Need U-pol Raptor Application Advice

[barno68]

I received a gallon of Raptor w/gun today and will start masking the car tomorrow, but... the directions are a tad weak. I am going to check the manufacture website, but can someone that has used this stuff answer a few questions:
What solvent is used to clean the gun?
Directions state 45-75psi, which provides less texture?
How heavy was the texture straight out of the bottle? With reducer?

Like to get this right the first time as I know what a pain this stuff is to clean up. Thanks.

[barno68]

I am also concerned about the temperature. There is no range given on the instructions, just 68 degrees is optimal. It is a 100+ here now, best I can do is maybe 85-90F first thing in the morning.

[hotrdblder]

80-90 woul dbe best, i like to use around 70 psi for a light to medium texture, it sprays slow, and i like to stay back 18 inches or so off the area being sprayed, closer will make it heavy. you can re coat anytime, i find i do an area then mist over area to even it out decent
here are a few pics

[barno68]

That's great, so the higher the pressure the smoother the texture. I am still trying to figure out how I am going to spray the horizontal areas (undercarriage), right now I have the car angled so I can do one end first.

[hotrdblder]

it will be tougher, to do but i have applied it on a 2 post lift, if you do it on an angle just spray each area from both 45º directions to get good coverage on the bead rolling and other profiles on the floor

[barno68]

What did you use to clean the gun? Would mineral spirits work?

[hotrdblder]

lacquer thinner

[MuscleRodz]

Mix by the weight given in the instuctions, not by the bottle level given. I clean the gun using lquer thinner between each bottle spayed to keep the finish consistent. The stuff dries so fast if you are doing alot it will build up in the gun. You can also adjust the texture by how heavy you put it on. For a smoother texture, you can apply it heavier making sure the area is wet, or for more texture spray a little drier.

[2Bad4Ya]

We shot a 68 camaro and used 3 of the 4 bottles that came in the kit.

Ran gun @ 65psi, ran the adjustable nozzle all the way in on the shutz gun that came with the kit. Mixed it by instructions by filling to the bottle line, then shook vigorously.

Car was up on jack stands, I rolled along the floor pans via creeper and shot the pans and tunnel, took just over 1 bottle. I then rolled out back and did the trunk pans and rear wheel wells, which put me just into the 3rd bottle. So then its up and inside the trunk, coated the whole trunk area and back up over the wheel wells as far possible (after I had good coverage on the trunk pan and was now covering the inside quarters, etc.. to finish off the 3rd bottle).

On the underside of the floor pans I started at the firewall and moved to the rear (shot it from driver side to passenger side with the gun tilted at an angle (did not want to spill out of breather hole)). Then came back on 2nd coat working fro mthe rear to the front. This made sure I did not miss indentations, etc... from shooting the gun at an angle (I hope that makes sense).

I shot it all in one day went from bottle to bottle no cleaning between, which was kind of risky I guess looking back on it, but as long as I was shooting and not sitting around the gun did not seem to build up to badly. Granted I could of gotten lucky.
Temp outside was 92, no wind, and high humidity, it shot perfectly. Use rubber gloves! This stuff is a pia to remove from your skin!

[barno68]

Thanks for all the responses. I have everything masked off and ready to shoot tomorrow morning. My only concern is the temperature, but what can you do...

[69Poncho]

Use retarder.

[barno68]

Started spraying about 5am and went through three bottles in an hour. The garage was still around 90F, but no issues. This stuff really is easy to spray, I thought it would make much more of a mess.

However, the fumes made their way into the house and now I have all the fans running with the windows open! Hopefully it airs out quickly before the mercury starts rising. I am heading out to start pealing tape, so thanks for all the help.

[2Bad4Ya]

So what all did you cover in liner? I know 3 bottles went a pretty good ways for me, allowing heavy coverage underneath and in the trunk on my 68 camaro.

[barno68]

So what all did you cover in liner? I know 3 bottles went a pretty good ways for me, allowing heavy coverage underneath and in the trunk on my 68 camaro.

Basically, everything under the car. I tried to not to spray the rear frame rails too much (too lazy to mask them), but other than that I hit the pans, wheel wells and tunnel up to the firewall.



I thought about using the last bottle, but thought that it might be wise to let it dry a bit and check the coverage. Who knows, maybe I will use it for the trunk, but I am still leaning toward ZeroRust and sound deadner sheets.

[BenW455]

That looks good! Ware did you get it?

[barno68]

There are a lot of places selling this kit, but I got mine on Ebay:
http://stores.ebay.com/TCPGlobal-AutoBodyDepot

[BenW455]

Thanks,