Do you guys actually go six inches away because it’s so light unless if I’m closer and also how long do I need to wait between primer and primer coats and then base coat and then color coats and then clear as well. Any any other tips to ensure smooth metal like finish?
#spray painting rattle can tips
pastel vault
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candid thorn
Ok so assuming a well ventilated area no wind proper safety gear. Yes about 6 in . If not too humid and around 70F in your work area. Moving slower will make it thicker but increase your chances of it running. Sadly this is one of those things you have to get a "feel" for.
Now generally I prep the pla with 80 grit or so, then 2-4 coats of primer, and sand with 120 then if that looks good move onto base of not another round of 2-3 coats primer/sand and check again.
I usually wait 5-10 min between coats and 2-4 hours for sanding at this stage. Most of the primers I've used work well with this. Moving on to base coat usually 1-2 coats to make sure good cover and about 10-15 minutes between coats. I'll usually sand lightly with 220 or so and then another round of base coat /sand if it looks good and feels smooth I'll continue. If not then another round. With Base coat I'll wait a full 24 before sanding.
Color coats I'll generally do the same as base 1-2 layers but I move up to wet sanding with 400 for the first round and 800 with the second. Again at least 24 cure before sanding. At this point it should feel and look super smooth. Moving forward to clear 1-2 coats and 1200 but I usually wait closer to 48 hours and the final coat I don't sand.
Now this is what works for me. You may need more coats in between or less depending on how much sanding/cleanup/hiding lines kinda of stuff your print needs.
pastel vault
My print to start is pretty clean to start
But you wet sand your base coat?
I sand primer but never done normal spray paint before don’t have that “feel”
candid thorn
Not usually, if I'm topping with a color
pastel vault
Never also done a base coat before just slapped on my color on top of primer/ putty then after prime again*
So I’m spraying a black gloss as the base coat and then a gold ontop should I sand the black?
candid thorn
I've only used base for metallic, if I'm skipping base I'll run another primer coat with the 200 - 400
candid thorn
I would sand the black yes, and 2-400 should be good and smooth for the metallic. If you want to test first plastic spoons are wonderful, or spare rafts, junk prints
At the color point is usually where I start with wet sands
pastel vault
This is my first one I made as you can see some imperfections
Okay I’ll normal sand the black base coat then wet sand the gold
candid thorn
And definitely test your clear on the metal with a plastic scrap, some clears dull out metals. A lot of people here recommend the 2k clear for metals, it's a little pricey compared to normal clears but I also find it doesn't dull out the metals
pastel vault
Can see the reflection like crazy
candid thorn
That's mostly from the 2k clear with a 1200 wet sand between 2 rounds
It is time consuming but worth it
pastel vault
Yeah I never went sanded the clear coat last time
Makes a big difference I’m guessing
candid thorn
Every layer will add to the finish, and we'll always find imperfections in our own things, that no one can see. But between clears yes, big difference, sanding stupid lightly, making a haze to the finish, like frosted glass, then you hit it with another coat and it shines like crazy.
Oh almost forgot, usually I will wipe down the print after sanding, damp soft cloth and dry, this may show you some areas that are not as good as you want them and also keep extra dust out of the layers