Painting season

[Terry C]

Well since we got no snow whatsoever like you lucky guys out east,
I decided to do some shopping at the local IH dealer.
Gal of white and yellow but I couldn't decide what primer to use so
Any advice is gladly accepted
Also got their reducer and hardener. I have no clue how to use hardner

[olds45512]

Disregard the instructions and mix it as follows.

8 parts paint
1 part hardener
1/2 part reducer

The instructions will tell you 1 part reducer but it make the paint to thin and the coverage sucks, it will also run easier.

As for primer you should be fine with any 2 component primer, I use ppg myself but there are less expensive options out there. If you can look for a primer that's DTM ( direct to metal ), this will save you from having to buy a separate epoxy primer. I also recommend getting light gray or white primer as the white and yellow paint take forever to cover the darker grays.

[Terry C]

Thanks Tim. How long do you have once you mix the primer?

[olds45512]

Originally Posted by Terry C

Thanks Tim. How long do you have once you mix the primer?

Pot life depends on the product you buy, whatever you buy make sure you get a p sheet as it will give you all the info for the primer that you need like pot life and dry times as well as mix ratios.

[john hall]

Do they still make lacquer primer for amateurs like me? I always had good results with it on working equipment. Of course I haven't painted anything with a spray gun in 10 years.

[olds45512]

Originally Posted by john hall

Do they still make lacquer primer for amateurs like me? I always had good results with it on working equipment. Of course I haven't painted anything with a spray gun in 10 years.

I honestly don't know.

[MWShaw]

Originally Posted by john hall

Do they still make lacquer primer for amateurs like me? I always had good results with it on working equipment. Of course I haven't painted anything with a spray gun in 10 years.

If you painted with Lacquer, you will find the new stuff much more forgiving and easier to use.

I like Matrix products because they have a website with all of the MDS sheets example;
http://matrixsystem.com/docs/tech/MP-200%20TDS.pdf

Just follow the steps listed, do the work, you'll be fine.

Always wear a respirator. Lacquer was never a good thing to inhale, but the new stuff is worse. They are relatively cheap to buy, get used to them.

I always use one extra coat of clear, that allows room to wetsand and wheel the finish.

Guys that paint for a living can lay the clear down good enough, so it does not require wet sanding.

But for a DIYer, without a down draft paint booth, wet sanding is the next best thing.