tcone1
Well Known Member
Trying to sort it all out. The last airplane I painted was almost 20 years ago. I'm sure there have been improvements. My process then was etch, alodine, epoxy prime, imron. I just saw that airplane last week, and it still looks great. Paint was still stuck, and very surprisingly still looked wet.
I have locals trying to talk me into skipping the etch/alodine process and going with a self etching primer. Do I spray top coat directly over this, or do I need to add a layer of "normal" primer prior to top coat?
I've rattle can self etch primed some small parts and it seems to stick well, but it doesn't seem to like the few areas I've used filler (stab tips etc.). I'm getting ready to paint the whole airplane and feel like I don't know enough about the self etching stuff. Is it better, easier, safer. If you have to prime over the self etching stuff with another layer of normal primer, why not just etch/alodine? With the self etching stuff, local expert says I have to scotchbrite the whole airplane. I don't remember needing this step with the old process.
I know this has been beaten to death in the past, and I've searched the forums (VAF has, by far, the best wheat/chaff ratio) but I am hoping to start priming next weekend.
I have locals trying to talk me into skipping the etch/alodine process and going with a self etching primer. Do I spray top coat directly over this, or do I need to add a layer of "normal" primer prior to top coat?
I've rattle can self etch primed some small parts and it seems to stick well, but it doesn't seem to like the few areas I've used filler (stab tips etc.). I'm getting ready to paint the whole airplane and feel like I don't know enough about the self etching stuff. Is it better, easier, safer. If you have to prime over the self etching stuff with another layer of normal primer, why not just etch/alodine? With the self etching stuff, local expert says I have to scotchbrite the whole airplane. I don't remember needing this step with the old process.
I know this has been beaten to death in the past, and I've searched the forums (VAF has, by far, the best wheat/chaff ratio) but I am hoping to start priming next weekend.