Thining paints.

[God mode restorations]

Hi guys.
I got some etching primer and top coat to spray . Now spraying isn't my thing to be honest. My question is do I need to thin both paints down. It says on the tin (sprayable)

 

[Turbo]

I'm no expert but it will depend on your spray gun on how thick or thin your paint needs to be. A large spray gun nozzle will apply thicker paint than a small nozzle so you adjust your paint thickness to suit.

A tip I got years ago from a pro painter was to thin it until it sprays evenly from your gun & it's a tip that's served me well. I thin the paint, try it through the gun & if it doesn't spray properly it goes back into the mixing cup & more thinners are added. Once I know how much thinners a paint needs I write it on the tin so I know for next time along with what spray gun I used. The weather can also affect the paint & on a cold day you might need a touch more thinners as the paint will be thicker - or leave the tin in a jug of hot water. If you're really organised leave the tin in the hotpress overnight with the lid loosened.

Don't be tempted to add a big dollop of thinners, 5% is a good starting figure & then 2% at a time after that if it is still too thick.

Etch primers are usually ready to spray from the tin, they can be very thin so only spray very light coats otherwise you'll get runs. Normally you only spray 1 or 2 thin coats of etch primer then a few coats of normal primer, do you realise this?

Did you get the green gloss paint from Smith & Allen? I use a lot of their Tractol paints & I normally add 10% thinners. Don't use standard thinners with tractol paint, it makes it go lumpy. You need special thinners, ask your supplier what type - I think tractol is type 2.

 

[Burdekin]

You could get yourself a viscosity cup.

 

[rcx132]

Manufacturer will tell you the max you can thin the paint. Usually they will also tell you which spray tip size to use and how much to thin it. You can then adjust from there is there's any need.

 

[God mode restorations]

I'm no expert but it will depend on your spray gun on how thick or thin your paint needs to be. A large spray gun nozzle will apply thicker paint than a small nozzle so you adjust your paint thickness to suit.

A tip I got years ago from a pro painter was to thin it until it sprays evenly from your gun & it's a tip that's served me well. I thin the paint, try it through the gun & if it doesn't spray properly it goes back into the mixing cup & more thinners are added. Once I know how much thinners a paint needs I write it on the tin so I know for next time along with what spray gun I used. The weather can also affect the paint & on a cold day you might need a touch more thinners as the paint will be thicker - or leave the tin in a jug of hot water. If you're really organised leave the tin in the hotpress overnight with the lid loosened.

Don't be tempted to add a big dollop of thinners, 5% is a good starting figure & then 2% at a time after that if it is still too thick.

Etch primers are usually ready to spray from the tin, they can be very thin so only spray very light coats otherwise you'll get runs. Normally you only spray 1 or 2 thin coats of etch primer then a few coats of normal primer, do you realise this?

Did you get the green gloss paint from Smith & Allen? I use a lot of their Tractol paints & I normally add 10% thinners. Don't use standard thinners with tractol paint, it makes it go lumpy. You need special thinners, ask your supplier what type - I think tractol is type 2.[/Quote I got the paints from my local suppliers. (Gramics)

 

[God mode restorations]

The paint I got from my local suppliers (gramics)

 

[God mode restorations]

I got this gun. And basic set up.

 

[God mode restorations]

You could get yourself a viscosity cup.

Yes. I think I will need to get some.

 

[steveo3002]

ask the seller

otherwise id start off with 10% and try it ...go up to 20% if need be

 

[God mode restorations]

Thanks for the information guys. After messing about with the gun settings and preasure. I finally got a couple of decent coats on. Will let that dry for a week...

 

[rcx132]

Good work, looks great!

 

[Burdekin]

Turned out well. All the new tools being painted Brunswick green? I painted my English wheel Brunswick Green but think I like grey better. Painted my drill and a few other things grey.

 

[God mode restorations]

Turned out well. All the new tools being painted Brunswick green? I painted my English wheel Brunswick Green but think I like grey better. Painted my drill and a few other things grey.

Yes all green. But the handle will be black with yellow ball weights. The same with the other tools I got to do.will add a touch of yellow and black just to break it up a bit.

 

[Turbo]

Thanks for the information guys. After messing about with the gun settings and preasure. I finally got a couple of decent coats on. Will let that dry for a week...

Unless you are planning to rub down the primer you are better applying the top coat before the primer fully hardens - that way you get a better bond between the layers & there's less chance of chipping.

In regard to chipping, if you are planning on using these tools I wouldn't bother using primer. When the green chips off the grey will will be very obvious, the bare cast iron not as much. I made the mistake of painting my first vice with a grey primer & when the blue top coat chipped off through use it looked a mess.

Cast iron is fairly rust resistant so a primer isn't really needed. There are paints that can be applied direct to metal without primers & they are miles better than hammerite. My local auto paint store has one called Selemix 7-610 that can be mixed in nearly any colour & I've had good results with this.

 

[Maxakarudy]

1k etch primer doesn't need thinning, however if you are having trouble getting it out of the gun, use some 2k thinner.
It's a bit overkill to prime & paint a fly press, but it's up to you, 2k gloss is good enough.

 

[steveo3002]

Unless you are planning to rub down the primer you are better applying the top coat before the primer fully hardens - that way you get a better bond between the layers & there's less chance of chipping.

yeah a wet on wet system wouldve been a better and easier choice - but sinse youve gone this way with it i would rub it over with a red scotch pad before top coating it

 

[postie jon]

TRACTOL paint ,if remember correctly is synthetic enamel,i used to thin 8:1 with synthetic thinners , in cold weather warm it up ,try to avoid spraying large areas on a hot day as it flashes off quickly, drying & curing ties vary, we used to chuck vans etc that we had just painted outside over night to the frosty air , by morning it was nice n dry , otherwise it stays sticky for ages , horrible stuff for lorry chassis used to paint m red & come out looking like a lobster n its a bugger to come off your face n hands unless u wash in cellulose gun wash stings like f--k.

 

[God mode restorations]

Right guys...had to go to my local paint supply today for some thinners..as after I sprayed my etching I had a problem with the cleaning of the pot and gun..using the wrong thinners resulting in a gooey mess that to ages to sort out.....anyway.. I am now preparing to get ready for the top coat..now acording to my suppliers I need to add half a can of activator (picture below) to 1 litre of the Brunswick green. Do I still need to thin the paint down once I add the activator...and how long does it take to harden up...

 

[delta9]

Hi
you might find that it doesn't need any thinner, so mix as it is then test your spray pattern

I sometimes(depending on the brand) thin my 2k clear 5-10% after mixing

 

[God mode restorations]

Hi
you might find that it doesn't need any thinner, so mix as it is then test your spray pattern

I sometimes(depending on the brand) thin my 2k clear 5-10% after mixing

Will give it a go this weekend as weather is supposed to be nice...