How much paint do I need?

[Dennischaves]

Im going to paint my 19' trihull this weekend with Rustoleum following WOG's formula with hardner
How much paint would be a safe amount to have on hand?
At the moment i have 5qts
Im painting the hull and cap with 2 coats of white
Im going to be spraying it with my hvlp

 

[zool]

You're going to want to reduce it with mineral spirits or the like, plus the hardener, so you will most likely end up with 6+ qts ready to spray...you should be fine with that amount if you control the volume at the gun...doesnt hurt to have a few xtra qts as a backup, since rusto is relatively inexpensive, but you can always run a grab more in a pinch, since the recoat window isnt all that narrow with Alkyds....

 

[chevymaher]

Needle tip in the gun size is .013-.017. Recommended pressure 40 lbs experiment with that on scrap to find what you and your gun like. You adjust the gun with the pressure and there is a knob for paint flow. I adjust with just the reducer/thinner in it. Depending on the type of paint I am using. When it goes on in a shiny coat without running it be fine once there is paint.

Slow steady strokes. Let off the spray button at the end of the stroke as your moving. And press the button as you are already moving. Button on gun is 2 stages air and paint. Doing this cuts off the paint but not air gives a smooth transition and blend.

I usually warm up on something. My kid has all kinds of cool electric cars and bikes I painted when I do things. Just something with 2 square foot or so. Gets your technique dialed in so it is not to dry or making runs. Enamel is very forgiving tho and it will flow in if it is a little dry as it hardens. If it is a little dry looking after the second coat. Spray almost straight reducer on it and it will help flow out the paint.

Paint on a day when the humidity is as low as you can get. Preferable a day after it has rained. This keeps dust down and out of the paint. And no wind on the day you do it. Do not wash it for a month after painting to let the paint cure. Spray with a hose and water only.

Get automotive enamel reducer a gallon. Mix ratio is 8-4-1. 8 parts paint 4 parts reducer and one part hardener.

One gallon should cover 400 square foot. So measure and do your math.

Have fun and good luck.

 

[Dennischaves]

Im just not sure how well rustoleum white covers that was my main concern
As far as painting it goes thats the easy part I do auto body for a living for 20 years now
Im going to use my iwata lph-400
Its my clearcoat gun with a 1.4 tip
I spray some very high solids clear through it
40psi is waayyyy to much pressure
20-25 psi is good for a hvlp

 

[Woodonglass]

You'll find that the White covers quite well. I like to use a 50/50 mix of Acetone and Mineral spirits and reduce about 20%. You know how to paint sooo you're good to go. Using the hardener means you must use all the mixed paint within 8 hours of mixing it. I shot early in the morning and Late in the evening. I put on 4 coats over 2 days and it got a HIGH Gloss finish. My hull is 15 ft and I used 2 1/2 qts for the 4 coats.

 

[Dennischaves]

Thanks WOG
Im using a mix of 5qts of white and 1qt of almond to get a slightly off white color
So 6 quarts total should be plenty

 

[Woodonglass]

Oh Yeah PLENTY!!!