F18hornetM
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We have just about finished painting the 5 ton and I have learned a couple things.
First thing: We used Rapco 383 substitute with paint gun and that worked very well. On the M35 we used spray cans for brown and black since much smaller areas to paint. But when you use a spray can on a large flat area its very hard to cover evenly, especially the flat black. Also a spray can never applies paint in as nice a coat as a spray gun. So this time we tried something different. I bought a quart of rustoleum oil based enamel flat black and thinned it at the same rate as the rapco paint. 4 parts paint to one part thinner. It worked awesome. Much better coating and only used almost a quart to paint all the black, 2 coats.
Second thing: We used a gravity feed paint gun which works well, except cleaning is a pain. Washing in thinner and all took alot of time. This time I used brake kleen. Took one can of brake kleen to completely clean gun. Wiped out excess paint from cup and just washed out with brake kleen. removes paint much quicket than thinner does and with no scrubbing. Removed cup and sprayed through gun, then removed needle and just rinsed off. Probably reduces cleaning time by half. Used on the rapco paint as well as the rustoleum with equal results. Now I dont mind using the paint gun as much since clean up is easier. Also the cost is much better. A Qt of black is only $9, vs many,many spray cans at $4-$6 each
Maybe somebody has posted all this on here berfore, but if not, might help someone else.
First thing: We used Rapco 383 substitute with paint gun and that worked very well. On the M35 we used spray cans for brown and black since much smaller areas to paint. But when you use a spray can on a large flat area its very hard to cover evenly, especially the flat black. Also a spray can never applies paint in as nice a coat as a spray gun. So this time we tried something different. I bought a quart of rustoleum oil based enamel flat black and thinned it at the same rate as the rapco paint. 4 parts paint to one part thinner. It worked awesome. Much better coating and only used almost a quart to paint all the black, 2 coats.
Second thing: We used a gravity feed paint gun which works well, except cleaning is a pain. Washing in thinner and all took alot of time. This time I used brake kleen. Took one can of brake kleen to completely clean gun. Wiped out excess paint from cup and just washed out with brake kleen. removes paint much quicket than thinner does and with no scrubbing. Removed cup and sprayed through gun, then removed needle and just rinsed off. Probably reduces cleaning time by half. Used on the rapco paint as well as the rustoleum with equal results. Now I dont mind using the paint gun as much since clean up is easier. Also the cost is much better. A Qt of black is only $9, vs many,many spray cans at $4-$6 each
Maybe somebody has posted all this on here berfore, but if not, might help someone else.
