gtae07
Well-known member
Since painters and paint shops don't want to answer the phone these days, I've pretty much resigned myself to painting my airplane at home. What I'm trying to figure out now is what paint to use.
Most common for this application is single- or two-stage automotive urethane. Common wisdom says this is reasonably easy to apply and very durable when finished, but it's really nasty stuff and on top of all the PPE and supplied air system I'd be worried about it bothering neighbors (I live on .20 acres in a subdivision). I can get the PPE but I don't know if shooting it in a temporary garage in my back yard is really a bright idea.
Another option I considered is polysiloxane industrial paint (e.g. PSX 700). Apparently it is awesome stuff used on rocket launchpads and naval vessels, has somewhat fewer toxicity concerns, is nigh indestructible, can apply directly to metal, and is easily touched up. Problem is, it's reportedly a little more difficult to spray and (at least right now) it's almost as expensive and hard to find as unicorn snot ($400/gal or so, if it's in stock at all). I'd also be limited to white, or battleship gray.
Option 3 is a waterborne system (also with fewer health concerns) that is in between the two cost-wise, but is much more sensitive to temperature and humidity.
Any thoughts from those with more painting experience (cars, boats, airplanes, etc)? I'm not worried about a show-quality finish--a 20ft paint job is perfectly fine.
Most common for this application is single- or two-stage automotive urethane. Common wisdom says this is reasonably easy to apply and very durable when finished, but it's really nasty stuff and on top of all the PPE and supplied air system I'd be worried about it bothering neighbors (I live on .20 acres in a subdivision). I can get the PPE but I don't know if shooting it in a temporary garage in my back yard is really a bright idea.
Another option I considered is polysiloxane industrial paint (e.g. PSX 700). Apparently it is awesome stuff used on rocket launchpads and naval vessels, has somewhat fewer toxicity concerns, is nigh indestructible, can apply directly to metal, and is easily touched up. Problem is, it's reportedly a little more difficult to spray and (at least right now) it's almost as expensive and hard to find as unicorn snot ($400/gal or so, if it's in stock at all). I'd also be limited to white, or battleship gray.
Option 3 is a waterborne system (also with fewer health concerns) that is in between the two cost-wise, but is much more sensitive to temperature and humidity.
Any thoughts from those with more painting experience (cars, boats, airplanes, etc)? I'm not worried about a show-quality finish--a 20ft paint job is perfectly fine.