What is KBS Top Coater?
KBS Top Coater is a single component (1K) exterior grade top coat paint that bonds directly to bare steel and aluminum without a primer and stays 100% UV stable, so the color does not chalk or fade in sunlight. KBS Top Coater comes in quart, gallon and 5 gallon sizes across 17 colors in gloss and matte, and one gallon covers up to 700 sq. ft. in a single coat.
700 sq. ft.
Per Gallon, 1 Coat
17 Colors
Gloss and Matte
KBS Top Coater is a high solids paint, which is why a single full coat can cover with full color depth where a conventional 1K enamel needs two. That density is also what gives KBS Top Coater roughly twice the coverage of conventional paints and what keeps it from running or sagging on a vertical panel.
KBS Top Coater is the exterior finish coat for the KBS rust prevention system. RustSeal stops rust permanently but is not UV stable on its own, so any RustSeal surface that will live in direct sunlight needs a UV stable top coat over it. KBS Top Coater applied over fresh RustSeal between 3 and 6 hours old needs no scuffing or other prep at all.
100% UV stable. KBS Top Coater does not fade, chalk or discolor in sunlight. Satisfaction guaranteed!
Brush marks flow out as KBS Top Coater self levels. Use a natural bristle brush or a 3/8 inch woven roller with a phenolic core.
KBS Top Coater bonds directly to bare steel and bare aluminum with no primer, and it also goes over sound painted surfaces, primers and cured RustSeal. KBS Top Coater is an exterior grade coating, so it is built for parts that live outdoors: snow plows, trailers, tractors, wheels, boats and fleet vehicles. On bare wood, rough or sandblasted surfaces expect up to 50% less coverage.
- Automotive and Motorcycle
- Cars, motorcycles, wheels, bicycles, frames, axle housings and any exterior body or chassis part that gets direct sun.
- Commercial and Municipal Fleet
- Commercial vehicles, snow plows, fleet and municipal vehicles, trailers and service bodies where the safety colors matter.
- Agricultural and Construction
- Tractors, agricultural equipment, construction machinery, implements and metal roofing panels.
- Marine
- Boats and yachts, personal watercraft, trailers and dock hardware above the waterline.
- Rail and Aerospace
- Trains, rail equipment and aerospace components.
- Shop, Home and Tools
- Woodwork, tools, toolboxes, doors, railings and shop fixtures. Bare wood absorbs more paint, so plan on up to 50% less coverage.
Can KBS Top Coater Be Applied Over Existing Paint?
KBS Top Coater bonds to sound, well adhered paint and primer after a light scuff with 320 grit paper and a clean, dry surface. Loose or flaking paint has to come off first, because KBS Top Coater bonds to whatever is under it and a failing layer takes the new coating with it. Clean with KBS Klean rather than a solvent based cleaner, which leaves an invisible residue that interferes with adhesion.
Does KBS Top Coater Need a Primer on Bare Metal?
No. KBS Top Coater is a direct to metal coating and adheres permanently to bare steel and bare aluminum with no primer. A primer is only worth adding when the metal is rusted or pitted, in which case RustSeal is the right base layer and KBS Top Coater is the UV stable finish over it.
KBS Top Coater is a high solids single component paint, so it delivers about twice the coverage of a conventional 1K enamel, resists running and sagging on vertical work, and needs no hardener or mixing ratio. KBS Top Coater is also 100% UV stable and rated to withstand temperatures up to 300°F, which is what lets one product serve as both the color coat and the weather barrier.
- 100% UV Stable: KBS Top Coater does not fade, chalk or discolor in sunlight, which is why it is the recommended exterior top coat over RustSeal.
- Direct to Metal: KBS Top Coater adheres permanently to bare steel and aluminum with no primer and no etch coat required.
- Single Component (1K): No hardener, no activator, no mixing ratio and no pot life to race. Open the can, stir, and paint.
