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 What
kind of primer should I use on steel surfaces?
>Use
only epoxy primers. The
cements and dopes you will be using with the covering process do not
affect these two-part primers.
What
if zinc chromate is already on the surface?
>Usually
you can simply spray epoxy primer over any existing one-part
material without any problem. It
will then have the proper protection.
How
should I clean the surface prior to applying the epoxy primer?
>You must remove all old fabric, cement, rust, etc. from the
surface prior to applying the primer.
An effective method of doing this is to bead blast the area. Care must be taken, however, not to use too much pressure
that could damage the tubing.
How
soon after bead blasting should I apply the primer?
>Immediately
upon completion of the blasting.
If steel parts remain in open air without protection they
will begin to rust within just a couple of hours.
You should have the primer and spray gun ready before you
begin the blasting operation.
Should
I wipe the surface down with any chemical prior to applying the
primer?
>Yes, wipe all bare areas down using Poly-Fiber's C-2200 Metal
Surface Cleaner. This
will remove all oil, grease, and any contaminants that will
adversely affect the primer. Wipe dry using a clean rag-not a shop rag that may contain
chemicals.
How
do I mix epoxy primer?
>Mix our epoxy primer as follows:
Add exactly 1 part of the EP 430 catalyst to 2 parts of the
EP-420 base chemical. Stir
thoroughly and allow to sit 30 minutes prior to application.
This allows time for the needed chemical reaction to take
place.
What
about thinning the primer?
>We recommend thinning for spray gun application.
Use only E-500 epoxy reducer and add about 50% by volume to
the primer.
Can
I brush the primer on?
>Yes, but it may not have a pleasing appearance.
Spraying is recommended.
How
many coats should I spray on?
>Spray a light "tack" coat on 1st and allow it to dry
for a few minutes. Then
apply 1 full coat. Allow
to dry about 10-15 minutes and then apply another coat.
On steel tubing it is advisable to spray on an additional
coat simply because it is difficult to completely cover a steel tube
structure. In other
words, it is easy to miss areas.
After
mixing, how long do I have to spray the primer before it begins to
cure?
>This time is known as the "pot-life" of a paint. The pot life of catalyzed primer is about 7 hours.
Once the thickening occurs, you should discard the remaining
primer.
How
long before the primer dries?
>It will dry to the touch in about 1 hour.
Full cure to develop resistance to solvents will take about 7
days.
How
much coverage will I get with 1 gallon of primer?
>A 1 gallon kit will actually produce approximately 2 gallons of
primer. This will cover
about 1000 square feet.
What
do I use to clean my spray gun?
>Use E-500 reducer to clean the gun.
Are
there any health hazards involved in spraying epoxies?
>Care must be taken when handling epoxies.
You should protect your hands and avoid all skin contact. Use a charcoal-filtered respirator when spraying.
How
long can I store the primer?
>On
the shelf, unopened, it will last about 4 years from the date of
manufacture.
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