Orange Peel

[jyoukhanna017]

Hi, I just primered the quarter panel on my Jeep and i got more orange peel than ive ever seen in my life. I was just wondering what gun adjustments I can change to prevent this for my fender and bumper? There is an Air Adjusting Valve, Spray Regulator Knob, and Fluid Control Knob. By the way it is a $30 Harbor Freight HVLP gun. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[OctaneMotorsports]

I believe orange peel is caused by moisture in the air supply (although I could be wrong...)

Do you have an in-line water filter on your compressor?

 

[jyoukhanna017]

Yes, but the humidty last night was like 115%.

 

[wrenchr]

Or you are to far away from the surface and the primer is dry before it hits the surface.

 

[Treeman]

There could be numerous problems. Shooting paint is like welding.....part knowledge, part experience, and part seat of the pants "art".

Correct pressure....at the tip, not just the handle.

Paint reducer matched to weather conditions.

Here is a good primer (pun intended) from Sherwin Williams:

http://www.sherwin-automotive.com/reference/troubleshooting_guide/orange_peel/index.cfm



Oh, my welding and paint skills are amateur, at best!

 

[Stanger]

Start by reducing the air pressure at the cap. Make sure your tip size and amount of reducer is correct for the primer. Specs should be on the can. It should also specify what the pressure should be at the aircap as well as the inlet to the gun. Do you have a gauge at the gun inlet?

 

[eschoendorff]

Seiously, I would wait until you have better weather... or until you can get yourself into a paint booth. Even if your air is completely dry, teh humidity out there is gonna kill your paint job.

 

[Stanger]

Humidity has no effect on urethanes.

 

[Lightning]

You will almost always have some orange peel unless you are painting a surface that is perfectly flat. I would not worry about it as long as the adhesion is strong and it is fully cured. Sand the primer with 400 grit paper to remove the orange peel. If you have orange peel after the color coat you can remove it by color sanding.

 

[kblazer87]

By the way it is a $30 Harbor Freight HVLP gun.

If the question is Harbor Freight, the answer is no.

 

[billymade]

"how to" color sand page
http://www.automedia.com/Color-Sanding_and_Buffing/res20030601cs/1
cool video about color sanding
http://www.hotrod.com/multimedia/hot_rod_videos/6202968/color-sanding-basics-video/index.html
article that goes with the video
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/body/hrdp_0805_color_sanding/index.html
orange peel problems/solutions
http://www.furniturefinishwizard.com/orangepeel.htm

 

[chad s]

What paint system? Did you use any reducer?

Here is my setup process:Use the paint gun's recommended PSI, set with the trigger fully open. Open the fan knob the desired amount, then open the fluid control about 3 turns. Using a piece of making paper taped to the wall, pull the trigger in and quickly release. Adjust the fluid control knob until the quick press and release of the trigger creates a full "cigar" shaped mark on the masking paper. It should be just enough to cover, but not enough to run.

Also make sure you use the recommended reducer for the temp you are working in.

Spray with 50% overlapping passes, 8-10 inches away.

This is primer, its going to be blocked out anyway, so a little orange peel isnt a problem, but dry spray IS a problem.

 

[JayL]

Somebody posted this here a while back. www.autobodystore.com . I found their painting and bodyworks forum to be active. Try them maybe they can help you too like they did when I sourced out my painting tools.

 

[nissan_crawler]

If the question is Harbor Freight, the answer is no.

If the question is ignorance, the answer is yes. I'm pretty sure he didn't ask for your opinion or Harbor Freight. By the way, I've seen multi-million dollar business jets done with a HF gun. Believe me, if the paint was flawed, the owners would have pointed it out.

 

[MarkH]

The question was is it one of the 30 dollar HF guns that are frequently on sale for less. I have seen issues again with those. Flames can start. If we are using one from HF it is the top end of the HF line. The few dollars difference seem to help reduce a number of problems. No it is not as nice as other guns that cause less frustration, but the 60 to 80 dollar ones to limit frustration over the 30 dollar one. 80 is less than 400 dollars for an item we do not use daily and fits into the HF rule we use, will it hurt me or anything else if it breaks.

Still the temperature, humidity and mix will effect any gun and paint including primer. I would look for a way to wait for better weather or find a place that is conditioned.

On painting the jets just like anything is getting it right where it will be seen.

 

[wrenchr]

For primer you can just about use any gun, you are going to block it out any ways, just as long as is it is not dry before it hits the surface.

 

[jyoukhanna017]

Yeah, I think I was too far away from the quarter panel when I shot it so the primer was pretty much dried before it even hit the surface. I have to shoot it again today or tomorrow and find out what the result is. I really have to tune the gun too, I didn't know it made such a big deal as I was practicing with water on my fence

 

[chad s]

I was practicing with water on my fence

BAD idea! Dont put water in a paint gun which you plan to use for automotive paint products! I have heard of people using a gun a week after running water through it, and it ruining a paint job. If you choose to run something through it, use lacquer thinner.

 

[wrenchr]

Yeah, I think I was too far away from the quarter panel when I shot it so the primer was pretty much dried before it even hit the surface. I have to shoot it again today or tomorrow and find out what the result is. I really have to tune the gun too, I didn't know it made such a big deal as I was practicing with water on my fence

From your first post I could tell you were to far away, and like Chad said water in the gun is not a great idea. I would use thinner or why not primer??
Worst case you have to strip the primer off.

 

[jyoukhanna017]

I also had a question about the different types of primers and reducers/hardeners. What is the name/difference for a primer/paint that uses hardner vs. a primer/paint that uses a reducer? Thanks

 

[Senorpablo]

I also had a question about the different types of primers and reducers/hardeners. What is the name/difference for a primer/paint that uses hardner vs. a primer/paint that uses a reducer? Thanks

Most any car paint is going to use a reducer. Reducer is the "thinner," and it comes in different "speeds" which you use depending on the temperature to determine how fast it evaporates. When the reducer evaporates too fast, the paint hasn't had a chance to "flow out," and you're left with orange peel. Too slow, and the paint flows too much causing runs. People won't buy a car with runs, so people err on the safe side, which is orange peel.

Most quality car paints also use a hardener which starts the chemical reaction to cure the paint, in the same way two-part epxoys work. Enamels and other low end paints cure as they dry, and aren't nearly as durable.

High end car paints are mixed to a very specific ratio, for example 5:1:1 paint:hardener:reducer.

Also, there are two-stage and single-stage paints. Two stage paint doesn't dry glossy, and require a clear coat over top. Single stage paints dry glossy.