. This product will not reach full cure for 7 days.

Note: Testing performed at 77°F, 50% relative humidity.

Application:

For optimum results, KBS MAXX Clear can be applied by brush or roller, or with spray equipment such as conventional electrostatic, conventional suction spray gun, HVLP, air assisted airless, or airless.

Conventional Electrostatic:
Air Pressure:
40 - 60 psi
Fluid Pressure:
15 - 20 psi
Cap: Medium Visc.
Tip: 1.2 - 1.5 mm
Conventional Spray:
Air Pressure:
40 - 60 psi
Fluid Pressure:
15 - 20 psi
Cap: Medium Visc.
Tip: 1.2 - 1.5 mm
HVLP Spray:
Air Pressure:
15 - 20 psi
Fluid Pressure:
15 - 20 psi
Cap: Medium Visc.
Tip: 1.2 - 1.5 mm
Air Assisted Airless:
Air Pressure: 15:1 ratio pump or larger @ 80-100 psi
Atomizing Air:
Adjust as needed
Cap: Medium Visc.
Tip: 0.09 - 0.13"
Airless:
Pressure:
1500 psi minimum
Tip: 0.09 - 0.11"

Brush and Roll: Use a natural bristle brush or high-density foam roller and reduce or thin with KBS #1 Thinner or Xylene. When brushing KBS MAXX Clear, for best results do not overwork the brush, as this can cause the coating to cure too quickly and leave visible brush marks. It is best to brush an area and move on immediately rather than brushing an area over and over again. Reworking an area forces the solvents out and risks the brush marks not flowing out as designed.

Note: The above parameters are guidelines only. Customer-specific equipment may require a different setup.

Not sure which application method fits your project?

Clean Up:

KBS #1 Thinner, Xylene, or lacquer thinner for cleanup. KBS MAXX Clear must be cleaned up immediately, before it dries. Once cured, KBS MAXX Clear cannot be removed by any solvent. Wear protective gloves to avoid skin contact.

Dry Time / Cure:

Air Dry: Curing is a function of time, temperature, and film build. Air dry in 30 minutes to touch, thorough dry in 1-2 hours, dry hard in 3-4 hours. Tested at 77°F, approximately 70% relative humidity.

Note: The above information is a guideline for our customers. The user must be aware of the cleaning, pretreatment, application, and testing requirements for their specific job.

Questions about cure times or recoat windows for your project?

Technical Data:

Physical Properties

Volume Solids:
60.5% +/- 2.0%
QUV 313B:
1,000 hours
Weight Solids:
67.4% +/- 2.0%
Pencil Hardness:
2H @ 72 hours
Weight Per Gallon:
8.76 +/- 0.2 lbs/gallon
Impact Direct/Indirect:
160 inch-pounds
Theoretical Coverage:
450 sq ft/gal @ 2 mil DFT
Dry Heat Resistance:
1 hour at 300°F, less than 1.0 DE
VOC:
2.8 lbs/gallon mixed
Recommended Film Thickness:
1.5 – 2.0 mils DFT per coat
Viscosity:
27 - 33 seconds #2 Zahn cup (mixed)
Salt Spray (B117):
1,000 hrs (Q-Steel panels, 5-6 mils DFT)
Gloss Level:
High Gloss: 90-95%
Satin: 45-55%
Flat: 5-15%
Measured at 60 degrees

Chemical Resistance

MEK, 100 Double Rubs:
Pass @ 24 hours
10% Hydrochloric Acid:
Excellent
Lubricating and Cutting Oils:
Excellent
10% Acetic Acid:
Excellent
Skydrol:
24 hours @ 150°F, no discoloration
10% Sodium Hydroxide:
Excellent
Water Immersion:
Excellent
JP 5 (Jet Fuel):
Pass at 70°F for 7 days

Need a spec that isn't listed above, or a copy of the SDS?

Frequently Asked Questions — KBS MAXX Clear

Apply between 45 and 110 degrees F, and stay at least 5 degrees F above the dew point. Testing was performed at 77 degrees F and 50% relative humidity, so dry and cure times will run faster in warmer conditions and slower in cooler or more humid ones.
Mix 3 parts KBS MAXX Clear Base to 1 part MAXX Activator by volume. Mix the Base thoroughly first, then add the Activator and mix again, ideally with a KBS Hurricane Paint Mixer or similar mechanical mixing blade. Once mixed, pot life doubles in viscosity within 30 minutes.
No. RustSeal needs an opaque, solid-color topcoat like KBS MAXX or BlackTop for UV protection. A clear coat cannot provide that UV barrier, so applying KBS MAXX Clear directly over RustSeal will allow UV degradation of the RustSeal underneath. Use the KBS 3-Step System, then a color topcoat, and reserve KBS MAXX Clear for direct-to-metal, aluminum, fiberglass, or as a clear finish over KBS MAXX color coatings.
Recoat anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 days after the prior coat with no scuffing required. It reaches 2H pencil hardness at 72 hours and is polishable at 24 hours. Full cure is 7 days, and full cure is a function of time, temperature, and film build.
Yes. Wood needs to be smooth, dry, and low in moisture content, with any failed coatings removed. Apply a thin initial coat of KBS MAXX Clear thinned 30-50% with KBS #1 Thinner to seal the wood, then let it cure 24 hours. The first coat raises the wood grain, so sand smooth again with 280-320 grit before applying at least one more full coat (a minimum of 3 coats total for marine or industrial use).
Both work. For brush or roll, use a natural bristle brush or high-density foam roller, thinned with KBS #1 Thinner or Xylene as needed. Do not overwork the brush; move on to the next area once you've laid down a coat rather than going back over it, or you risk trapping solvent and leaving visible brush marks. For spray, KBS MAXX Clear runs with conventional, HVLP, air assisted airless, or airless equipment.
Use KBS #1 Thinner, Xylene, or lacquer thinner, and clean up immediately before it dries. Once cured, KBS MAXX Clear cannot be removed by any solvent, so do not let it sit on tools, gloves, or skin. Wear protective gloves throughout application.

More KBS MAXX Clear questions and answers: KBS MAXX Clear Supplemental FAQs

Still have questions about KBS MAXX Clear? Search our Support Desk or contact our technical team directly.

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