When we made our last trip to our place in N GA in May I was finally able to complete the block sanding of the SPI epoxy on my F100. After a couple years of off-and-on sporadic work I’m now finally satisfied with the flatness and smoothness of the panels.
So it’s now been over 30 days since I had completed the blocking with 180 grit and then followed that with a couple unreduced coats of Epoxy. In those following days I tackled the roof drip rails and various body seams with dual-mix SEM sealer.
First question is whether I need another coat of unreduced epoxy over the seam sealer, or is a reduced seal coat adequate?
Keeping in mind that this is my first paint job and that I’m slow moving… I need clarification and advice on how to proceed. I know that before I spray my color I will have to spray reduced Epoxy within those prior 24 hours. However, I’m very confused about when and what sanding and abrasive grits come into play. Since it will have been well over 30 days before I am ready to do that seal coat of reduced epoxy, do I have to do another unreduced spray of epoxy first? If I have to do another unreduced first then I know I have to first sand again with 180. However, if I only need to do the reduced seal coat, what grit should be used prior? I’m just not clear on what grit I need to use when. I’ve seen msg threads that seem to indicate 320 is what should be used prior to a seal coat, but I’m not sure if I can sand my over 30 day cured epoxy with 320 and then go straight to the sealer…. That’s what I’m hoping I can do.
I will be spraying a blue single stage eventually. I think when I get back this month I will only have time to do a practice run on the interior and underside of the hood and save the rest of the truck for another trip.
Appreciate all the great info and good advice I get on here, and I apologize for the clueless newbie questions.
So it’s now been over 30 days since I had completed the blocking with 180 grit and then followed that with a couple unreduced coats of Epoxy. In those following days I tackled the roof drip rails and various body seams with dual-mix SEM sealer.
First question is whether I need another coat of unreduced epoxy over the seam sealer, or is a reduced seal coat adequate?
Keeping in mind that this is my first paint job and that I’m slow moving… I need clarification and advice on how to proceed. I know that before I spray my color I will have to spray reduced Epoxy within those prior 24 hours. However, I’m very confused about when and what sanding and abrasive grits come into play. Since it will have been well over 30 days before I am ready to do that seal coat of reduced epoxy, do I have to do another unreduced spray of epoxy first? If I have to do another unreduced first then I know I have to first sand again with 180. However, if I only need to do the reduced seal coat, what grit should be used prior? I’m just not clear on what grit I need to use when. I’ve seen msg threads that seem to indicate 320 is what should be used prior to a seal coat, but I’m not sure if I can sand my over 30 day cured epoxy with 320 and then go straight to the sealer…. That’s what I’m hoping I can do.
I will be spraying a blue single stage eventually. I think when I get back this month I will only have time to do a practice run on the interior and underside of the hood and save the rest of the truck for another trip.
Appreciate all the great info and good advice I get on here, and I apologize for the clueless newbie questions.