Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

[Jquest]

This last SaturdayI bought some epoxy paint from the boat place that sells my model. I purchased one gallon. The genteman told me that I need to mix some M.E.K into the paint so it would dry. I would like to know the amount. He wasn't sure and the guy who shoots the boats was not there. My boat is 20 ft ,so I need to add the right amount so I have time to cover inside of the boat without worring that it might dry too fast.

 

[tommays]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

That would really depend on the brand of paint and the temp its going to be used at

Generaly there are good but different instructions with everybodys paint about how much and what to use at different temps ect


Tommays

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

He sold you the paint and does not know the amount to use! :^ Contact the paint company and do not hesitate. Guessing will only screw things up and I am sure the paint was not cheap.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

Hmmmmmmm,............

And I always Thought that M.E.K. was used to Kick Off Polyester resins...........
Or,....
Am I confusing M.E.K. with M.E.K.P.........

 

[flashback]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

MEKP IS used to kick off poly... many folks in the business call it mek for short, but mek is different than mekp.. in any case, I've never heard of putting mek or mekp into epoxy ....

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

Bondo- yes I agree w/you on what it is. I would actually suspect that MEK will eat through most poly paints.

 

[Jquest]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

Thanks for all the info and warnings guys. I'm gonna call the guy tomorrow and get the number of the paint company. I will keep you advised.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

FYI quest..

MEK is a solvent ( Methyl Ethyle Ketone )

MEKP is the catalyst for Polyester and Vinylester Based products ( Methyl Ethyle Ketone Peroxide )

Niether one is used for catalyst in the Epoxy based resins

I agree..you have to use the proper hardeners for every paint product.

unless its gel coat..you really dont have to worry about time..most paints want a flash time of 30 min between coats and you could have your pot life up to 3 hrs.

 

[Jquest]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

FYI quest..

MEK is a solvent ( Methyl Ethyle Ketone )

MEKP is the catalyst for Polyester and Vinylester Based products ( Methyl Ethyle Ketone Peroxide )

Niether one is used for catalyst in the Epoxy based resins

I agree..you have to use the proper hardeners for every paint product.

unless its gel coat..you really dont have to worry about time..most paints want a flash time of 30 min between coats and you could have your pot life up to 3 hrs.

:'( you know..... sometimes you have one of those days where you just wanna crawl into the fetal position and start saying "mommie...mommie..."
Well.... you kids are right it is poly. My mistake for thinking it was epoxy. I apologize for throwing everyone a curve. I assumed most of the stuff for boats was made with epoxy. Shows you how much I know.:$ Anyway... I painted half of the deck with M.E.K. thinking this time I got it right. Well....anything but. Guess I'm gonna have to wipe it off again with acetone and start over once more. It's kind of frustrating , but I try to keep positive and say to myself "I'm just learning something new and just have to get it right". This time I'll try a really small spot with M.E.K.P and see how it comes out. Got my fingers crossed. AGAIN!!!:%

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

eeek..sorry to hear that m8..buuumer

are you working with gel coat ( polyester) or a polyurathane ( Awlgrip ) or ???

I dont know why..but something tells me that your local model RC shop is not selling gel coat.

You REALLY need to find out what you have.

YD.

 

[Jquest]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

It's Polyester Resin. Let me ask another question. I still have half the paint in a can not mixed. I also have a small amount that I put in a container mixed with M.E.K. IT was left over from the most recent job. Didn't wanna just throw it away. Since M.E.K is just a tinner.... can I still use that small amount and just add M.E.K.P to fire it off? Or should I just throw that amount away and go with the pure and a new mix? I Have about 2 pints in the mixed container.

 

[ztim]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

You will have to experiment with little batches on something you can throw away. When you think it is right, try it on a small area. Good luck with it.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

depending on how much you reduced it with MEK yes you can use it. How much did you put in ?

OK..now we know your PE resin..you should be asking how much catalist you should be using right ? ..ok glad you asked quest

Polyester resins including gelcoat require one drawback..thats Pot life..especially in spraying. ( which you only want to do for final coatings ) you can kick off your gel in your gun within minutes if your not careful.

And you should use a surfaceing agent such as waxsol or patchaid..or duratec additive for thinning along with your reduction ( which in your luck would be MEK or acetone..or styrene..or a combo of acetone and styrene ) or you will be wiping off the sticky goo left behind with acetone and multitudes of rags.

IF you want pm me and Ill give you my # we will go into more detail.. get is great..but it requires guts. once you have it on there..its purrfect.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

hope this works..this is a 45' that im re-gelin deck..

if this does not work..would someone please tell me how to attach pics to my posts please..

 

[Jquest]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

On my last attempt I used 1 once of m.e.k. for half a gallon of poly.

you will be wiping off the sticky goo left behind with acetone and multitudes of rags.

I"m lucky. I work in a company that has a paint shop.o I can get acetone by the gallon and a load of rags. As far as the paint...I'm rolling it. My neighbors already hate me. If I was to shoot it with the wind that we're having....I think I would paint the neighbor's dog.:devil:
For your images you can use hXXp://photobucket.com/. Take off the two XX and replace them with TT. Now...as far as linking...when you upload your pics to photobucket ..they will show you a URL at the bottom of the photo. Just click on the envelope at the top of the reply post and copy and paste that url into it. like this "[image]http://photobucket.com/my pics[image]"

 

[Jquest]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

YOur pic is not coming out Doc. Post the addy without linking it.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

yup..I just tried again..but my camera settings are too high quality i think 1.5 meg per pic for uploading..I will take more tomm.

ty

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

yup..I just tried again..but my camera settings are too high quality i think 1.5 meg per pic for uploading..I will take more tomm.

ty

 

[Jquest]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

Sorry bro. Still not seeing it. Right click on my gif and then select properties. That might help you a bit. YOu can see the addy.

 

[flashback]

Re: Amount of M.E.K needed for epoxy paint?

jquest, throw the stuff with MEK in it away. Its not worth screwing up a good batch with something that is already fu*ked up... MEKP is what you want, not MEk.. two different animals.....