- High Solids, Twice the Coverage: A gallon of KBS Top Coater covers up to 700 sq. ft. in one coat, roughly double a conventional 1K paint.
- Does Not Run or Sag: The high solids body holds on vertical panels, so a full wet coat does not curtain the way thin enamels do.
- Self Leveling: Brush marks flow out. KBS Top Coater can be brushed, rolled or sprayed and still finish smooth.
- Rock Hard Yet Flexible: The cured film resists chipping without becoming brittle, so it tolerates flex and vibration on frames and equipment.
- Chemical Resistant: KBS Top Coater resists the fuels, solvents and road chemicals that strip ordinary enamel off equipment.
- Heat Resistant to 300°F: Enough headroom for wheels, engine bay brackets and equipment that runs warm.
One gallon of KBS Top Coater covers up to 700 sq. ft. with one coat, or 350 sq. ft. with the two coats most jobs want. A quart covers up to 175 sq. ft. in one coat and 90 sq. ft. in two. Coverage drops by as much as 50% on bare wood, rough or sandblasted surfaces, and material lost to mixing and overspray has to be figured in on top of that.
| Size | 1 Coat Coverage | 2 Coat Coverage |
|---|
| Quart (32 oz) | Up to 175 sq. ft. | Up to 90 sq. ft. |
| Gallon (128 oz) | Up to 700 sq. ft. | Up to 350 sq. ft. |
| 5 Gallon Pail (640 oz) | Up to 3,500 sq. ft. | Up to 1,750 sq. ft. |
Recoat window: a second coat of KBS Top Coater goes on after 8 hours and before 7 days. Full cure is 4 to 7 days of air dry, or sooner with force drying at a maximum of 180°F after a 15 minute minimum flash time.
Pro Tip: Stir, never shake. Touch the bottom of the can with the stir stick and lift repeatedly for several minutes to bring settled pigment and matting agents back into the paint, and keep stirring occasionally while you work. Shaking whips in air bubbles that show up in the finish. Storing the can upside down for a while before opening makes the stir easier.
Between sessions, spray KBS Paint Saver into the can for 2 seconds on a quart or 4 seconds on a gallon to extend storage life.
KBS Top Coater is brushed, rolled or sprayed onto a clean, dry, prepped surface between 55°F and 82°F. Stir KBS Top Coater thoroughly for several minutes, apply one or two thin covering coats rather than one heavy coat, and recoat after 8 hours and before 7 days. Thin 5% for brush and roll work or 10% to 20% for spray, using only KBS #1 Thinner or xylene.
Brush and Roll Application
Use a natural bristle brush or a 3/8 inch woven roller with a phenolic core. KBS Top Coater has excellent self leveling characteristics and brush marks flow out. Thin 5% with KBS #1 Thinner or xylene only if the paint is dragging. A single full coat can cover with full color depth, but two thin coats beat one heavy coat on almost every job.
Spray Application
Spray KBS Top Coater at 55°F to 82°F in 70% relative humidity or lower, and never when the surface temperature is within 5°F of the dew point. Conventional and conventional electrostatic guns run 40 to 60 psi air with a 1.8 to 3.0 mm tip; HVLP runs 30 to 40 psi with the same tip range; airless runs 1,500 to 2,500 psi through a .019 inch tip. Thin 10% to 20% as required with KBS #1 Thinner (VOC exempt) or xylene. If the paint runs or sags, it is going on too heavy or the gun is too close.
Safety: always work in a well ventilated area and wear protective gloves and safety glasses. When spraying KBS Top Coater, always use a NIOSH/MSHA approved fresh air supplied respirator. Clean up immediately with KBS #1 Thinner or mineral spirits, including the spray gun.
