How much Alumiprep and Alodyne is needed to prepare for paint?

[avatty]

I am getting ready for paint, and the local auto body shop that is helping is having me provide the materials that are outside their normal supply lines. Aircraft Spruce sells both of the above (now under the Bonderite name). There's a hefty shipping charge as these are classified as hazardous materials, so I only want to make one order. So my question is how much of each? This is all for exterior paint.

There are other threads on "how much paint do I need." People who used professional shops seem to say two gallons, those who did it themselves seem to say four. AI says two gallons of color plus two gallons of clear for an RV-14. Does anyone have any different experience they could share? If it matters, I am using Imron AF3500 for the color, without clear coat.

Thanks!

 

[avatty]

Imron AF400, not AF3500.

 

[PhatRV]

Alodine needs to be etched, alodine, and rinse completely before you apply the primer coat.

I think I used 3 gallons of epoxy primers but I was painting my RV8 in stages so there was some wastage. There was also high build primer for the fiberglass part such as the cowl and wheel pants. It comes in gallon size and it's different than the standard epoxy primer.

For paint, how many coats are you planning to paint? More coats are for durability. Less coat for weight saving. I used 3 coats of single stage paint. The more colors you have, the more extra paint you have to buy.

If you are already building an RV14, a few $1000 of paint and $500 alodine wont move the needle. I was learning to spray paint for the first time so the cost of extra paint came with the territory.

 

[wirejock]

I still have a tiny bit of both Alumiprep and Alodine from the gallon of each I purchased. I alodined the exterior before vinyl. Build something like a sluice to capture rinse. Allow it to evaporate. I took a gallon to the haz mat facility.
Paint is difficult to target. I would think two gallons would be plenty.

 

[inktomi]

I started with alodine and alumiprep - it was a pain. I switched to PreKoat and haven't looked back. I scrub the parts with a maroon scotchbrite pad soaked in PreKoat, scrub till it is fully dulled, then wash with water and let it dry. This seems to work, and my primer (Azko epoxy 2 part) has been fine.

PreKoat is far less toxic.

 

[blaplante]

Alodine ... yup I've used it. Has some nice characteristics. Not so nice is the toxic and carcinogenic properties along with what to do about the spent solution and the rinse water. If the ground water becomes polluted with the stuff... reverse osmosis is needed to block it.

I switched to an epoxy primer and never looked back.