Final prep and primer questions

[oldwoodsplitter]

What do you guys use for your final wipe down before painting?

What do you use for primer?

I would like to paint my dad’s XL-12 once I get it running.

Also, on the two tone areas, do you paint all blue then mask and paint white? This is a blue and white 1974 model.

[w30bob]

Hi OWS,

Really depends on the paint formulation you're using. Now-a-days most paints come in 'systems' that specify everything from what's used to wipe down to the final clear or color coat. You really don't want to go mixing and matching different 'systems', even from the same manufacturer, although you'll find plenty of folks that just 'wing it' and mix and match. Sounds like an expensive way to do it, but to each their own. If you're not talking about a high dollar basecoat/clearcoat automotive type paint 'system', and more along the line of Rustoleum in a spray can..........that's a totally different story. For the cheap stuff final wipe should be with a degreaser/wax/silicone remover of your choice and then a serious no-residue solvent.....followed by a tack cloth. Everyone has their favorite. Just be careful of the really cheap tack-wipes online from China. Some actually leave a residue, which is exactly what they're not supposed to do. But you get what you pay for. Primer for aluminum or magnesium should be a self-etching variety, and not too thick. If you're using a spray gun you might want to consider adding a flex agent to the paint to deal with the expansion that makes the original paint flake off, but the new self etching primers from Rustoleum are pretty amazing for what they are.

I've done paint jobs on things using the expensive stuff and the Rustoleum cheap-o variety. Both can look fantastic if you put the time into them, because if you prep the parts to perfection.......anything you put on after that will look good. I'm just scratching the surface of your questions........because it all depends on what paint you use. So this question could go in a million directions! Now that last question of yours.......I prefer to paint the lighter color first. Because trying to cover a darker color with a lighter one takes more coats, which means thicker paint, which means runs and sags if you're not careful. But I think Homelite did it the other way.......I'd have to look close, but I seem to remember white over red on the last SEZ I was playing with. If you paint the lighter color first, just us a light primer under it and you'll be fine. Like I said, these questions could fill a book, so let's see what other say they're using.....as I'm curious myself.

;O)
bob

[kurgano]

Don't forget about a good oven-style powder coat.

Whichever system you go with make sure to follow the manufacturer recomendations on what to use to clean and prime it.

Whenever I paint something that I want looking sharp I tend to sandblast it first but I don't have many saws under my belt yet. Maybe 2, with Rustoleum, so take my scriblings with a grain of salt.