Battle Of Finishes: Semi Gloss Black Vs Satin Black Spray Paint - Which Is Better?

Which Semi Gloss Black paint is the best we give you four choices: Rustoleum Krylon VHT Duplicolor. This may help you decide which one YOU need to use on your project.

Sidebar Episode 2

[Fatty]

Another good thing about the rustoleum is that its available in quart and gallon cans so you can spray it with a spray gun. You can add acrylic enamel hardener to give it some more durability, thin it with acetone and mix together the flat and gloss black to get whatever sheen you want.

[wayne]

From Australia and have a 70 Grabber Blue Mach 1. We painted the engine bay, black inserts on the Magnum 500s, grille, horns, suspension components and radiator with VHT Roll Bar Chassis satin black 13 years ago. Looks as good as the day we did it. I believe it’s a Ceramic paint and it is as tough as nails. Awesome paint for any touch ups, blends in well. Had many a car painter come and say can’t believe the finish out of a can!

[patwelter]

My go-to has always been Ace Hardware Black Satin. Great match, and it comes in a larger container than your examples.

[mojunk]

I’ve used them all and they all have a place in an automotive project. Ball joints drag links control arms all gets painted. Some parts you’ll never see all needs a little love.

[briannelson]

I paid a bunch of money for Eastwood's ceramic satin black paint. After shooting the engine bay, it ended up looking way too gray. I scuffed it up and shot over it with the VHT Satin roll bar paint, it looks about perfect now. Love the VHT.

[I_like_turtles_]

Man couldn't have come at a better time. Repainting my 67 fastback engine compartment.
That VHT looks good. Nice a flat.
Thank you for that interior breakdown on the fastback. It makes my life do much easier trying to get everything back together. 👍

[TheJoefussGarage]

Two people, makes a conspiracy, 4 people makes a gaggle!!! They all look good. I too, like the Krilon finish as well. My favorite, is Krylon rust tough, semi-flat, RTA9203. It's the regular semi flat equivalent, that used to be widely available, everywhere... Unfortunately, Rust-Oleum, has a stranglehold on just about every retailer. I have my local Napa store bring it in for me. Like 16 bucks a can!! But I love the sheen.. Just did my 65 FB engine compartment and outer aprons and shock towers.. Love the content, keep it coming!!!

[magdump]

VHT is my go to paint.
I sprayed a roll cage continuous with six cans and not a single run.
Love this stuff.

[Richard]

Jeff, put some gas on them and see how well they hold up. If your brave try some carb clean. Them are good selections of paint to test.

[mrvango]

Krylon makes a semi flat enamel that I think matches factory chassis paint the best. It's hard to find, Summit sells it and a few other places.

[StanleyBrandl]

I have restored several Mustangs and have used all of the paint cans used on this video. Honestly, they are all very good, but my preferred Satin finish and paint can is the Rustoleum. Here, a month back, I went to Home Depot, and they were out of Rustoleum satin, so I bit the bullett and tried the Behr spray can, and It was very nice with a clean finish.

[Thirdgen]

Duplicolor and VHT. I especially like the VHT High Temperature Chassis Roll Bar paint in satin and gloss black.

[servicetechnician]

Hello Jeff. I still like the way Rustoleum Canyon Black looks and it's durability. I've used it for engine parts like pulleys, etc., and find it looks great.
George B

[VanHoutenBuilds]

I used the Duplicolor Engine Enamel - Low Gloss and it's a near perfect match on the engine bay! Highly recommend checking that one out. It's super durable too, more so than the Krylon which I've also used a bunch but it scrapes off so easily.

[waden]

Great review. Working on a refurbish of an 06 HD and the owner wanted satin black on certain parts. Had no idea where to begin until this. Thnk u

[Tom-P]

You made a big thing. lol I have a Pontiac and the book I had bought that went into restoration for it, mentioned how GM had different percentages of gloss (30% semi gloss, 60% gloss, etc.) in their various engine bay blacks. The heater core cover was actually painted in a different level of gloss in comparison to the firewall. Is the same encountered in the Ford realm? I kind of eye balled it based on what I thought looked good, but in a concours resto might not be exact.

[mariocooldude]

I like the convenience of rattle cans but the quality is lacking over genuine automotive spray paints from a body shop supply retailer. About all i use are the trim paints anymore

[th]

amazing video //side note : for production a cooler bulb in that shop video over is very warm/yellow in Temp

[robertclymer]

hey Jeff! I now personally perfer the Satin finish myself. Used to always get the gloss but really like the satin finish look. The Ace Hardware satin is comparable to the Rustoleum. VHT I get the ceramic for Intakes etc.

[richardkimrey]

Big rustoleum fan, but I use a no sand primer first. My jobs are usually farm equipment.