Epoxy headache

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by Tagger

NO not red can ,,,, white and gold can ... geeez dog

OK, i stand corrected. Should have known better,The Hahnmeister is always right.

Stillz want the pic of you on the drums.

[NIB]

Thats the same stuff i use.They have changed the formula to lower VOC's an It's not as nice..
I when I used cans i found the best way to do it was like the freak said.wet to wet.all at once.I would prime an wait 24 hrs an saND then some more prime an sand kept it up till i got where i wanted give it a few days to dry an then paint.U have ta do light coats wait a few minutes an do another light coat.Keep goin every few minutes till ya get what ya want.then in the same procedure i would add a scuff coat.I like the helsmans spar urethane but it will amber.OK on dark stuff but if i wanted a white i would use crystal clear by krylon.then u gotta wait.Sometimes a week is not enough time.I would give it the smell test if i could no longer smell the paint then it was ready.then I would wait somemore.then scuff I have used sand paper an scotch brite. u gotta be real gentle with both even 800-1000 paper will scrape to far on some corners an such.then blow it off with the thing from the compressor..Not a fan of the alchol thing gave it up yrs. ago.maybe wipe it with a damp paper towel an blow it off then no fingers on it.Oils from ur hands will repel the epoxy.I only scuff it right before i epoxy.then I am real carefull wit em.U would be surprised of the ways to contaminate the plug so's the epoxy won't behave.Then it I mix the %$%$%$%$ wrong an the epoxy comes out like poop anyways.welcome to plug buildin.looks like it didn't dry enough.

[afterhours]

paul my first thought was that your epoxy looks very thin and flakey and a serious lack of adhesion.

[ProfessorM]

Holy crap my head is spinning. I think I got the zombie woof behind my eyes, never mind. Well after reading all the informative opinions I have concluded that there are a myraid of ways to screwed up. The thing that gets me is it seems some of the plugs came out alright and some did not. I sealed Val and terp. let dry several days. I primed the plugs, Zinsser cover stain, let dry and then another coat. Maybe need to light sand in between coats. Grey scotchbrite pad before painting. I used mostly satin Rustoleum american accents paint. I try to stay away from gloss although the purple in the crap plug was a gloss. I do several colors one after another after each color drys say 10 min. inbetween colors till I get the look I want. I let that finished plug dry 24 hours maybe 2 days, all depends when I can get to it. Crystal clear enamal after that. Then wait a day or more and then the Mirror coat. I am sure I measured correctly and mixed for at least 5 min. as I have heard constantly to do. All this scuffing which I am probably not doing enough of I guess.
Should I be scuffing inbetween primer coats?
Should I be scuffing the primer before paint?
Should I be scuffing the paint before clear?
Should I be scuffing the clear before epoxy?
You are not saying let a day go by before you add each additional color to get the finished combo are you. I should be able to add all the colors within a few mins. of each other, after each color drys, to get final results right?
Maybe the temp that the plugs were in as the epoxy dried, 62, was too cold. I know that there are many different opinions to the process. Some do certain things and some don't. I guess I have to look at all the info and try to make and informed decision.
It would be great if everyone used the same process but then that would be too easy. Thanks all for the help. Paul

[NIB]

[QUOTE=Professor Moriarty]
Should I be scuffing inbetween primer coats?
Yes I use primer for 2 resons
It acts like a bonding agent for the paint
2 it is sandable so i can fill any little voids or fix any minor imperfections.sometimes I use as many as 3-4 coats of primer most often sanding most of it off.
Should I be scuffing the primer before paint?
Yes I wouldn't call it scuffing.but a light sanding of say 400 grit.freak goes multiple sandings to some 1000 grit paper for a ultra smooth finish.

Should I be scuffing the paint before clear?

No Ull just f-up the paint.I apply the clear right after the paint in the same intervals like 5-10 mins.sometimes 10 mins is too long.the paint will start to set up an thats when u'll get compatibility problems an curling. I found when u work in wet stages u have less trouble. always apply the next coat as soon as it flashes over.

Should I be scuffing the clear before epoxy?

Yes thats the reason for the clear.There's a epoxy how too on the systems three website u need a adobe to download it.very informative.basically u need a finish thats a little rough.for proper adhesion.I'll go very lightly wit a light scotch pad or some very fine 800-1000 grit paper.

You are not saying let a day go by before you add each additional color to get the finished combo are you. I should be able to add all the colors within a few mins. of each other,

Yes a few mins at most.some god awfull things can happen when u spray a day later.By working wet i can use alot of different manufacturers of the same type of spray paint.often not a good Idea when the tack up.

Looks like u didn't let things dry enough.in the end. I have sprayed primer an painted at basically the same time.
I always let em dry completely before epoxy.like 2 weeks.

[Tagger]

When you guys are talkin wet over wet your talkin createx not rattle cans right ? now I got a headache ..

[ProfessorM]

Thanks NIB. I think I am applying the paints the right way, within minutes of each other, but maybe a little too long. I will try to do a little faster. I did however wait a day or so to apply the clear. I did scuff the clear. On the plugs it seems that the paint is firmly attached to the plug but the epoxy has not attached. I know I did wait a few days after clear to epoxy but not a week. I have talked to several now and I hope the future batches will be better. I also know now that I will be doing several things differently and even trying different brands and techniques to find one that will work for me. Thanks all for the input from the people who have paid their dues and doing the dirty work. You have allowed me and hopefully others to shorten the learning curve, save some time and money with your hard earned proven experience. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but I know how the listen. I hope I am not the only one benefiting from the banter. Paul

[NIB]

Originally Posted by Tagger

When you guys are talkin wet over wet your talkin createx not rattle cans right ? now I got a headache ..

No I was talkin bout cans.Several light coats.Freak did a picture thing of one of his first how too,'s thats how I basically do it.wet to wet an u can spray bout any compatible paint together without problems.Like I can use a krylon white an a rustoleum yellow the some krylon pearl wit some painters touch green on top.The coat it all with helmsmans spar urethane.all different but no problems.If u wait wit that lineup u will have trouble.I think the paint in the cans is much better than the water based stuff in the airgun.It seeems stronger bonds better.I have less liftoff problems as long as i wait.But the airbrush sastify's the artistic side of me.