Re: 1984 Skeeter Champ 16' Restore
Thanks Decker!
Lots of questions and I'll try to answer them all the best I can.
I think you or right about the fan being out of adjustment. It looks a litte light on the outside of the fan and heavy in the middle.
It should be a even spray. Try to spray on a test peice and adjust the settings on the gun.
I hang a piece of masking paper on the wall and give it a test burst before each session. I adjust the air, fan, and volume accordingly. I strive for a full coverage in the center with it fading to the edges. The fan/oval spans about 6" x 3-4". It could be that I am striving for too much full coverage in the center
Did you say you are using acetone for the thinner? This may effect the way the paint is drying.
Yes, I am using acetone @ 10%. I've tried everything up to 25% but 10-15% seems to be right. Any higher and I start to get runs (again, that could be due to a bad adjustment)
I would check with Sherwin Willams and use the correct thinner.
The white is still good old Rustoleum; which says to use acetone on the label. I tried turpentine once on a test piece and did not like the results at all. For the Sherwin Williams paint, the label and the rep said not to thin it, but it wouldn't flow through the gun at all without acetone. I didn't seem to have any problem with adding the acetone to it, though.
Are you letting the Paint Cook a full 30 minutes after adding the hardener?
Yes. I mix it well, then let it cook for 10 minutes and give it another mix. I do this every 10 minutes until I use it. I don't use it until AT LEAST 30 minutes have transpired.
Are you sure your hardener ratio is correct?
I believe so. I use 1 oz for every pint I mix up. This is a paint/hardener ratio only, though. Acetone isn't added until it's poured into the cup. So basically I have 16 oz of paint and 1 oz of hardener mixed in the bucket and then I add 1.7-2 oz of acetone with it in the cup
Are you mixing it intermittenly during that 30 minute period?
Yes. I mix it every 10-15 minutes
What are you using as a thinner?
Acetone. I tried turpentine once and that was not good.
What is your volume set at approximately...1/4 -1/2 ?
2 1/2 turns out. I screw it all the way in and then back it out. Not sure what this relates to percentage wise
Fan? For my Fan, I turn it to full stream and then back off until it just starts to fan.
You gave me that advise when I first started so that is what I have been doing. For the trailer, I had the fan on the minimal setting since the area to spray wasn't that large. For the hull, I set it to where it will span about 6", give or take
Another thing to consider. Too many coats before the prior coats come to a full cure and actually be a BAD thing. I think 4 coats would be my limit. Up to you but something to consider.
This could very well be part of the problem as well. I sprayed the first coat this morning at about 10 and the second coat this evening at about 6 (about 8 hours in between). This is as per the label for recoat time.
do you wash it well after your wet sand, if not spots that still have residue will act that way(don't ask how I know!).
After I wet sand, I wipe it down with a damp cloth. I then hit it with some slightly soapy water and give it another "rinse" with a wet cloth. After it has dried, I wipe it down with acetone. Then right before I spray (usually while the compressors are filling up the tanks), I wipe it down with acetone again.
After looking at it again, I think what I did was I got lazy. Based on the patterns on the test masking paper, this should NOT have occurred. I think I got in a rush and didn't keep my distance and maybe put down too much paint at a time. As mentioned, my fan spread is about 6". The streaks are more like 4". I think I just got the gun too close. If you notice, the closer to the keel you go, the less the streaking appears. This would be because I had to reach to shoot it so naturally the gun would have been kept at a further distance. The closer to the edge, the more visible the streaking. The other mistake that would have led to this would have been spraying in the dark. The bow was furthest from the garage and from the light, which meant I couldn't visibly watch what I was doing.
I do agree with you, though, Judge. It's just the bottom so nobody will know, but if I can perfect my technique on the bottom of the hull, then painting the top cap should be a breeze. I learn something new with each session.
Wood - is 4 coats enough to able to buff out any residual orange peel and my streaking and still provide a durable finish? I have 320, 600, and 1000 grit wetsand paper at my disposal. The main reason why I wanted to put on so many coats is because I know I will have to sand a good deal to get a smooth and glossy surface.
