[ScotY]

Curious newbie question...what makes a paint suitable for spraying only vs. brushing on? Why couldn't you brush on primer that was made to be sprayed? I ask because I'm lazy and make a big mess so sometimes brushing makes a lot more sense for a small touch up spot, hidden area, etc.

[baddbob]

Your cure will be slower when brushing a product that's designed to be sprayed-this is because when it is sprayed much of the solvents that are in it get released into the air as the product gets transfered to the metal. When you brush the stuff on the solvents stay in it and need to evaporate out making the cure slower. Your recoat times will be 3-4 times longer. Also, you'll have brush marks to sand off. There are also roll-on primers available. There's been numerous times where I've brushed on some epoxy primer and never had any problems.

[fireboat]

lol, I get lazy too.
I once tried to brush epoxy primer on a small part but it didn't work at all. I had to sand it and then spray it properly. Even with some slow reducer in it, it dries way to fast. It will not level out the brush marks at all amd leaves dried clumps in the finish.
Yeah, sometimes it takes longer to clean your spraygun than to paint the part. Some people use the Preval sprayer for small items but I don't know much about it.

[nskeeter99]

i had a guy at apasco tell me once that some people roll sandable primers on. i have done it once are twice with no issues some extra sanding. however its a small shot why not just use a rattle can?

[ScotY]

So if you don't mind waiting longer for it to dry and doing some sanding (or not if it's not in a visible area), then it's totally okay to brush on?

I tried the Preval sprayer before. It sprays kind of like a water hose...no fan at all and difficult to control. It's a bummer...wish they worked better. Some rattle cans, the kind with the fancy tips, spray out way better.

[OneMoreTime]

I solved that problem for myself by getting a cheapy detail from HF cost me a 10spot...I keep a clean gallon can half full of reducer on my bench with a lid on it so if I need to shoot a small part or spot it takes just a minute to mix a bit of primer shoot the area and swish out the gun in my cleaning bucket..Works for me..maybe for you..

Sam

[scrimshaw]

I use the small white dense foam rollers from Home depot/Lowes to put on epoxy all the time. The foam brushes work well too. Not as smooth as spraying though.

http://www.shopmaninc.com/brushes.html