I am getting ready to put in an order and will need epoxy primer, I would like to know what would be the best all around color to spray over? I just finished a gallon of grey and had no problems with any color I have sprayed over it but want some info from you guys, I appreciate the help.
WHAT COLOR SPI EPOXY PRIMER
- Thread starter JC Daniel
- Start date
metalman
Oldtimer
That is how I like to use the epoxy. Mix the grey to a close value to the top coat. I've have also mixed the shade value and reduced it for a sealer. If you reduce the sealer 37.5% (1: 1: .75) it covers a bit better, depending on what's under it. At that ratio you need to allow a little more flash time as opposed to sealer mixed 50% (1: 1: 1)
To better see the value, or in this case shade of grey, between the top coat color and the grey, squint your eyes down as you compare the two values.
That helps to remove the effect of whatever color you are trying get close to in grey.
Okay so how do I determine what ratio to mix? I have heard a lot of talk by painters around me that only use grey sealer and epoxy and most never seal but I don't know much about what colors are better with light sealer and others dark? I just painted a truck victory red over grey epoxy sealer and it covered and looks really good, I think on the SPI website it says to spray red over white sealer?
You could make a value scale on sprayout cards. Get some small mixing cups, mix some epoxy 4 parts white to 1 part black and spray a card. then mix 3 parts white to 1 part black, spray, 2 to1, spray, 1 to 1, spray, 2 parts black to 1 part white, spray, all the way to 4 black, 1 white. Use these cards as a reference to the value of the color you are spraying. For instance, say you are spraying a gunmetal, mix your paint with a stick and hold it up to the cards that are close. Choose the epoxy color that matches the color the closest. Yellows and oranges like white, or very light gray. Reds like light to med. light gray. Bright blues like med. gray. Darker blues and greens like a med. dark gray. Dark blues and charcoals like a darker gray. Using sealer and/or primer like this will save a lot of extra coats of base (therefore money).
Without access to mixing paint software is hard to judge the correct value shade you’d need for different colors. Some painters like to take a picture of the color with their phone and convert to B&W and match the resulting phone screen to previously made spray out cards. Whomever you order basecoat from you could ask for the value shade number, usually from 1-6. So between white and black you have 4 different shades of gray.
I wish I knew of a mobile phone app or website that you could use to find the right values. On my iPhone I have Akzo Nobel MixIt that you can install without any special password or what not, it tells you when you pull up a code that it needs a ‘mandatory color primer’ which pretty much tells you the color is transparent AF so you better use the right sealer for decent coverage and match.
metalman
Oldtimer
Texas's idea for some sample cards is a good one, especially if you want to do the grey values on a regular basis.
The primer shade doesn't necessarily have to be an exact match, close will still do the job and save extra base coats, time.
I don't paint that much anymore so I mix as needed.
Remember it takes more white to lighten a mix, takes less black to darken. That is why small amounts to start, keeping track of the ratios is a good idea.
The primer shade doesn't necessarily have to be an exact match, close will still do the job and save extra base coats, time.
I don't paint that much anymore so I mix as needed.
Remember it takes more white to lighten a mix, takes less black to darken. That is why small amounts to start, keeping track of the ratios is a good idea.
MP&C
Member
For your initial priming and blocking, I like the black. the somewhat glossy sheen will help to show any defects in the body panels missed, and once you block and break the surface, that semi gloss turns to a dull, lighter color, almost a grey. So the finish works well as an all inclusive guide coat, where you won't need to spray guide coat.
rusty428cj
Rusty Gillis
I agree I like to start with black and spray gray Turbo over it. I aways spray red or orange over white epoxy.
crashtech
Combo Man & Mod
@JC Daniel, if you have a transparent color that you want to have the right gray shade for, PM me the color code and I will see if there is a ground coat gray shade for it. I can then give you an approximation mix in SPI epoxy that should be pretty close.
metalman
Oldtimer
I think the answer would be both and others here can probably state examples. Yellow for example never covers well and is best applied over a white ground. Full coverage is full coverage regardless of what is under but the reason for sealing or ground coating in a close value shade is less coats to arrive at full coverage. Less material, less time, better job.
I’m almost sure some are translucent from the factory, certain pigments must be pretty damn hard to achieve full hiding, and that’s what gives them such vibrancy and depth.
jelco
Promoted Users
Beneath the rear window of my el camino there is a panel that I sanded and needs primer (the body of the car is white). If I paint this panel with black epoxy, what steps will have to be taken to paint it white?
Im not at the point where I can paint the entire car.
I thought grey primer was the universal primer for painting the body but it sounds like you guys have various methods.
Im not at the point where I can paint the entire car.
I thought grey primer was the universal primer for painting the body but it sounds like you guys have various methods.
