Paint Roll Bar..... Maybe vinyl

[YME]

Just finishing the Roll Bar. What have you done as far as painting? I will be priming and using rattle can. Did you paint it before riveting it to the the Roll Bar attach brackets and then touch up the rivets after install, or install, mask off then paint. Not sure of color but was thinking something neutral.

-Tom

 

[jsalley]

Just finishing the Roll Bar. What have you done as far as painting? I will be priming and using rattle can. Did you paint it before riveting it to the the Roll Bar attach brackets and then touch up the rivets after install, or install, mask off then paint. Not sure of color but was thinking something neutral.

-Tom

I painted the roll bar the same color as the interior. Primed all of the interior fuselage parts and skins on the unexposed/back sides before installation, then scuffed/primed/painted the interior (including the roll bar and its aft brace) after the fuselage was completed, but before any controls, plumbing, or wiring was installed. Much easier to paint the interior at that stage. The roll bar looks good in the gray interior color.

 

[wirejock]

I'll bar, bracket and canopy bow were fit then sent for powder coat. Then the canopy sikaflexed. Last the roll bar and brace installed.

 

[YME]

I painted the roll bar the same color as the interior. Primed all of the interior fuselage parts and skins on the unexposed/back sides before installation, then scuffed/primed/painted the interior (including the roll bar and its aft brace) after the fuselage was completed, but before any controls, plumbing, or wiring was installed. Much easier to paint the interior at that stage. The roll bar looks good in the gray interior color.

Light gray looks good. What finish, flat semi, etc?

 

[YME]

I'll bar, bracket and canopy bow were fit then sent for powder coat. Then the canopy sikaflexed. Last the roll bar and brace installed.

Larry, as I haven't done any interior and ordered the full interior for the RV-12, is it too late to take the time to prime/rattle can interior before I do the any of the plumding/controls, etc. Thanks

 

[jsalley]

Light gray looks good. What finish, flat semi, etc?

It's Sherwin Williams JetFlex WR, which is water based. JetFlex is specifically formulated for interiors, has a satin finish (you don't want anything glossy due to glare). Easy to spray, holding up well so far.

 

[wirejock]

Larry, as I haven't done any interior and ordered the full interior for the RV-12, is it too late to take the time to prime/rattle can interior before I do the any of the plumding/controls, etc. Thanks

I don't think it too late. But the sooner you paint the better. Anything you install is just more stuff to mask or tape. Mine is a 7A so no doubt different. That said, if it don't show, don't paint it. I opted for no interior early so I painted before assembly I wanted fasteners to show.

 

[YME]

I don't think it too late. But the sooner you paint the better. Anything you install is just more stuff to mask or tape. Mine is a 7A so no doubt different. That said, if it don't show, don't paint it. I opted for no interior early so I painted before assembly I wanted fasteners to show.

Thanks

 

[YME]

I am not a sprayer but if i wanted to indulge, what beginner sprayer should i get that is not complicated and easy to clean. Currently have a Calif compressor 20gal 2hp

 

[wirejock]

I am not a sprayer but if i wanted to indulge, what beginner sprayer should i get that is not complicated and easy to clean. Currently have a Calif compressor 20gal 2hp

The Harbor Fright purple gun is a good beginner gun. I have a HF Black Widow HTE. Costs a bit more, but man that thing can throw down paint. It's a copy of a SATA gun. HTE is High Transfer Efficiency. More paint on the part means less waste. I have the adapter to use 3M PPS Ver 1.0 cups. I could easily write more. Just ask.

 

[jsalley]

The Harbor Fright purple gun is a good beginner gun. I have a HF Black Widow HTE. Costs a bit more, but man that thing can throw down paint. It's a copy of a SATA gun. HTE is High Transfer Efficiency. More paint on the part means less waste. I have the adapter to use 3M PPS Ver 1.0 cups. I could easily write more. Just ask.

I have the HF Black Widow also. Pretty nice gun for the price.

 

[Baron71]

That said, if it don't show, don't paint it.

I emphasize that. For the RV-12 that means you basically paint the roll bar, the upper side rails, the interior of the turtle decks and the seat backs. As for the colors, pick something that fits to the color of your interior, i.e. I picked Granite Gray Silk from Rustoleum because my interior is grey. If it was brown, I would have picked something different.
Please see pictures (I think from newest to oldest), to get a feeling for
A. what does not need to be painted, because it is covered,
B. how much I masked/taped off, to explain why the stage of your build (fuel lines, tank, control rod) is not that important and
C. why I selected the color I selected.
Forward looking I likely will chose a darker color to match the powder coated panels. Likely use roll on and again do not expect it to be very much. To my understanding the front canopy can easily be taken off by two persons.

 

[YME]

The Harbor Fright purple gun is a good beginner gun. I have a HF Black Widow HTE. Costs a bit more, but man that thing can throw down paint. It's a copy of a SATA gun. HTE is High Transfer Efficiency. More paint on the part means less waste. I have the adapter to use 3M PPS Ver 1.0 cups. I could easily write more. Just ask.

