SECTION 3-PCD

Overview:

These directions are provided to assist you with the proper application of your primer coats. Following these directions will yield excellent results. If presented with an unanticipated problem during primer application and sanding, obtain advice from your jobber or those with a greater level of expertise. Do not take shortcuts!  Your primer coat application is the foundation for your basecoat and additional topcoats. A well-prepared primer foundation is essential for successful custom painting projects.

All recommendations are based on minimum shop temperatures of 70º F.  Re-coat times can be dramatically affected by temperature. Lower temperatures will create longer cure and dry times. Higher temperatures will shorten cure and dry times.

Basecoat colour will determine which of our primer colours you will be using. The entire object must be primed with one uniform primer colour.  Our Epoxee Primers do not require the application of a sealer prior to Basecoat applications. Our Epoxee Primers will save you time and money.

Considerations:

The colour selection of your primer will usually depend on the predominant colour of your basecoat. The following are considerations and are not a rule because of the unlimited variables in Basecoat colour selection. Your jobber can assist you in making the correct primer colour selection.   

Sparklin’ Metallic Basecoat colour series pre-fix number 08, Sparklee Silver Metallic Basecoat product number 08-100, our lighter coloured Pearl Basecoats, colour series pre-fix numbers 76, 77, 79, or any of our lighter Solid Coloured Basecoats5 use X-otic Colours White Epoxee Primer, product number 01-100. When a dark colour selection has been made in one of the above categories, you may wish to select our Black Epoxee Primer, product number 01-200. This will provide faster basecoat coverage. Some custom painters select our Black Epoxee Primer or our tintable Epoxee Primer with Pearl Basecoats to achieve different effects.

If you have selected one of our Mirage Pearl Basecoats, product pre-fix number 14, or one of our Mirage Imagin’ Basecoats, product pre-fix number 20, Pearl Imagin’ Basecoat product pre-fix number 21, or a very dark or Black Basecoat, you will need our Black Epoxee Primer, product number 01-200.

Tintable Primer product number 01-300 may be used for faster Basecoat coverage and to more closely resemble Basecoat colour. In the event of a rock chip or scratch, the damage will be less obvious using a Tintable Primer.  Your jobber will provide a tinted primer in the same colour family as your Basecoat.

Preparation:

Important Safety Note: Wear correct safety equipment: respirator, goggles, gloves, painters suit, and a properly fitted NIOSH approved respirator.

1. The surface to be primed should have been prepared according to the specifications as outlined in the Project Preparation Directions, Section 2-PPD.

2. If the surface to be primed has become re-contaminated by dust, dirt, fingerprints, etc., solvent wash with X-otic Colours Epoxee Reducer product number 54-100. Dry, using clean lint free absorbents.

3. Allocate a sufficient block of time to apply all necessary primer coats.

4. To prevent body oil transfer from hands, wear lint free gloves whenever possible. Do not touch objects to be painted with bare hands or skin.

Mixing:

X-otic Colours Epoxee Primers are based on a two-component system.  Shake and stir each component separately and aggressively before combining. By volume, measure one part Epoxee Primer (Part A) and combine with one measured part Epoxee Primer Catalyst (Part B). In other words, combine at a 1-to-1 ratio by volume. 

Then, stir or shake this mixture aggressively. Problems with two part primers are almost always attributed to improper mixing, improper mixing ratios, or lack of aggressive shaking and stirring. This mixture requires no induction time. Always measure!

For maximum film build and filling do not reduce. If reduction is necessary, reduce 10% with Epoxee Reducer, product number 54-100.

Filter:

Strain the primer mixture into gun cup using a fine mesh cone strainer.

Test Spray:

Test spray on a scrap item to adjust air pressure, fan, and paint flow to suit the spray equipment being used. You will need a wide fan along with a flow that will wet the surface. Maintain a gun distance of approximately 6 inches. 

A mock simulation of the primer coat application is a good idea.  The simulation of any application sequence in your custom painting project will yield better results. 

We suggest you save this scrap item for additional test spraying of Basecoat and all topcoat applications. This panel should also be used as an indicator of potential bleeding of Basecoats or Candee Mid-Coats when artistic application coats are planned. This issue is addressed in detail in Product Application Directions, Sections 4-BCJD and 5-PBJD.

