Improving orange-peel paint finish?

[MBY]

I've been teaching myself to spray paint on the bottom of my Salcombe Yawl. The results have been largely very successful, but my final coat on the topsides has quite a pronounced "orange-peel" effect, no-doubt due to my inexperience!
It is a 2 pack paint system and I was wondering if anyone has advice on how to get a better gloss on the finish? I imagine it is a case of either cutting into it with fine paper + T Cutting, or could you just build up some polish instead?
All suggestions gratefully recieved...

 

[FullCircle]

You will need to rub it right back until smooth. The start again unfortunately.
Sounds like you had a temperature/humidity problem if its orange peel.

 

[MBY]

Thanks for the prompt reply FullCircle - I should perhaps have mentioned that I don't have the time or inclination to put any more paint on, I just want to know how to improve what i've got. If it can't be done, I will learn to live with it, but hopefully I can get it a bit better...

 

[LittleShip]

Flat off with wet and dry and T cut. Problem is that two pakes get their shine from the final coat and you will lose some of it by cutting back.

As already suggested flat off and try again!

/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Juggler7823]

I disagree. Orange peel effect is normally caused by applying too thick a coat or by spraying paint which to which too much thinners has been added.

 

[bastonjock]

orange peel is caused by your paint being to thick or blasting it on to heavily.

The quick fic for your situation is to use 1500 grade wet or dry with a bit of fairy liquid added,flatten out most of the peel,you can check your progress by using a flat rubber block and swiping off the water on the surface,if its a matt look then you have taken the worst out,next step is to get hold of a buffer and use 3M green top and buff it all up,finish it off by using 3M purple top and buff it to a glossy shine.

Warning misuse of a buffer can screw up all of your efforts

 

[rogerdog]

If a two part paint eg with a lacquer coat then heavy rubbing back would not be advisable unless you are going to re-coat with lacquer -but I think we are looking at a two pack paint here (eg chemical hardening) in which case flatting back is a more viable solution, just building up polish - well hmmm.

The answer -sorry is flat it back and try again. Lot of bother I know - but if it bugs you now - when you are sailing her it will bug you more as every time you look at her you ywill see it.

Orange peel is a difficult problem to fully avoid - look at cars etc you will if you look carefully at most that have been resprayed see some effect.

Normally the main points are

viscosity , speed /thickness of application/ nozzile size/ pressure /weather conditions etc the manufacturer of the paint usually will give guidance on how best to spray it (eg viscosity application temperature,thinner use etc.) using there gives you a starting point but it's almost impossible in an open yard.

 

[Lakesailor]

Think in terms of the flowing of the paint. Once applied is the paint going to flow or is it too cold? Try a bit more thinners. But then be careful about overloading the paint. It may flow very slowly and runs will appear before it goes off. Is it very warm? Will the paint skin over but run behind the skin, Again don't overload, but put enough on so that it does flow out.

It's one of those 3 part equations where each part effects the other two.

I used to have an old car bonnet handy to test my paint viscosity and gun pressure on before committing to the workpiece.

 

[MBY]

Thanks Bastonjock for the excellent advice, just what I needed to know!

 

[Blueboatman]

Sorry,as Rogerdog says,flat it back when it is cured enough,get a professional mate to respray it. Why prat about with flatting it down only to keep applying expensive waxes and elbow grease?

 

[Sailfree]

My first attempts of spraying cars gave an orange peel effect no matter what I did. Concluded it was the cheap spray equipment and bought a bigger compressor and quality spray guns so you may be able to blame the equipment!!

2 pack slowly hardens (unless baked in an oven as cars are). You can flat down but use 1200 grade wet & dry and soap the paper first to "block" it slightly. The polish up using Faracea (sorry spelling) cutting compound using mutton cloth. As another has said gloss is better in the original finish but cutting back carefully, compound & then polish can give a reasonable finish.

If you used 2 pack I trust you used a breathing apparatus as it gives off Cyanide when sprayed and its accumalative in the body you can never cleanse yourself of any amount that you absorb!!