Technical Where did I mess up with priming?!?!

Looks like dry spray to me. What speed of reducer did you use? Fast, medium or slow? I bet it was fast, hot out, and a light breeze blowing.

 

I didn’t use any. The tech sheet said 3:1 primer to catalyst.

 

Thank you both for that!

 

Perfect! Thank you for this detail!

 

Head up….most epoxy primer sands like dog crap….

 

Clean the paint gun really good, check that the fluid needle is open all the way when the trigger is pulled all the way open. Reducing the primer as some have said is probably required, the temperature of the primer could be a issue, it may need warming up some..

 

with a 1.4 tip, a reducer is needed with most epoxies , actually any primer. Reduce 5% or so and test spray. Up to 10% is allowed in some, but check your data sheet. I wouldn't wait, just wet sand, that will keep the epoxy from clogging the paper. And, I see no need for more epoxy, just sand flat and add high build.

 

1st, check to see if the vent cap on the cup is plugged. 2nd, make sure the bottom of the handle adjustment is open to full flow. I shoot epoxy all of the time and don't need to thin or reduce it. I have a regulator on the gun that is set at 38 psi on a purple gun. If you don't find anything up to this point, take the gun apart and clean it completely. Because your 1st attempt was smooth, I think you have a gun problem. However, I have not used that brand of epoxy.

 

I’m in the “too small of a fluid tip” crowd. I had the same results recently trying to spray filler primer through my gun I paint with. I knew better, but tried it anyway and was reminded that it doesn’t work well. Pretty sure my paint gun is a 1.4 and my primer as 1.8 as mentioned by others above. Most primers are too thick to atomize correctly through a 1.4 fluid tip. Assuming the first primer you sprayed was thinner, thus the difference.

 

Thank you all for the advice! I have gone ahead and hit it with 220 grit and cleaned the panels. I bought some U-Tech High Build Primer and bought a new gun with a 2.0 tip. I have double checked the TDS to confirm no reducer and I have the right tip. I have set up a few test panels to make sure I am dialed in. I am just going to spray the high build and go from there! I appreciate all the feedback!!!

 

I think you are correct. In my haste I may have read the TDS wrong. With a 1.4 tip, I needed 1 part reducer.. Completely my fault. Chalk it up to a learning lesson.

 

It wasn't a gun problem. 100% operator error, I checked the TDS again. With a 1.4 tip, I was supposed to use 1 part reducer... Learning lesson...

 

This! 100% this... I misread the TDS, with a 1.4 tip I was supposed to use 1 part reducer. Attention to detail fail.

 

haha yes it did.

 

Well you have a choice to make, slow, medium or fast. I'm going to suggest slow or medium.

 

Don't hang up on the 7 day thing. Once dry, recoating is fine. While their CYA (cover your ass) rating of 7 days is listed any possible scenario is included. Cold day, hot day, service parameters, blah blah blah. Generally 36 hours is a recoat window WITHOUT sanding in most epoxy primers but I never go more than 12 to 15. Even then I grey pad a bit.

Sometimes you need more than the data sheets. Dig deep into online info sites. Tech data, MSDS, testing sheets, a real clear understanding can be had doing that, but not always needed for the casual enthusiast finisher. Good luck, don't panic, have fun.

 

Thank you for this. I needed to read this.

I went ahead and hit it all with 220 grit anyone to be safe. Tonight I am going to spray my high build, after many test panels haha.