Orange Peel On Steroids

lj-rubi

Noob painter here working on my first non-rattle can paint job. Shot the cart (Yamaha Drive) with adhesion promotor, then shot with 3 coats of urethane top coat with a little flash time in between. Paint laid down nice and smooth with minimal orange peel. Several days later I tacked the body, then shot with 3-4 coats of urethane clear. I ended up with a very heavy texture that you would swear was rolled on with a foam roller or something. I reduced the top coat per instructions, but I did not reduce the clear because the directions indicated activator only, i.e. no mention of reducer. Should I have reduced it? Does it sound like I didnt shoot it wet enough? Gun pattern looked good and it looked like it was going on fairly wet (after light 1st coat) but I don't know what the hell I'm doing! I also may have gotten in a hurry and not let the clear coats flash long enough between coats??

Anyway, I am color sanding my *** off now and the front cowl looks good but I would sure like to know what I'm doing wrong so I don't have so much sanding next time!! Help!!!!!!!

BGW

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mnslawn1

I reduced the top coat per instructions, but I did not reduce the clear because the directions indicated activator only, i.e. no mention of reducer. Should I have reduced it?YES, Some clears need to be cut even when they aren't recomended to be cut.

master66

If you could post a couple of pictures of it we might be able to help you a little better. Also what brand of paint are you using? What was the temperature and humidity when spraying? What kind of air pressure and type of gun (siphon feed or pressure feed) basically is the cup on the top or bottom? I know I am asking a lot of questions but just trying to rule some things out so we can help you better.
Wet sand the clear with 600 and try not to break through to the color otherwise you will have a new set of issues trust me.

master66

Also does it look like the clear ate into the color? basically that looks like a crinkle finish.

lj-rubi

Master, I don't have photos but I will try to describe better. The finish is almost a crinkle finish, very uniform and kind of cool looking. I have sanded most of the texture away starting with 1000 grit and in hindsight I should have used 600 because it is taking a lot of time and effort. Fortunately the problem is only with the clear finish; it didn't attack the base coat or anything. The end result is going to be fine (except for inside corners where I can't sand/buff) but I want to know what I did wrong because I don't want to make the mistake again.

The gun is a DeVilbiss starting line, entry level gravity feed. It was low 80's and low humidity, and my best guess is should have reduced the clear, then I didn't lay it on wet enough...but if I knew what I was talking about I wouldn't be in this situation, huh?

master66

I would say if you were an experienced painter then you could get away with messing with the mix ratios. In this case I would advise against it because if you add to much reducer then it's run city, plus it will mess with the flash times.
My advise is this, take a scrap piece of metal or something and try it again just like you did the cart and see what happens. If it does it again sand the piece down with 600 then try the clear again but this time change you're spray distance or volume of material coming out. It,s really hard to say but it could be a ton of things like contaminents, air pressure, volume, not compatible base and clear. Like I said if you could get me some pics that would be great.

lj-rubi

Thanks Master, I can probably get a close up pic of the area that I haven't sanded.

lj-rubi

Finally finished painting and I have the little build thread over here:

http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/membe...ld-thread.html

Here is a teaser pic:

master66

Right on! Looks great and love the color.

lj-rubi

Thanks master, I wouldn't have attempted to tackle it without all of your helpful advice in other threads. Lots of work because of my learning curve but worth it in the end.