Here are some pics of my first primer job, I hope you guys get a good laugh...

[Nessal]

I know I totally F'ed up. When I was spraying the primer, something didn't FEEL right. When I was watching Len's video, when he sprays the tack coat, you can CLEARLY see it, but when I was spraying the tack coat, I couldn't even see where I just sprayed. I think I know where I messed up. My primer is a 2 part system; primer and activator. I didn't mix the gallon can of primer before I poured it out...so all the thin liquid on top was what I used to mix with the activator. Last night I was up all night thinking of how badly I messed up. Then it hit me, I totally forgot to mix first. So today I went to mix the primer with a paint stick and realized that on the bottom of the gallon can is a THICK layer of GUNK. I'm guessing that this gunk is suppose to be THOUROUGLY mixed with the thinner liquid on top before I mix it with the activator. So I was mixing the gallon can for half an hour and the gunk doesn't seem to be mixing with the surrounding liquid well at all. I figured I poured a lot of this top thinner material out yesterday which is preventing the gunk to mix well. Am I correct on this? If so, is my gallon can of primer useless now? Very expensive lesson to learn considering it was about a hundred dollars for the gallon can of primer.


BTW, you can see all my bodywork still because I pretty much just gave up after I saw all the runs. I didn't want to waste any more material.

http://www.vwkg.com/1.jpg

http://www.vwkg.com/2.jpg

http://www.vwkg.com/3.jpg

[Phil V]

Holy mackeral, Those ARE runs alright. Just a little advice, the next time you get runs that are serious, expecially in epoxy primer wash the panel down with lacquer thinner right away before that primer has a chance to set up. It would take about 10 minutes to wash the fresh primer of that hood or quarters but once its dry it'll take hourse to sand that back down to bare metal (which is where it needs to be).

I can't believe that epoxy primer was that thin - not only to run like that but even then you can still see right through it. Omni epoxy primer is around $25 a quart with the activator and it is an excellent primer regardless of what it costs.

Those runs look like the first full paint job I ever did (35 years ago). Since at the time I had no experience and they rightfully didn't trust me spraying expertise the turned me loose on a red dump truck with synthetic enamel ("that stuff would run like a whore to a fair," hahahahah). So, anyway my first red dump truck paint has mucho runs, the guy that owned the truck didn't care about the runs, he just wanted it all one color.

[web01]

Basicaly you mixed the resins of the unmixed primer with the activator and without any of the solids of the primer its gonna be light colored and not cover at all and want to run on you being so thin. How in the heck did you forget to mix the can of primer before mixing up the primer with the activator? Its common sense to always mix contents before using and most products I have used say so right on the can. Expensive F ck up for not MIXING BEFORE USING!

[65Comet]

I'm sure you'll never make that mistake again....a year from now you'll be able to laugh at this...

good luck

g

[Nessal]

Yeah, I know I messed up big time...so I have to buy all new primer again right since the resin is pretty much gone?

[Len]

Yeah, I know I messed up big time...so I have to buy all new primer again right since the resin is pretty much gone?

You may be able to use the remaining material. I'd mix up a little (after stirring of course :rolleyes: ) then spray a little on the surface to see how it sprays and hardens. My guess is that you may need to reduce it a slight amount more but it may work fine.

[Henry]

so big deal. Looks like too much air and a lot of material. You are lucky though; it could have been the paint. Primer will sand easy. Next time adjust your gun on a piece of cardboard or dented body panel.
The very first time I shot epoxy (helping a friend - with his gun and mix) was on a replacement door hanging from a hook. Two passes and it looked just like what you did. I upped the air and got a fan spray, etc like shooting lacquer primer of years past. This stuff just had a different character. I couldn't believe what I did; neither could he. It happens my friend. Learn from it and move on. Good luck. Henry

[Yelog60]

Get out some sandpaper and goto town, that will keep you busy for awhile! Everyone makes mistakes, dont feel bad!!

[Kent]

You can take your can of primer to a paint store and most times they will shake it for you at no cost. This will ensure that it is done right. Then once it is mixed up, I usually pour about a quart of the primer into a smaller container, like the Rubbermaid paint containers. That way it will be easier to mix when the time comes.

[mr.kenny]

Most of us have never had a run, sag, curtains, fisheye, blushing, insects, bleedthrough or dirt.:rolleyes: So we just can't help you here,... so go away.;)