Completed my first project with SPI epoxy primer, SPI 2K Regular build primer, and Axalta/Dupont chromabase base coat, and SPI universal clear.
What I did wrong...
sprayed 1st coat of epoxy primer too heavy and got the craters along with heavy orange peel (1.4 tip at 28 psi) 6" fan width, Imade sure to allow 30 minute induction. block sanded and re-applied epoxy primer with a less heavy coat and reduced about 20% for a sealer, was happy with that coat, DRY block sanded with 220 grit (with a vacuum), another mistake I made was not go to a finer grit of sandpaper before applying the base coat, others suggest 400 to 600 grit before shooting the base coat, the 220 grit scratches showed up through two good coats of metallic silver base. To be honest the Axalta Chromabase was less forgiving (idiot proof) than any of the SPI products in my own experience thus far.
But I understand the base coat is usually the easiest to spray. Axalta (formerly Dupont Chromabase) claims their metallic sprays well, it sure did for me, as a rookie/intermediate I just couldn't screw up that metallic basecoat, no runs, and no metallic Mottling, metallic flakes all lined up like soldiers for me.
next was the SPI universal clear, I honestly have read instructions many many times from SPI, viewed many you tube videos from experts, read the SPI forum to prepare myself for my first project with SPI products.
Instructions for SPI Universal clear is
"Adjust the gun so you can lay the clear slick and you then have two choices: Option #1: Spray the first coat wet then apply a second wet coat within 10-30 minutes for a two coat production type job." to me "clear slick" means a very wet coat...
I interpreted this as a heavier coat and I regret it with runs! next time Im doing a medium coat.
I should of done what I usually do with clears and spray a medium tack coat for first layer to help prevent runs, now I have to sand out runs
one good outcome is the base color matched the rest of the car perfectly.
Knowing that Ford used Dupont/Axalta on my car for OEM paint, so I used the same brand of paint, a great match.
2K regular build primer was a bear to spray with out some sort of orange peel or other issues for me. I used it on another project and even with a 1.8mm tip I just cant get it to spray nicely.
What I do like about the epoxy primer is the gloss to provide a built in guide coat, I dry sand with a vacuum cleaner and works out great, no clogging of sandpaper after 24 hours of drying time.
So even though I feel the SPI epoxy (any epoxy I dealt with) is not easiest to spray it blocks sands very nicely, so nicely I dont think I need to use 2K build primer, I will use epoxy as my build primer as well as much as I can get away with.