• Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!

  • Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.

Curing time for Gillespie paint (Rapco)

M35A2-AZ

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
3,220
390
83
Location
Tonopah, AZ
I found some old threads on this, but I was wondering if people are having the same problem still?
I painted my dash and other things in the cab with Gillespie paint (rapco) and I have notice it is not getting very hard. I used 1 cost primer and two coats color and it has been about four days now and it is still a little soft.
Will it harden up in time?
Thanks!
 

ryan77

Well-known member
2,584
56
48
Location
Cary IL
Thats why i like the sherwin williams carc, a 5 year old can use it and it cures fast!!!!
 

m16ty

Moderator
Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
9,579
217
63
Location
Dickson,TN
If you don't have an oven big enough to get the deuce in, enamel (which is what I understand Gillespie is) can take a long time to cure.
 

M35A2-AZ

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
3,220
390
83
Location
Tonopah, AZ
Thanks guys, Maybe the AZ heat will be like an oven.[thumbzup]
May have to use carc on the out side.
 

Castle Bravo

Hundredaire Socialite
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,964
215
63
Location
Arizona
I have just been using the rattle cans for inside the cab.
I just did this myself about 3 weeks ago and it dried to the touch in about 30 minutes and was dry enough to use within a few days. I imagine, if anything, it should be faster now that its starting to warm up. When I painted the outside of the truck in September, it took about 3 weeks for the shine to go away.
 

waayfast

Active member
814
106
43
Location
Lake Fork,Idaho
I painted the cab/clip of the truck in my avatar with Gillispie.Thinned with Xylene.No hardener.Fairly cool temp-(even in summer its not "hot" here.)Used PPG DP40/401 Epoxy Primer reduced for a sealer.Was pleasantly surprised as to how quick the Gillispie dried/cured and the long term durability.

I hadn't used Alkyd Enamel paint (coal tar:twisted:)on anything for years.I had graduated to the $350.00 gal. acrylic urethane stuff years ago.I must say for the price, for these machines it works quite well enough.

The only thing I can think of that may have caused your slow dry problem is maybe the type primer you used?

Jim
 

Beerslayer

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,054
55
48
Location
Tualatin, Oregon
Thats why i like the sherwin williams carc, a 5 year old can use it and it cures fast!!!!
I would like to use Sherwin Williams paint. The only color formula numbers I can find here are for CARC. Our Sherwin Williams rep says it is restricted and they can't sell it to the general public.

I took it all the way to the regional sales manager. It is a product they are familiar with as Freightliner builds a lot of trucks here for the military.

Where are you buying CARC?

Does anyone have the Sherwin Williams paint codes for 383 green that is not CARC?

Thanks!
 

kennys@wi.rr.com

Active member
1,472
23
38
Location
Waukesha, WI
So let's get down to brass tacs here. I've been told it's a good idea to use hardner in the Gillispe paint, however, doing so will make it a bit more "glossy". That would take care of the soft paint issue though. CARC is "original" depending on the period you wish to represent and it can be painted by just about anyone. The problem ,for most, with CARC is the cost and it will "dull" quicker than the Gillispe. The problem with the Gillispe is it can be hard to shoot, for some, is soft for a while and may be seen as glossy. I am prepping my truck for paint this spring and I have been trying to decide what to use, one day I'm ready to order from Rapco, the next I'm calling Sherwin to make sure they have CARC in stock. I've finally decided this is the same argument people had over Miller Lite in the 80's, one side will swear by the great taste of CARC and the other the less filling, of Rapco's pockets, the Gillispe is. Has anyone on here had real experience with both? I mean more than just trailer done with each, but rather a few trucks done in each.
 

m16ty

Moderator
Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
9,579
217
63
Location
Dickson,TN
I haven't had any experience with CARC other than trying to remove it (which is enough to make me not want to use it). I have used Gillespie quite a bit and really like it. Unless you're one of those people that want everything "correct" down to the paint, I see no reason to go with CARC.
 

Castle Bravo

Hundredaire Socialite
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,964
215
63
Location
Arizona
Here is my take on CARC vs Gillespie - I had access to both and ultimately decided on the Rapco Gillespie for the reason that I could get matching rattle cans to do touch ups in the future. If you mix the Gillespie as Rapco says to do, 4:1 Paint to Xylene, it matches what is in their rattle cans. I'm not sure if I would paint a truck with rattle cans, but I did paint the inside of my cab and will continue to do touch ups and additions when I don't feel like setting up the paint gun.

Its not exactly like CARC, it is a bit shinier, especially at first. Its not as rough as CARC either, but that may have more to do with the distance at which you apply the paint, I think. I suspect very few, if any, people would "call you out" on it and if they did, screw em, its your truck.
 

Attachments

Tinwoodsman

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
3,923
76
48
Location
Comfort, Texas
I do the same as Jimma. I thin 20% Xylene and it drys to thoroughly within 24 to 72 hours depending upon temp and humidity. Can overstate the matching capability and convenience of their rattle cans.
 

M35A2-AZ

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
3,220
390
83
Location
Tonopah, AZ
Here is my take on CARC vs Gillespie - I had access to both and ultimately decided on the Rapco Gillespie for the reason that I could get matching rattle cans to do touch ups in the future. If you mix the Gillespie as Rapco says to do, 4:1 Paint to Xylene, it matches what is in their rattle cans. I'm not sure if I would paint a truck with rattle cans, but I did paint the inside of my cab and will continue to do touch ups and additions when I don't feel like setting up the paint gun.

Its not exactly like CARC, it is a bit shinier, especially at first. Its not as rough as CARC either, but that may have more to do with the distance at which you apply the paint, I think. I suspect very few, if any, people would "call you out" on it and if they did, screw em, its your truck.
That is my think also to paint the inside with the cans and paint the outside with a spray gun. Like the matching rattle can idea!!

I put some parts out the the AZ sun today that I painted days ago and they harden right up.
I did a IR temp on them and they were 155 degrees.
 
Top