Underbody painting

[Daz1968]

I am nearing the end of welding on my mk2 Mini Cooper project and it has full new floor, boot floor and full new inner wings etc, pic showing inside

when I did my mk1 I used gravitex and it was quite textured. As this is all new panels I wanted to get a flat finish with good gloss, was going to just epoxy prime and then use basecoat and 2k clear, only issue is I would like some protection in the wheel tubs and front inner wings. Is there any stonechip products that apply dead flat so they can offer protection and give a good finish. Advice welcomed thanks

Darren

 

[steveo3002]

you can spray thinned stonechip in a normal spray gun for a fairly flat finish

 

[Daz1968]

Thanks I have a 2.0mm gun I have used for primer so will have to try it, what thinner would it be for Gravitex I presume cellulose, hopefully over thinned it doesn't react with epoxy but will try some on a scrap panel.

 

[steveo3002]

yes celly thinners , it shouldnt react

 

[clarkey31]

I would use upol raptor its a 2k stone chip that you can tint any colour

 

[Daz1968]

I have seen raptor but unsure how smooth it can be applied, but in theory it sounds very good, just expensive if it doesn't work how I would like,

 

[clarkey31]

if i remember tomorrow i will take some pics of it we put through a primer gun not totally flat but a lot better than normal stone chip

 

[Daz1968]

Thanks, as would also be interested in how good it accepts the colour tint

 

[clarkey31]

it take the colour really we use it on almost all the builds we do these days.. if you look on our facebook on my sig the bay window we have been doing recently has it on as well as the yellow beetle mk1 escort and the jeep

 

[norsa]

this is the dashboard i did for my midget in black tinted raptor with my 2.5 gravity gun at 40psi. more heavy orange peel than 70s stonechip coverupscabbywelding thing. i experimented with 60psi and it was less orange peel
Nick

And the lower part of the sill the same but overcoated in solid black

 

[clarkey31]

here is a couple of test we did

 

[Daz1968]

That doesn't look to bad, I would prefer main floor just painted smooth but the raptor could be an option under the wheel arches, think I will try some thinned gravitex in my primer gun then decide after a few tests, thanks for the help.
I have an airfed mask so would probably use it, but the raptor information I have seen only mentions a cartridge mask, but I notice it does used a isocyanate hardener.

 

[norsa]

as i say, experiment with air pressure at the gun for your finish. not sure thinning too much is good as you will get less thickness and i dont recall the tds recomending it. heating it up pre spraying may be a good option mind.
Nick