Application Directions:

Beginning with your first primer coat application and all successive primer coats, perfect your spraying overlap pattern of 50%. Keep the gun a consistent distance from the object — approximately 6 inches. Keep the gun parallel to the surface of the object. 

Pay close attention to contours and areas where primer may accumulate or run. Paying attention to these potential problem areas, at this time, will provide you with important information that will assist you in better application of your Basecoats and topcoats when they are applied. 

Do not section off large objects, stopping and starting the gun. Keep the trigger pulled and walk the distance of the object to maintain uniform film thickness. Starting and stopping the gun typically means there will be variations in coverage. Now is the time to perfect application techniques.  When you move to later applications you will have better results — especially with Candee Mid-Coat applications where uniform coverage is essential. 

Apply two wet coats over all repair areas. Then, apply 3 to 4 wet coats over the entire object. Each coat in the last area sprayed should have “flashed off” all solvent and appear dull before applying your nextcoat.  Monitor each coat closely.  When applying wet heavy build coats, allow a minimum “flash off” time of 30 minutes. Maximum re-coat window is one hour. Less time will be needed on lighter coats. We do not recommend application in temperatures below 68°F. 

Note: When spraying over a properly prepared O.E.M. finish, apply one light bond coat (tack coat), followed by one or two medium wet coats. Allow all solvent to “flash off” between coats.

Important Reminder:  You will be putting on multiple coats of primer with a maximum re-coat window between coats of sixty minutes at 68° F.  Be certain you have allocated sufficient time to apply all primer coats. To maintain maximum merging of coats, all coats must take place within the specified re-coat windows. Never apply this product wet-on-wet.

Curing:

Minimum cure time: 15 hours at 70ºF. We recommend 24 hours at 70ºF for easiest sanding. X-otic Colours Epoxee Primers may be force cured at 140°F for 45 minutes.

Sanding Guide Coat:

The sanding guide coat may be applied before or after curing. The sanding guide coat is a spray application of a contrasting lacquer primer colour. Your jobber will furnish this product. It is sprayed as a dusting coat that will lightly cover the primer surface. As you begin sanding, the guide coat will reveal any deep sand scratches, low spots, and other imperfections in the primer coat. The guide coat will help minimize the amount of primer removed by sanding and shorten the time required to sand.

Note: The guide coat must be completely removed before topcoat applications.

Sanding:

We recommend wet sanding with 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper. Or, sand with 240 to 400 grit dry. Use a small amount of non-filming dishwashing liquid added to your water. This will minimize transfer of body oils during sanding.  Wet sanding will also help keep sandpaper from loading and the sandpaper will better conform to the contours of the object. 

Use your sanding guide coat to reveal areas where additional spot applications of primer may be necessary. Sanding may also reveal pinholes, low spots, and deep sand scratches over repair areas. If these flaws cannot be removed without exposing body filler — sand these areas using 80 grit dry sandpaper. Apply additional filler or glazing. Use only fillers or glazes that require a hardener. Let fillers cure, sand, clean, and then apply two to four coats of additional primer to the repaired area. 

To prevent body filler bleed through or staining, repaired areas must have a minimum of 2 mils of primer remaining after final sanding. Each wet coat of primer will cure down to slightly less than 1 mil. 

Never final sand with finer than 400 grit or adhesion of Basecoat will be impaired. 

Keep hands off object while sanding. As sanding progresses, oil from hands could be sanded into the primer causing inevitable problems. Wear lint free gloves.

Cleaning:

Wash the entire object with soapy warm water. Use a dishwashing liquid that leaves no residue or film. Complete a thorough rinsing. Blow off excess water, towel dry with lint and contamination free absorbents. Do not touch object with bare hands!  Doing so will contaminate the surface of the object and a re-cleaning will be required. Wear lint free gloves. 

If the object is thoroughly dry, apply Basecoats as soon as possible to avoid re-contamination.

Next Application Sequence:

You are now ready for Basecoat applications. Refer to Product Application Directions, Section 4-BCJD and 5-PBJD before you begin application.  Remember:  the entire object must be primed one uniform colour.