1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

[Watermann]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

Ah yeah I remember the cap removal on my Chief, one of the last things I will be doing is putting it back on. For sure a milestone.

 

[Sc25175]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

Question: I etched the top side today and plan on putting on the first coat of primer tomorrow. Should I do a quick acetone wipe down prior to the first coat of primer???

This is the windows back in with deep tint.


Back rail back in:


Ready to paint:

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

Question: I etched the top side today and plan on putting on the first coat of primer tomorrow. Should I do a quick acetone wipe down prior to the first coat of primer??

Ready to paint:
View attachment 222098

The pix is after you etched it w/ acid wash & rinse to prep the aluminum before the self etching primer:

Correct? A light dusting of self etching primer on all the bare aluminum tomorrow?

 

[Sc25175]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

Yes, I etched it with the acid etch. wasn't planning on using self etching primer from a rattle can was going to use primer in a spray gun.

I don't plan etching it again, the question is, before I shoot the first coat of primer tomorrow should I wipe it down with Acetone???

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

What primer are you shooting on bare aluminum that doesn't 'need' or at least should get the SE 1st?

I would wipe it down before shooting it

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

Yeah SE primer, aluminum primer and some guys even use bare metal primer. I really don't believe regular primer will hold on bare aluminum even it had been "etched" with something previously. I believe that etching substance has a window to shoot the paint on but with it mixed into the primer there isn't a problem.

My ritual is -

Wipe down the surface with actetone is areas where there may be some grease or oil.
Wipe down surface with vinegar cleaner.
After wipe down has dried, tape off and then wipe surface with tack cloth.
Shoot SE primer.
Shoot top coat of primer when SE is dry to the touch.
Allow primer to dry and where/if primer needs sanded hit it with 220 lightly.
Wipe down with tack cloth and shoot light base coat of paint.
Follow directions for your paint manufacturer for time until 2nd coat.

I haven't needed more than 2 coats so far using alkyd paint. Just don't get carried away and put down too much paint on the base coat or it will take a long time to cure with the 2nd on top of it, just cover good without thick or weak spots.

Hope that helps.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

My recommendation to wipe down again w/ acetone would hopefully help w/
1)anything that settles on the boat's surfaces in the 12+/-hrs between acid etch & spraying primer (rather then tack cloth which would do it too)
2)possibly help w/ any aluminum that might have started to oxidize, however slightly, since the etch.

 

[Sc25175]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

Broke down and bought 5 rattle cans of self etching primer for the first coat followed up by Tractor Supply implement primer. Looks pretty good for the first real coat. will follow up with one more coat of primer then three coats of white with hardener. May have the top sides done by next weekend. Starting to get motivated!

 

[Sc25175]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

Meant to attache more pics





Back end corners turned out pretty good.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

Looks great! Nice work!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

Paint going on tin! That's a major milestone.

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

Yeah man, that's great! Can't wait for the paint stage now after seeing all this drying paint.

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

Wow, that is a great looking paint job!

 

[barato2]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

add me to the list of admirers. looking great so far. ya know, i'm noticing that the folks who have boats to work on and an inside space to do it don't seem to be as bothered by this polar vortex and snow day action.....remind the admiral that it's cheaper than psychotherapy and keeps ya out of the bars and poolhalls....

 

[Sc25175]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

Thanks for the compliments but to be honest I wouldn't have taken this on without following Jas' thread for a couple of years.

I now have the first coat of white on. I am struggling with either a little orange peel on one hand and runs when I get it too heavy. I am pretty happy with coat one but will have to do some serious wet/dry sanding before coat number two.

If anybody has any hints on getting a smooth finish I'm all ears ;-**

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

A few questions about your paint and conditions. What paint are you using? Reducer? Temp inside? Catalyst hardener? Spray gun type and set up procedure?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

Thanks for the compliments but to be honest I wouldn't have taken this on without following Jas' thread for a couple of years.

And yet, even after reading through that odyssey of the mind, Steve still decided to forge on with a metal boat project

I'm happy that you can put this boat bact together in spite of me man!:thumb:

Tell ya what, painting is a tricky biz. A fine art really. Too much material, not enough, too hot, too cold, runs, orange peel, correct primer, thorough prep....

Lotta pitfalls along the way to be sure. I think I seem to average a really nice looking paint job over about 80% of the surface. The other 20%, :facepalm:

 

[Sc25175]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

My paint setup is as follows:

1.4mm tip
Tractor supply implement paint. enamel and I am using there reducer and hardner
Roughly 65 degrees in the shop

after watching a lot of Youtube videos I think the temp and the viscosity of the paint may be part of the issue. For the next coat I will bump up the temp in the shop by a couple of degrees and I think I will use a little more reducer and see what that does for me.

Finally - It sure is great living up north ;-)

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

65 to 75 degrees seems to be the sweet spot. Don't worry about trying to make the first coat look great, it needs to cover good and just try to limit the amount of running. On my first coat, I move fairly quickly and then start over again at the beginning after reaching the end as the paint starts to tack up, hitting it with another light coat made my first coat lay down nicely.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1972 Chieftain MKIV 25 footer ver 2

The only time I have trouble with orange peel is when painting a dark color outside in the sun. I agree with what Waterman has said, but also check the pressure to the gun. I've got a water separator on my compressor with a regulator. That regulator is set at about 45 to 50 psi connected to about 75' of 3/8" hose. When the gun trigger is pulled that 45 to 50 becomes about 35 psi. The gun is regulated down but I'm not sure what that psi is.... it's just a feel thing for me.

Orange peel is usually a fluid adjust... you're going to want to bump up that knob just a little bit so you're painting wet enough.

If I'm getting runs, I usually bump the air pressure up a little bit.