[wreckedGTI]

is primer surfacer supposed to lay down flat and smooth sort of like basecoat?

Im shooting Nason's 421-20 "SelectPrime" with an Accuspray 1.8 tip primer gun, but I guess I haven't been able to 'dial in' the gun cause I'm ending up with a
very coarse texture, I have played with the fluid knob and pressure but I can't seem to find the right combination for spraying the primer, then its a PITA to sand flat even with 320 then going 400-600, I think I end up removing much more material than I should cause of the coarse texture.

Any tips and help would be greatly appreciated guys =).

[rrmccabe]

Well...

Yes you can lay surfacer down as smooth as basecoat or close to it.

I regularly get surfacer laid down that almost is shiny when dry. Satin anyway.

Make sure you mix the right amount of solvent in your primer and make sure its the right temp, monitor your air pressure, etc.

Brian has a very good basics how too here "Basic of Basics" How do I paint my car myself?

Check your pattern as he suggest first.

Rich

[wreckedGTI]

thanks for the info there, that link is worht a good read for sure...

the tech sheet for this Nason primer doesn't call for a reducer though, it's just mixed 4:1 with its catalyst, I don't know if I could find a suitable solvent and reduce it maybe by 10%, I most likely have to adjust the gun much better, I think I will try to get a smaller tip for the Accuspray, I think the smaller one they sell is a 1.6 one, maybe that will help too.

[crashtech]

The 1.8 fluid tip will really hammer the material onto the panel, which is fine if you are going for lots of build and lots of sanding. If you are close to the final prep stage, yeah, you ought to look into if the stuff can be reduced and use a smaller fluid nozzle, even a 1.4, as a 1.6 is still pretty large. If it's still a problem, make sure the reducer you use is slow enough to let the material flow a bit before it flashes.

[rrmccabe]

WreckedGTI start off by cranking your fluid needle in for more atomization. Spray at about 6" with a 8" fan and go slower if needed. See what that does.

HVLP is a little different than a conventional gun if you happen to be used to the latter. I would start off with about 30psi at the gun.

If you get some dry, dont think you can hose it down with wet primer and make it go away

I would stick to the tech sheet and forget trying to find a reducer if they dont recommend it. Just play with your settings first.

Rich

[wreckedGTI]

Originally Posted by rrmccabe

HVLP is a little different than a conventional gun if you happen to be used to the latter. I would start off with about 30psi at the gun.

If you get some dry, dont think you can hose it down with wet primer and make it go away

I would stick to the tech sheet and forget trying to find a reducer if they dont recommend it. Just play with your settings first.

Rich

thanks for the suggestions I'll try that as soon as possible, yeah I wouldn't even try to "hose it down" as you said, it would be too much build and it would probably take forever for the pirmer to flash and cure properly, that would spell trouble for sure.

[rrmccabe]

Originally Posted by wreckedGTI

thanks for the suggestions I'll try that as soon as possible, yeah I wouldn't even try to "hose it down" as you said, it would be too much build and it would probably take forever for the pirmer to flash and cure properly, that would spell trouble for sure.

OK good deal. Well I have tried it more than once Is not so much an issue of too much build but you can go backwards as far as feel trying to smooth out primer with a wet coat.

Let us know how you come out.

Rich

[Bee4Me]

Take some Nason reducer and cut it how you want. I don't have the #'s handy but it's the same for all Nason stuff anyway. Use the proper temp range which is usually Mid Temp. You can only get the High Temp in gallons. So hopefully the mid will do it.
I've cut it 1:.5 and it lay's out smooth as base paint. Back down the fluid knob some and do some test shot's on c'board till it lay's good. I've shot this mix with a 1.4 and no,you don't get the build but it does lay out smooth. Nice for touch up's or cut thru's where a smooth coat is needed.
You can lay several coats with this and just allow 20-30 min. between for flash.Or longer if need be. This is some excellent 2K IMO and does a nice job for the price.

[Bee4Me]

441-21 is Med Temp.
441-22 is High Temp.

I don't go much over 20% reduction as a rule, but have gone as much as 50% for special applications. I do the activator first so it's right and then reduce to my liking. HTH. Mike.

[milo]

Originally Posted by wreckedGTI

is primer surfacer supposed to lay down flat and smooth sort of like basecoat?

.

A bit of orange peel in primer is ok since it's going to be blocked and flatsanded anyway. With large panel surfaces it's routine to guidecoat then block with 180wet/dry and repeat guidecoat then a blocksand with 400wet/dry knocking out the 180 scratches then paint etc...

[Henry Moran]

Originally Posted by rrmccabe

OK good deal. Well I have tried it more than once Is not so much an issue of too much build but you can go backwards as far as feel trying to smooth out primer with a wet coat.

Let us know how you come out.

Rich

Check if the primer you used is the normal 2k or the 2k filler primer. If it's filler
primer you can use dry paper (special sanding paper) to smooth. Never wet sand
2k it absorb water like a sponge right to the metal.