Other Painting a ski...

[LimitedSlip7]

I'm working on prepping my ski for paint this weekend and had a few questions. I picked up 1.5 pints of Synergy Green (basecoat version) along with clear, hardener, and reducer. Will this be enough for an FX1? Right now I'm planning on just painting over a light grey primer but should I use a sealer over top of the primer? I think a white sealer might make the paint a bit brighter but it would be an additional $40...

 

[jeastes1]

I don't like sealer, you get more peel, and dirt with it. If you dont seall then you want to finish sand smoother than if you were to seal, like 500 dry by hand or 600 wetsand, after its all 320. If you decide to seal be sure to over reduce, usually twice what it calls for. Try not to sand through the primer if you dont seal, but if you do, hit those spots with rattle can etch primer, so you don't get any bulls eyes or ringing. If the paint is a 1:1 ratio that should be enough paint. You will want a uniform ground color on everything, expecially if you think you may not have enough paint, if you have any silver or white laying around, that would be a good ground coat without using sealer.

 

[Matt_E]

I had no issues with sealer, except that I should have picked white sealer instead of black

 

[Big Kahuna]

If you have a grey primer, spray the ski either light silver or white. I did not the last time I painted my superjet and the paint color was a deep red color, but with the grey primer, it gave the final appearance almost a Brown Tint.

 

[Freerider912]

What brand paint is it? 1.5 pints is cutting it close as the senergy green has a lot of pearl and isn't the best covering color. I def recommend wet sanding with 600 and putting a silver base down first. I painted my Sxr senergy green and black. I also put 2 light coats of candy green over the senergy green to add some depth to the green.

 

[swapmeet]

Put down silver flake first and reduce the green

 

[Ejake]

600 grit will still show sand scratches and with all the pearl and silver in the color the sand scratches will stick out like a sore thumb if you don't put down a sealer. If your not wanting to put a sealer down then scuff it with a gray scotch brite pad and shoot away. I wetsand with 800 to smooth out 320 scratches then i seal all my putty and primed work to avoid it from shrinking. 1.5 pints unreduced should be fine if your doing the top deck I know like standox which I spray at work is 2:1.

 

[LimitedSlip7]

Dang, you guys are making me nervous... this is only the second time I've painted a ski. I was planning on going with a white primer as the base, but you guys think a white sealer would be better?

What do you guys recommend for painting the engine bay? I'm thinking about using an epoxy primer...

 

[burton148]

After wetsanding between coats whats the best method to clean the ski before the next coat?

Im just using warm water and a couple rags and let it dry completely before the next coat. I heard use some dish detergent before but im worried about the soap residue.

 

[just joe]

I use both a primer and a sealer. The primer covers fine sand scratches and the sealer ensures a uniform color. I personally wouldn't go any finer than 600 or you may have adhesion issues unless you spray soon enough between coats for a chemical bond.

 

[Freerider912]

Agreed with no finer than 600. A grey scotch brite pad is equal to 600 grit sand paper. As far as cleaning before your next coat of color just use a tack rag. Useing any form of liquid could cause an issue when spraying if you do not completely dry it.

 

[-cowboy-]

great advice guys, i like to use prepsol or any pre paint wipe. it dries almost instantly, i use a microfiber rag

 

[LimitedSlip7]

Well I ended up sanding the primer with grey Scotchbrite pad, cleaning and tack clothing it. I laid down two coats of white base, then four coats of green base, and finished it off with four coats of clear. 1.5 pints was enough paint for both the complete top and bottom with about four ounces of reduced paint left. Took about 1.3 quarts of clear and a full pint of white. I think it turned out pretty good for my 2nd time painting a ski (1st time with gloss).

 

[Dirtybird]

^sick^

 

[Jet Ninja]

x2

damn i was wanting to paint my ski soon but you guys are talkin about so much poop i know nothing about..... i was gonna go to lowes and get some spray paint and start spraying, whats with all the coats, i always thought a paint job was:
1. sand
2. primer
3. paint
4. clear coat

is sealer like a different kind of primer type substance?

 

[lawmaster891]

The stuff I used said it was a sealer and primer

 

[lawmaster891]

I sanded the primer/sealer on my hull to 600 and the hull already has a few small chips in places. I only sanded the primed hood to 220 and it has held up much better (been dropped and slammed my helmet of it a couple times) no dings yet