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derekf
01-06-2022, 06:05 PM
I was trying to do the SPI "Perfect Paint Job" thing - 80 grit DA scratches on bare metal for the whole car, then wax & grease remover before 3 wet coats of epoxy.

That went fine.

Next up was to apply the polyester filler (Rage Ultra in this case). That also went fine, for certain values of fine, but it's not finished.

We were having a "heat wave" -- 11:59pm on New Years Eve it was 70 degrees out. That heat wave ended -- 11:59p on 1 Jan it was 21 degrees.

I've got areas where the epoxy primer has been sanded off, and I don't really expect it to get warm enough for me to be able to spray any more for the next couple of months.

I assume that the correct path - come April or whenever it's warm enough - is 80 grit DA scratches on the bare metal again just before time to spray, and scuff the existing epoxy. What about the filler - 80 grit again, or 180, or something else? Is that the correct plan?

dhutton
01-07-2022, 04:47 AM
80 on the bare metal and 180 on the epoxy and filler is fine imho.

Don

dhutton
01-07-2022, 06:09 AM
I sometimes use heat lamps to warm a section of the car in cool weather. This lets me spray epoxy on a panel. I store my epoxy in the house to keep it warm.

Don

derekf
01-07-2022, 01:05 PM
Thanks Don - can always count on you.

The google says for epoxy no less than 65 degrees for the 24 hours after spraying... does that sound about right to you?

dhutton
01-07-2022, 03:48 PM
Thanks Don - can always count on you.

The google says for epoxy no less than 65 degrees for the 24 hours after spraying... does that sound about right to you?
Yep and don’t try to cheat. :). Make sure your metal is also 65, epoxy too. I use an IR temperature gun.

Don