Technique spraying clear on long panels.

C

CK-2

Promoted Users
Just wondering about technique when spraying clear on a long panel like the side of a car or a bed side. Do you guys start at one end and make pass all the way down the side? Or shorter stroke?

Does it matter if you spray up and down vs front to back?
 
I've always walked the sides of vehicles front to back so there is less overlap from starting on one panel, and then starting again on an adjacent panel. I've seen other painters do one panel at a time with good results, just never felt you can get it as evenly coated that way. Doing one candy paint job without walking the side would prove my point.
 
I have done it both ways and see no difference when spraying clear coat.
Sometimes walking the panel is required (candy and difficult metallic paints like silver) but you have to be careful to maintain the distance from the panel when taking your steps.
 
I always walk the side, and always spray horizontally. When you walk the side you use less material, have less chance of getting a run and can do a job quicker. You also are not double coating the begining and end of each panel. That alone is reason enough not to do it. Think about it this way, if you panel paint, one coat of sealer, (2 coats on the edges) then 3 coats of base (6 coats on the edges) then 3 coats of clear (6 coats on the edges). So instead of 7 total coats you have 14 total coats on the edges of panels where you can least afford to have excessive paint buildup. Panel painting also extends the flash time and can trap solvents if you don't give extra flash time for double coated areas.
 
Been spraying a bedside and the wheelwell openings got me thinking about making vertical passes. That’s why I asked.
 
AAE said:
Turn your aircap horizontal to spray vertical?
Click to expand...

I sprayed a bunch of box cross sills with my cap like this, it worked good.

I personally wouldnt want to do a big panel like that, for me it didnt feel as natural to spray in a vertical movement. Thats just me though, maybe its something that would eventually feel normal with practice.
 
Spraying metallic base coats, does anyone use a fog coat to even out metallic streaking? It was a technique I used with SS back in the day, back off from the panel with a wide fan and fog a light random pattern over a just sprayed wet coat. Some brands (MS acrylic enamel and some RM) had poor coverage and just didn't spray as well as others. This would help.
 
Only spray vertical when you can't spray horizontal.

@Slofut Modern basecoats don't have the issues that SS enamels used to have. All that is neccesary to prevent mottling, streaking etc with a mettallic base is proper technique. Straight passes, proper overlap, proper gun distance from the panel. Also using a slow enough reducer is important. Much more user friendly than the old stuff. Most bases nowadays you try fogging them you just make the issue worse. They don't stay open long enough.
A solution for the times that someone may have an issue with a mettallic is to reduce your RTS base with blender (intercoat). Get coverage then reduce with blender and spray 1-2 more coats on.
 
I have to admit - I use a “fog” or “drop” coat . I tiger striped something 8 years ago and cost me a repaint- not 100% convinced I can get the overlap perfect cause I only paint 2-3 cars/year. Works for me
 
For a difficult color, it seems like a 75% overlap would make sense. Top, hood, and deck lid seem to be more likely to stripe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top