catboater

My Feedback: (51)

I'm recovering my Hempel L-4 with Olive drab Solartex and now it's time to repaint the cowl and struts to match.
Got the paint at Home Depot and surprisingly, it's damn near an exact match.
Will be using a Husky detail sprayer.
I'd like to hear your experiences and recommendations, if any. Do you thin with water or windshield fluid or, Do you even need to thin it?

RDJeff

My Feedback: (11)

I'm no expert at it, but have done it a few times, with fair results. I used 15% windshield washer fluid to thin it, with a little bit of Floetrol to get it to lay down. I used 25-30# of air in a HVLP gun. I found that my best results came if I took the gun apart after every coat and flushed it all clean with water. That prevented any clogging or spattering. Just be patient and use a lot of thin coats. I liked it enough that I refinished all of our kitchen cabinets with sprayed latex, that saved a lot of work with all the raised panels and details, I was able to just spray over everything.

scale only 4 me

My Feedback: (158)

I tried all the thinning tricks with mixed results,,, found for me the best is straight water and very thin mist coats building it up slowly,,

For small jobs like a cowl and struts I'd us an airbrush,, that would be much easier to clean up and control how much paint is going on

good luck

Ralph White

Scale only 4 me and RDJeff, When you use house paints from MeNard's or Home Depot which paint do you use (for warbirds). Flat, Satin, Semi-gloss, Egg-Shell, or Gloss? Also are all of these choices fuel proof to gas? I'm wanting a flat finish when done.
Thank you, Ralph

RDJeff

My Feedback: (11)

I use Behr exterior latex in a semi-gloss. They will mix any color you need. It's supposed to be fuel proof to gasoline, but you may want to clear coat it to prevent soot stains, etc.

scale only 4 me

My Feedback: (158)

I prefer to use Behr Flat, but have used other brands with good results too. After graphics and weathering I seal with systems three water based poly clear Satin for warbirds,, I use the cross linker too just for added protection

Ralph White

Thanks for the replies. May give it a try. How about a picture?
Ralph