Newb paint question - Gun Cleaning?

Old Blue · 10-15-09, 12:49 PM

Hey Guys,
I'm going to be painting my truck bed in the near future, and I'm trying to go through the details of the plan before I paint. I plan on painting 2 coats of epoxy primer on the top, sides, and bottom, as well as 2 coats of paint. Flash times for the epoxy is 30-45 min, and I'll wait an hour before top coating. So when I'm painting with the same paint, such as the epoxy, do I clean the gun after every coat? The gel time is about 90 min for the epoxy primer, so I thought I could make 1 good size batch to cover the two coats. If I dilly dally when painting plus the flash time, I could be running into the 90min limit. Should I mix enough for 1 coat, spray it, clean the gun while it flashes, then mix a second batch and repeat?

copasspupil · 10-15-09, 05:12 PM

Always clean your gun. Also never shoot primer with the same gun for bc/cc...

webelk6 · 10-15-09, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copasspupil

Always clean your gun. Also never shoot primer with the same gun for bc/cc...

I concur. You don't need any problems that are totally preventable.

antFJ · 10-17-09, 03:22 PM

i'm confused with the two answers above...

hes talking about cleaning his gun between coats... i DIDN'T clean my gun between coats... not saying this is right but I didn't have problems.

copasspupil · 10-17-09, 05:55 PM

It was asking about time and coats. You really need to clean your gun after every use or you are asking for problems. Most problems occur with a dirty issue whether it is the surface or the gun. It takes a few minutes to clean a gun so why start trouble when you don't need to. Besides, painting is a marathon not a sprint. You rush yourself and you'll be bound to screw up.

Old Blue · 10-17-09, 06:06 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I'll have the time, so I'll just clean the gun after each coat. Another question though, say I spray a coat and there is still some paint left in the gun. I'm assuming since I'm using two part epoxy paint that it's wasted paint? There's no way to save it, correct?

thanks

copasspupil · 10-17-09, 07:29 PM

Exactly. The easiest way to do it use a veggy can or something like that so you can pour the remaining out into the can.

antFJ · 10-18-09, 05:35 PM

soo if it says pot life 90 min and it has a flash time of 60 min you are saying throw out the paint?

I honestly don't get it - I can see cleaning the gun but this I don't understand - help me out i'm new too

rock jeep · 10-20-09, 12:21 PM

What kinda epoxy are you using? The stuff I use says that you need to let it set for 15 before you spray it. If yours is the same MAKE SURE YOU DO THIS. I do not see a need to clean out your gun between coats of primer. If it takes you 15 min to spray it and 30 min between coats even if you have a 15 min induction period you are still way inside your window. Epoxy is slow but an excellent barrier.

copasspupil · 10-20-09, 02:00 PM

I believe he asked he is was done spraying the coat of primer/paint then what should he do? I gave my answer assuming that he was done spraying. If he was indeed done, then why would you save it? Once the product has been mixed, it is done once the pot life is up. Thus the reason to pitch it in a veggy can.

If you have never had a contaminant in your paint/primer then you certainly don't appreciate the answer of cleaning your equipment. Try painting a hood with two colors in metallic and color 8 times in two weeks only to have it screw up again. I wasted your time, money and energy doing it. I may be overdoing it/anal about having a clean enviroment/equipment, but I learned not to have the above issue/experience happen again.

rock jeep · 10-20-09, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Blue

Hey Guys,
So when I'm painting with the same paint, such as the epoxy, do I clean the gun after every coat?

I took this as he was wondering about between his 2 primer coats

copasspupil · 10-20-09, 05:42 PM

No biggie...I looked at this comment:

Quote:

I spray a coat and there is still some paint left in the gun. I'm assuming since I'm using two part epoxy paint that it's wasted paint? There's no way to save it, correct?

Old Blue · 10-21-09, 10:42 AM

Sorry if I wasn't clear enough. I was thinking between two coats of the primer. The part I left out was the fact that I'm in NY with very unpredictable temps, and I'm in an unheated garage. Cold temps delay flash times but I don't know about the pot life. So I was kind of baking in extra time for this, and wasn't sure if I would bump into the pot life time by having to wait longer. Good news is that they are forecasting a high of 70F tomorrow, so I may be in luck. Tomorrow is paint day.

The paint I am using is Eastwood's Epoxy Primer, and I'm coating a custom built flatbed for my pickup, so no show room finish is needed. I've read the tech sheet, and they specify no induction time. I just need to mix and spray. I'm using a borrowed HVLP gun/compressor combo similiar to the units Eastwood sells, and therefore I don't want to screw up the gun as well since it's not mine.

I appreciate your feedback, it helped. I'll let you know how I make out.

rock jeep · 10-21-09, 07:07 PM

Make sure you do not paint in less than 60-65* weather It will not cure right and you will have problems down the road. Plus I think it was mentioned earlier to take that gun apart and clean it. That epoxy is some mean stuff.

antFJ · 10-26-09, 07:13 PM

couple comments on epoxy.. i used R-M epoxy it was 4:1 miture ratio... didn't dry as hard and took over a day to dry ~65-70* temps

compared to another epoxy i used from a different supplier which used a 1:1 ratio - according to that guy all epoxies should be 1:1