Dukes Wisconsin FL 14

[Dukydo]

Thanks Shaun, I'll do my best. I've got some other irons in the fire and need to get them out of the way before I can return to work on the Mosquito. Hopefully I will have the hull painted this week and I can post some pictures. I also am building my trailer. It's always something. But then if I had all the time in the world to work on the boat it would get finished and then I'd miss working on it.

Duke

[eshell]

Duke,
I have a question re quantity of paint. I'm about to order supplies and was wondering how much primer/paint you have used or project using.

My plan was to start with an order of 1 gallon primer, 1 gallon of interior color and 1 gallon of exterior color (and a package of graphite for the bottom). Does that sound about right? I sort of guess that I could end up ordering another quart or two along the way but don't want to over supply to start.

Thanks for your help.

Ernie

[Dukydo]

Shaun, No problem, any time.

I think if you are only having one color inside and one color outside you have it figured right. You will probably have a little left over if you don't sand it all off . Better to have some left for touch-ups and repaires later than run short. The primer on the other hand I'm not sure about as I havn't started inside yet but I have about half a gallon left after doing the outside, however there is much more surface area inside than out. I like the idea of graphite on the bottom. If you have looked at my blog photos you'll see I have graphite on mine also.... you just can't see it . I wish I had left it exposed. OH-WELL. It looks good though under the paint
I really like that System 3 primer. The crosslinker for the topcoat really makes a difference in hardness of the paint after cure. It's tough. Only 8 drops to the ounce, but wow it works good.

Forgive me but if you told me your colors I have forgotten.

Duke

[eshell]

Thanks Duke. I'll go ahead with my order and get more when I need it.

Regarding the graphite, I have never used this before so have no idea how to apply, I thought the graphite mixed in with the paint was the final coat, or coats. So are you saying that if you had the bottom to do over you would do graphite coats right from the base to the final coat?

Don't worry about me sanding to much off, I want to get this thing in the water. I might just stand back and throw the paint at it, let her dry and away I go! One good boating day here and I might go to Home Depot, buy the 14.99 porch paint and get this over with! (Just kidding!!)

I'm turning over the paint color selection to my apprentice, looks like the inside will be a light color and the outside Shaw Blue.

[jeremy]

Graphite is mixed with epoxy, not paint. There's no need for paint with the graphite/epoxy mix.

[eshell]

OK, I get it now (I think). The bottom doesn't even see the paint. Just the normal epoxy layers I would put on over the bare. faired wood but with graphite mixed in.

Ernie

[Dukydo]

Yup you got it. It's really quite pretty. Very black and very shiney. It's not only good looking but its supposed to be very tough and protects the bottom. If you was to follow my thread you'd see that I had mine all covered with graphite including the skegg. But I was told I should further protect the skeg by applying another layer of ply over it and epoxy/graphite that. So I did. Then was when I decided to paint over it.


Duke

[eshell]

Any guidance on the amount of graphite to mix in with the epoxy?

[gk108]

I use around 25% by volume. If you use epoxy pumps, an old plastic 35mm film cannister is just right. 2 shots resin, 1 shot hardener and 1 film cannister of graphite. Be sure to run the graphite through a sifter to make it easier to mix.

[TomW]

You can use up to 50% graphite to epoxy, but anything over 30-35% gets harder to paint on. 50% is thick and you need the right conditions where the epoxy is warm and flowable for awhile, but cool enough that it won't setup, about 80deg with slow hardener. Also always put on thin coats no matter what mix you use you can always add. You don't want it running off by putting on thick coats.

Have fun!

Tom