JD VIP Buyers Club
JD on Facebook
JamestownTV
Request A Free Catalog

Mirror Coat Application Guide - System Three

bar top coated in system three mirror coat

MirrorCoat is solvent-free, and can be used inside a house or a building without creating a hazardous or flammable workspace. As a two-part product, it cures by chemical reaction, and must be kept off your skin while working with it. It is recommended for interior use only, because outdoors, like many epoxy resin coatings, it will yellow slightly and lose its gloss over time. Do not use MirrorCoat over white backgrounds unless yellowing is acceptable.

While we have designed MirrorCoat to be simple to use, there are procedures to follow which produce the best results. This brochure is a step-by-step application guide, with some tips and tricks to help your MirrorCoat project turn out beautiful. Please read this information thoroughly before proceeding.

    Helping You Put It All Together
  • How much MirrorCoat?

    • 3 fluid ounces per square foot.
    Example: 3-quart kit will give a 4' X 8' sheet of
    plywood a 40mil. (.040 inches) thick coating.
    What else do I need?
  • Disposable latex or vinyl gloves
  • Graduated wax paper cups or plastic tubs
  • Mixing sticks
  • Disposable paint brushes
  • Portable propane torch
  • Rags
  • Level

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED...

System Three MirrorCoat® is a two-part epoxy resin product specially formulated to create a high-gloss, clear decorative coating for horizontal surfaces. It will enhance the natural beauty of most woods, and give many other surfaces a deep, rich look. MirrorCoat will also protect the surface from marring, denting, and minor scratches. It is resistant to most household chemicals, and, because of its unique formulation, MirrorCoat will provide a harder, more heat-resistant finish than most do-it-yourself counter or bartop coatings.

     GETTING READY
     Area should be dust-free


     Surface to be coated
     must be level
  • Turn off fans, etc. to minimize air movement.

  • Vacuum work area prior to MirrorCoat application.

  • Allow dust to settle.

  • Wipe dust from project surface with a damp lint-free rag.

  • For best results everything, including the surface and the epoxy and the air, should be 70 — 75°F for at least overnight before measuring, mixing and applying.


     Protect skin
  • Wear disposable gloves and long sleeves (MirrorCoat contains reactive chemicals which must be kept off skin).


     APPLICATION STEPS
      1. Measure accurately
  • Measure by volume two parts Resin (Part A) to one part Hardener (Part B), or by weight 100 parts of Part A to 44 Parts of Part B.

  • Pour Part A in first.

  • Pour Part B on top of A into the same container.

  • Minimum coverage required for self-leveling is 3 fluid ounces of mixed MirrorCoat per 1 square foot.


     2. Mix thoroughly
    Vigorously hand-mix the material from the bottom to the top and scrape the sides of the container as well as the mixing stick. Larger batches will take longer to mix. Trapped air comes out on application.


     3. Apply MirrorCoat to
      surface
  • Pour onto surface in an S-shaped pattern and spread out with a disposable paint brush.

  • Minimize bubbles from the wood by timing MirrorCoat application so that the temperature in the project area is stable or dropping.


     4. Pop bubbles with
      propane torch
  • Wait 5-10 minutes after spreading coating before using the propane torch.

  • Wave torch rapidly back and forth 6-8 inches from the coated surface. Keep moving torch to avoid heating MirrorCoat.




NOTES:
MirrorCoat should cure for 3-5 days before being subjected to heavy use.
Clean surface with a soft, damp cloth and mild soap or detergent. No abrasive detergents. For best results practice on a piece of scrap to get firsthand experience before coating your project.

ADDING COATS

  • Allow previous coat to cure overnight.
  • Lightly sand then follow application steps 1-4.
  • Repeat until desired thickness is reached.

    • COATING LARGER SURFACES

  • Large surfaces may require multiple batches for complete coverage.
  • Have a helper on hand to assist with measuring and mixing.
  • Follow steps 1-3, fl owing successive batches into the previous one.
  • Once the entire surface is covered move onto step 4, popping bubbles with a propane torch.

    • COATING VERTICAL SURFACES

  • Pour extra MirrorCoat on horizontal surface. Allow excess to drip off in runs.
  • When dripping has stopped, brush out runs to an even coat.
  • If more coating build is desired, apply additional thin coats with a paintbrush.

    • EMBEDDING OBJECTS

  • Porous objects such as paper should be sealed fi rst with spray lacquer to preserve their appearance. Practice on scrap.
  • Coat non-porous objects like coins or tile with MirrorCoat to minimize trapped air.
  • Thick objects can be placed directly on the surface or put into a routed cavity in the surface to reduce the amount of Mirror Coat required to fully cover each object.

    • FIXING SURFACE IMPERFECTIONS

  • Sand and pour additional coats following steps 1-4, or do the following:
  • Allow surface to cure for several days. Wet sand with 320 grit until surface is dull and uniform.
  • Wet sand with progressively finer sandpaper through 1000 to 1500 depending on what's available.
  • Switch to buffing compounds, and finally polish with a buffing compound to a deep lustre.
  • Use this procedure to remove surface scratches developed over time.






    • Methods And Tips For Applying Mirrorcoat




    To learn more about System Three Products visit