Soliciting more pre-paint advice for the newbie

[MAKZ06]

Spoke to Chad today and have decided to go with the Motocryl single stage in a blue similar to the factory “Bahama Blue” for the 72 F100.
Will start with the underside of the hood, door jambs, interior, inside of doors, to try and get a feel for how to lay it down. I’m assuming it will spray quite differently from the SPI primer I’ve been spraying the last few years getting to this stage.
You would think after as many times as I’ve sprayed primer during this learning process that I would have it figured out, but I’m still trying to get the details worked out in my head. Maintaining a wet edge on the truck cab, and also the exterior bed surfaces wasn’t as critical with the primer….

I’m trying to work out the “dance steps” and spray path to rehearse. I’ll do it in pieces with the cab exterior one day, the bed another, doors and fenders another, etc. Is there anyone in general, or specific YouTube videos you recommend watching for tips on the best path/sequence for doing a truck cab for instance?

What about tips and settings for the best way to dial-in my Iwata LPH400?

Based on what I’ve seen here in the forum I’m thinking I lay down 3 coats, sand out the orange peel, trash, bugs, etc with 600, and then hit it with 2 more coats. Does that sound reasonable? What abrasive paper do you recommend for this and what size and style block? Do I want a softer backing on the block for this?

Thanks again.

 

[RosharonRooster]

I use lph400 and I like 2.5 turns out on the fluid, (from closed), not quite a full fan. But a full fan and dial back out an 1/8 of a turn. Some times if u run guns full fan it gets funky on the edges. For base I use about 16psi and for clear, personally I use between 30 and 35psi. But I've seen ppl use as low as 17psi. Just depends on technique used and what kind of finish you want. Some folks have to match factory texture.

 

[MAKZ06]

I use lph400 and I like 2.5 turns out on the fluid, (from closed), not quite a full fan. But a full fan and dial back out an 1/8 of a turn. Some times if u run guns full fan it gets funky on the edges. For base I use about 16psi and for clear, personally I use between 30 and 35psi. But I've seen ppl use as low as 17psi. Just depends on technique used and what kind of finish you want. Some folks have to match factory texture.

I guess everyone has their own settings and preferences. I’ve got some good message threads saved regarding gun setup, one from Barry. I’ve had it set for the spi primer with full fan and maybe 1/2 turn closed, about 3.5+ turn open on fluid control and 25 psi. Guess I’ll just have to experiment with the reduced epoxy and the single stage.

 

[RosharonRooster]

I guess everyone has their own settings and preferences. I’ve got some good message threads saved regarding gun setup, one from Barry. I’ve had it set for the spi primer with full fan and maybe 1/2 turn closed, about 3.5+ turn open on fluid control and 25 psi. Guess I’ll just have to experiment with the reduced epoxy and the single stage.

Yes. There is no one size fits all. It's all about your personal technique and what you feel comfortable doing.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

Just as important as the gun setting is how you spray. Overlap. You want to have correct consistent overlap. Ideally around 75% on base, clear, or SS. You need to be robotic with your passes, never fan the gun, walk the length of the car. Don't panel paint (on the car not when in pieces)
Here is a video that you should watch to help prep you for spraying. It's by Jon Kosmoski, House of Kolor founder. It is a very good video in that he demonstrates proper technique when spraying.

I've shared this before. It is a good video to watch and see how to correctly spray.

Here is the full video:

 

[MAKZ06]

Just as important as the gun setting is how you spray. Overlap. You want to have correct consistent overlap. Ideally around 75% on base, clear, or SS. You need to be robotic with your passes, never fan the gun, walk the length of the car. Don't panel paint (on the car not when in pieces)
Here is a video that you should watch to help prep you for spraying. It's by Jon Kosmoski, House of Kolor founder. It is a very good video in that he demonstrates proper technique when spraying.

I've shared this before. It is a good video to watch and see how to correctly spray.

Here is the full video:

Thanks for the links and info. Will watch those tonight.
When I first started putting down the primer I was probably only doing a 25% overlap. Took me a while to figure out I needed to be closer to 50%. If you hadn’t suggested a 75% overlap for the color I would have never thought to go that much. I’ve been getting much better at maintaining a consistent overlap and distance from the panel and not swinging my wrist. Definitely tough to be consistent when not doing it regularly.
Is 3 coats followed by 600 blocking before a final 2 coats a good plan?

 

[Lizer]

I sprayed a 28 foot camper last year with Motorcryl. I think I was 3 turns out on my LPH400 with about 28-30 PSI, doing about 50% overlap.

It had a finish about like a factory peel, smooth but not flat. No runs with this setting and that’s a lot of vertical real estate, probably because there aren’t many places where you’re doubling back over.

To me it sprays just like epoxy. Some people say it sprays just like a clear, however, I’ve never ran epoxy but I do get some runs with clear.

 

[MAKZ06]

I sprayed a 28 foot camper last year with Motorcryl. I think I was 3 turns out on my LPH400 with about 28-30 PSI, doing about 50% overlap.

It had a finish about like a factory peel, smooth but not flat. No runs with this setting and that’s a lot of vertical real estate, probably because there aren’t many places where you’re doubling back over.

To me it sprays just like epoxy. Some people say it sprays just like a clear, however, I’ve never ran epoxy but I do get some runs with clear.

thanks for the info. I’ll keep that in mind to maybe crank up my psi from 25 and open the fluid slightly more.