Waiting Past 7 days to apply base to epoxy primer.

[Miles]

I would like to apply epoxy primer , let it dry for 2 months or more ( installing engine etc.) then sand with 600 apply base for stripes, sand base 600 mask base for stripes ( Shelby Mustang tribute ). Base entire car , applying SPI black base , sand any dust out then clear. My shop is not a booth , I clean it but there is always some trash, and It will take me some time to mask stripes, that's why I won't make 7 day window recommended to apply base over epoxy primer. Working ,nights and weekends on car .Painting it this way gives me more time to get it right and not rush.Will this work well ?

 

[Jim C]

absolutely not. 7 days isnt even acceptable for basecoat. you can however epoxy it, let it sit then when it comes time to do your base, sand it then shoot a super thin sealer coat of epoxy then 15 min later put your first coat of base on.

 

[Miles]

I would like to apply epoxy primer , let it dry for 2 months or more ( installing engine etc.) then sand with 600 apply base for stripes, sand base 600 mask base for stripes ( Shelby Mustang tribute ). Base entire car , applying SPI black base , sand any dust out then clear. My shop is not a booth , I clean it but there is always some trash, and It will take me some time to mask stripes, that's why I won't make 7 day window recommended to apply base over epoxy primer. Working ,nights and weekends on car .Painting it this way gives me more time to get it right and not rush.Will this work well ?

Thanks very much for your reply. 15 min works for you very well I am sure mixed very thin as you stated . The real question I have is with a 400 to 600 sand on the epoxy isn't the mechanical adhesion enough ? The 2 K primer regular build is also being used. This might be a better way for me to go. Sanding the 2k and going directly to base from there. Howerver ,I think I would be able to mask the stripes in time frame , tech sheet states (2-18 hours ) for epoxy used as sealer . appreciate your input.

 

[dhutton01]

Here's what I do. Seal with reduced epoxy. One hour later shoot base. Next morning mask stripes and shoot stripe base. Two hours later shoot clear.

If you can't get two consecutive days you are going to have some challenges...

Don

 

[Miles]

Here's what I do. Seal with reduced epoxy. One hour later shoot base. Next morning mask stripes and shoot stripe base. Two hours later shoot clear.

I think I will panel paint it, apply base over sealer per tech. sheet , assemble, apply stripes over properly sanded clear , then re-clear entire car. this will give me max time for my stripes.

 

[Jim C]

400 is not enough with fully cured epoxy. if you let epoxy sit for 7 days, sand with 400-600, base it then stick tape to it the next day. the tape will peel the base right off the epoxy. mix the epoxy as a sealer and pretend its basecoat. shoot 1 coat like an adhesion promoter and go right to color. you can wait 10-15 min or you can wait an hour. whatever works for you. point is the base is going over fresh epoxy.

 

[Miles]

400 is not enough with fully cured epoxy. if you let epoxy sit for 7 days, sand with 400-600, base it then stick tape to it the next day. the tape will peel the base right off the epoxy. mix the epoxy as a sealer and pretend its basecoat. shoot 1 coat like an adhesion promoter and go right to color. you can wait 10-15 min or you can wait an hour. whatever works for you. point is the base is going over fresh epoxy.

How soon can I start masking for stripes after base applied ? Thanks

 

[Miles]

Here's what I do. Seal with reduced epoxy. One hour later shoot base. Next morning mask stripes and shoot stripe base. Two hours later shoot clear.

If you can't get two consecutive days you are going to have some challenges...

Don

Thanks Don

 

[Jim C]

that really depends on how thick the epoxy sealer is put down. generally i will wait a few hrs BUT to make a recommendation to someone else i would say overnight.