KBS Top Coater differs from conventional single stage enamel in coverage and sunlight stability: KBS Top Coater is a high solids formula that covers up to 700 sq. ft. per gallon in one coat and is 100% UV stable, while a conventional 1K enamel typically needs two coats for the same hide and chalks or fades with sustained sun exposure. Both go on with a brush, roller or gun, and neither needs a hardener.
| | KBS Top Coater | Conventional 1K Enamel |
|---|
| Coverage per gallon, 1 coat | Up to 700 sq. ft. | Typically 300 to 400 sq. ft. |
| UV stability | 100% UV stable, does not fade or chalk | Varies, commonly chalks with sustained exposure |
| Primer on bare metal | Not required, direct to metal | Usually required |
| Running and sagging | Resists sagging on vertical panels | Prone to sagging when applied wet |
| Heat resistance | Up to 300°F | Varies, commonly under 200°F |
| Full cure | 4 to 7 days air dry | Varies by formula |
KBS Top Coater is built for finishes that have to last outdoors, not for jobs that have to be back in service tonight. The 17 stocked colors are formulated for UV stability rather than mixed to order, and the 4 to 7 day full cure is what produces a film hard enough to resist chipping, chemicals and 300°F heat. Plan the schedule around the cure and the finish will outlast the metal it is protecting.
KBS Top Coater is stocked in 17 colors: 11 gloss and 6 matte. The gloss range is Light Grey, Medium Grey, Battleship Grey, Fire Red, Forest Green, Safety Blue, Safety Green, Safety Orange, Safety Red, Safety Yellow and White. The matte range is Flat Black Camo, Green Camo, Desert Tan Camo, Brown Camo, Light Grey and Iron Oxide Red.
- Gloss (11)
- Light Grey, Medium Grey, Battleship Grey, Fire Red, Forest Green, Safety Blue, Safety Green, Safety Orange, Safety Red, Safety Yellow, White.
- Matte (6)
- Flat Black Camo, Green Camo, Desert Tan Camo, Brown Camo, Light Grey, Iron Oxide Red.
- Looking for black?
- BlackTop is the KBS black top coat and is available in gloss, OEM satin and flat, in brush, roll and spray formulations.
- Aerosol
- KBS Top Coater 1K Aerosol covers touch ups and small parts, and the Camo Aerosol 4 Pack covers the matte camo range.
Monitor settings shift color. Request a free color sample before committing to a full gallon.
Colors vary by monitor. Request a physical sample for an exact match.
KBS Top Coater is step three of the KBS exterior rust prevention system. Each step exists because the one before it is what makes the next one hold.
- Step 1 — KBS Klean
- Water based cleaner and degreaser. Removes oil, grease and fingerprints that would otherwise ruin adhesion. Never substitute a solvent cleaner.
- Step 2 — RustBlast
- Acid etch and rust remover. Etches the metal and leaves a zinc phosphate coating that RustSeal grips.
- Step 3 — RustSeal
- Rust encapsulating coating. Seals rusted or bare metal permanently against moisture and oxygen.
- Step 4 — KBS Top Coater
- The UV stable color coat. Applied over RustSeal between 3 and 6 hours old, no additional prep is needed.
Read the Full Directions & TDS
Restoring and painting a primed toolbox with KBS Top Coater, start to finish.
KBS Top Coater Directions and TDS
Full application directions: prep, stirring, brush and roll technique, spray pressures and tip sizes, recoat window and cure times.
Read Article →
Choosing a Top Coat Paint for Metal
How to pick a top coat that will actually hold on metal, and why UV stability matters more than gloss on anything that lives outdoors.
Read Article →
How to Paint Wheels Black So the Finish Lasts
A full walkthrough on prepping and painting aluminum and steel wheels, including why brake dust and heat kill ordinary wheel paint.
Read Article →
Long Term Rust Protection for Metal
Where a UV stable top coat fits in the KBS rust prevention system, and what each of the three prep and seal steps is actually doing.
Read Article →
KBS Instructional Video Library
Every KBS how-to video in one place, grouped by product: prep, RustSeal, top coats, tank sealers and engine paint.
