[swade]

Hi, new here, have been lurking for several months. 1st off i'm not doing a car project =(, i'm working on painting my outboards (aluminum) but this site seems to have the best shop/compressor/garage/painting info i've found! Project is pretty simple, not show paint or anything, trying to do better than acrylic paint they sell in rattle cans which only last a year or so in the sun.

So here's my dumb question, i have not used painting equipment since I did a few cars 20 years ago. Honestly don't remember a thing.

I'm planning on spraying epoxy (i think..that is another question) followed by a single stage urethane (i've got myself setup with supplied air, tyvek suit,sock,nitril gloves,etc).

I've done my first test runs with just water in the gun making sure i know how to adjust fan, volume, pressure,etc. I was next going to use a cheap rustoleum primer on scraps but I realize these are totally different than epoxy and urethane. Due to the expense of those is there anything heavier that one could practice with? like latex or something? I intend to practice with the real thing once i do a few more test runs. Or do i just need to dive in and practice with what i'm intending to spray with?

Here in florida, 95 degree and 90% humidity i notice fiberglass resin goes off quick, i cut mek ratios in 1/2 to get 15m of work time any less and working time is a few minutes. How much time do you typically have to spray a epoxy? urethane? before you need to dump it from the cup and clean the gun?

Also you guys seem gurus on epoxy, I wonder if you know as on boat sites i've seen too much conflicting information. My motors i've not stripped to bare metal, some areas sandblasted (lower unit), some slight corrosion areas I abrasive / wire wheeled. Traditionally you use a zinc chromate self etch over those cleaned areas which i've done. I've seen some do the same but follow with an epoxy to seal in the zinc, then spray the motors. But the paint store said he would only epoxy if it was going DTM. Anyone know if there would be a +- to following over what i've done with epoxy?

Sorry if these are bonehead questions.

Thanks!

[deadbodyman]

first off...stop running water through your gun....use wash thinner....
Epoxy works great for cars but you would need to find what kinds of marine primers and paints they use on boats.the salt water tears them up...
If automotive epoxy is ok to use remember ,after mixing the two parts let it sit for 15min then stir it up again ,and after your done srraying the primer it take a few days to dry completely..
I'm not positive but I think they use duponts "imeron" for boats...

[1970capriwithvinyl]

Hi Mate , ( first post here )

Im onto a product called Pr 250 epinamel (epoxy ) its Wattyl Brand

Just do a quick search for the tech sheet , my paint guy tells me is marine grade and it goes straight onto the bare metal

Ive used this on my currrent project in the engine bay and can report that it has excellent coverage ( not a great flow unless warmed up or reduced )

Excellent adhesion and sanding properties, 60 day recoat window with right part b



Hope that helps you out

Jonny