Does HF carry the adapter. I am assuming thatbthe 3m cups make cleaning easioer and you can shoot at angles. Also is the compressor I ok. I read that when painting you need a water separator or something. Do I need this for the small jobs like just the interior.

 

[CTCole]

I primed everything with Stewart Eko-Prime (water based so I could do it in the workshop) and painted the interior (outdoors) with Rustoleum rattle-can smoke grey primer. Color matches the upholstery well and it will be easy to touch up without the whole compressor/spray equipment. Exterior was done with Harbor Freight guns & a 60-gal/5HP compressor -- 20 gal is rather undersized for spraying. I went to a Sherwin-Williams course and they said (shhh....) that since I'm not going 600 mph at 30,000 MSL, automotive paint is plenty good, so I used Axalta because there's a good local distributor who's generous with advice. And yes, you have to get all the water out of the system! Your compressor is a condenser, and even a 2-gallon compressor will accumulate substantial water.

 

[wirejock]

Does HF carry the adapter. I am assuming thatbthe 3m cups make cleaning easioer and you can shoot at angles. Also is the compressor I ok. I read that when painting you need a water separator or something. Do I need this for the small jobs like just the interior.

Yes. I got my adapter there. I prefer the small cups but next size up is good for bigger jobs.
Buy a couple blue oil/water separator and a 1/4" mini regulator. Install at the gun in this order... gun, regulator, separator, quick connect air fitting. Reason is you want the air going into the gun clean and at a constant pressure. Black Widow likes 23psi. One turn out from closed on flow. Fan as you like. Air wide open.
I have a materials calculator if you want but I use Kirker paints.

 

[YME]

Yes. I got my adapter there. I prefer the small cups but next size up is good for bigger jobs.
Buy a couple blue oil/water separator and a 1/4" mini regulator. Install at the gun in this order... gun, regulator, separator, quick connect air fitting. Reason is you want the air going into the gun clean and at a constant pressure. Black Widow likes 23psi. One turn out from closed on flow. Fan as you like. Air wide open.
I have a materials calculator if you want but I use Kirker paints.

Thanks for that info, but all is for naught if my 2HP 20 gal compressor, at home, is not big enough as a poster has suggested.

 

[wirejock]

Thanks for that info, but all is for naught if my 2HP 20 gal compressor, at home, is not big enough as a poster has suggested.

It's a little smallish, but mine is a 5hp, 20gal. Borrow a gun and shoot some samples.

 

[YME]

It's a little smallish, but mine is a 5hp, 20gal. Borrow a gun and shoot some samples.

I'll try that. Thanks

 

[ymc9]

Thanks for that info, but all is for naught if my 2HP 20 gal compressor, at home, is not big enough as a poster has suggested.

I have a tiny 2gal 1hp california airtools compressor, and then bought a 10 gal air tank to use as a buffer. Got the interior paint job done.

I used an Eastwood sprayer, which is less demanding on air.

Eastwood Concours LT100 HVLP Spray Paint Gun 1.3mm

Professional Quality Painting with just 4.5 CFM

www.eastwood.com

 

[ymc9]

Btw, met a builder who just completed his RV12 and painted the entire interior with rustoleum rattle can. He said it was just fine.

 

[Tony_T]

I did my whole interior with Rust-OLeum rattle can Granite Gray on top of NAPA 7220 self-etching primer. All parts were painted before assembly lying on the work table. The rivet heads are therefor unpainted (I like the look).

No special compressors, spray guns, etc.
Painted outside when weather permitted and used good respirator as the primer is especially toxic.
After 16 years it still looks good! I wouldn't do it any differently today.

 

[YME]

I have a tiny 2gal 1hp california airtools compressor, and then bought a 10 gal air tank to use as a buffer. Got the interior paint job done.

I used an Eastwood sprayer, which is less demanding on air.

Eastwood Concours LT100 HVLP Spray Paint Gun 1.3mm

Professional Quality Painting with just 4.5 CFM

www.eastwood.com

Thanks going to look at extra tank. did not know that.

 

[YME]

Btw, met a builder who just completed his RV12 and painted the entire interior with rustoleum rattle can. He said it was just fine.

Good to know. That may narrow it down.

 

[YME]

I did my whole interior with Rust-OLeum rattle can Granite Gray on top of NAPA 7220 self-etching primer. All parts were painted before assembly lying on the work table. The rivet heads are therefor unpainted (I like the look).
View attachment 112621
No special compressors, spray guns, etc.
Painted outside when weather permitted and used good respirator as the primer is especially toxic.
After 16 years it still looks good! I wouldn't do it any differently today.

Tony_T...you may have sold me on this. Although, I am going to have to mask a-lot as I have the boat design finished but no plumbing or controls.