Watch Videos →
Before and After Photos
Real customer projects finished with KBS coatings, from frames and plows to toolboxes and equipment.
View Gallery →
Have questions before you buy? Find answers to the most common KBS Top Coater questions below, or
order KBS Top Coater now and get it shipped same day.
The best top coat for metal is one that bonds without a primer, holds its color in sunlight, and is hard enough to resist chipping. KBS Top Coater is a single component (1K) high solids paint that adheres directly to bare steel and aluminum, is 100% UV stable so it will not fade or chalk, resists chemicals, and withstands temperatures up to 300 degrees F. One gallon covers up to 700 sq. ft. in a single coat, roughly twice a conventional 1K enamel.
On already painted metal the top coat has to bond to the existing film rather than to steel, so surface preparation decides the result. KBS Top Coater goes over sound, well adhered paint and primer after a light scuff with 320 grit paper and a clean, dry surface. Remove any loose or flaking paint first, because KBS Top Coater bonds to whatever is underneath it. Clean with KBS Klean rather than a solvent based cleaner, which leaves an invisible residue that interferes with adhesion.
Gloss and matte both work on metal, and the choice is about how much the surface should show. Gloss sheds dirt and cleans up easily, which suits vehicles, wheels and equipment that gets washed. Matte hides dents, weld seams and surface irregularities, which is why the camo and matte colors suit trailers, plows and shop equipment. KBS Top Coater is stocked in 11 gloss colors and 6 matte colors, so the same paint chemistry is available either way.
Paint fails on metal for two reasons: contamination under the film and rust creeping in behind it. The KBS system addresses both. Clean with KBS Klean to remove oil, grease and fingerprints, etch with RustBlast to leave a zinc phosphate profile, seal with RustSeal to lock out moisture and oxygen, then apply KBS Top Coater as the UV stable color coat. Applied over RustSeal that is between 3 and 6 hours old, KBS Top Coater needs no additional prep at all.
No. KBS Top Coater is a direct to metal coating and adheres permanently to bare steel and bare aluminum with no primer and no etch coat. A base layer is only worth adding when the metal is rusted or pitted, in which case RustSeal is the correct primer and KBS Top Coater is the UV stable finish over it.
A second coat of KBS Top Coater goes on after 8 hours and before 7 days. Full cure is a function of time, temperature and film thickness and typically takes 4 to 7 days of air dry. Force drying shortens that: allow a minimum 15 minute flash time, then hold the part at a maximum of 180 degrees F.
The ideal application temperature range for KBS Top Coater is 55 to 82 degrees F (13 to 28 degrees C). When spraying, work in moderate to dry conditions at 70 percent relative humidity or lower, and do not apply if the surface temperature is less than 5 degrees F above the dew point. Painting a cold surface below the dew point traps moisture under the film.
Yes. Thin KBS Top Coater 5 percent for brush and roll work, or 10 to 20 percent as required for spray. Use only KBS #1 Thinner, which is VOC exempt, or xylene. Both are slow evaporating solvents that let the paint level out. Clean up immediately, including the spray gun, with KBS #1 Thinner or mineral spirits.
A quart of KBS Top Coater covers up to 175 sq. ft. with one coat or 90 sq. ft. with two. A gallon covers up to 700 sq. ft. with one coat or 350 sq. ft. with two. A 5 gallon pail covers up to 3,500 sq. ft. with one coat or 1,750 sq. ft. with two. Expect up to 50 percent less coverage on bare wood, rough or sandblasted surfaces, and allow for material lost to mixing and application.
KBS Top Coater is stocked in 17 colors, and the only black in that range is Flat Black Camo in matte. For a black finish in gloss, OEM satin or flat, use BlackTop, the KBS single stage 1K black top coat, which is available in brush, roll and spray formulations. For an exact color match on any KBS Top Coater color, request a free physical color sample rather than relying on a monitor.
