I decided to go with Start Systems Paint.

I went to one of their seminars at Oshkosh, their paints are not as nasty to use and on the environment, and they have tech support that is willing to help out a homebuilder.  All their paint cleans up with water while wet.

They have all the auxilery paint supplies that you will need also.

Aircraft paint is EXPENSIVE, Approximately $300/gallon.

I have purchased 4 gallons of paint (3 of white and 1 metalic blue) and 4 of primer (grey).

 

I have never painted anything before other than primer, so we will see how this goes.

So far purchased:

Pain/Primer (4 gal)

1 qt EkoClean

1 qt EkoEtch

100 Paint Strainters

2 boxes of tack rags.

1 roll fine line tape (1/4 in)

1 package of lint free towels.

This totaled about $2000

 

Tools:

Fresh air respirator http://www.turbineproducts.com/servlet/Detail?no=2 w/75 feet of hose $450 (hope to sell this when I am done with it.

Air Cleaner/Dryer - Devilbiss 130523 Camair 2 Stage Air Filter and Regulator $250

DeVilbiss Tekna Pro-Lite kit # 703566  $425 (Paint gun)

Paint booth with fine air filters (HD aviation department) $300

 

I will need some more tape and masking paper, but currently a little over $3000 so far. 

 

Process:

1. Clean with EcoClean (Rince with a rag)

2. Etch with EcoEtch (Rince with a rag)

3. Pressure wash (right after etch)

4. Blow with air all the seams to get water out.

5. Let dry for 12 hr but not more than 24.

6. Prime (See below)

7. Sand after 2 hrs or more to give main coat better bond.

8. Wipe with cloth and blow to get sanding dust off.

9. Wipe with alcohal lightly as it will pick the primer up.

10. Wipe with dust tack cloth.

11 Spray top coat.

 

Priming:

Spray a "Tack" coat horizontally.  10 min later (from start) spray another tack coat vertically.  Tack coats are very light coats (should not get a wet glossy look) spayed from 10-12 inches away.  First coat should get about 50% color coverage, second 80-90% color coverage.  On this gun I am using 34lbs of pressure at the gun, and the paint nossle opened about 1/3 turn, fan full open.  10 min later spray the hoizontal wet coat.  This coat is sprayed about 6" away, and the paint control is opened  another 1/3 turn.

 

Painting:

I am using identical spray and gun settings for the topcoat as I am the priming.  Key item for the final wet topcoat is to watch the light reflections to make sure it is going full gloss/wet a few seconds after the pass of the paint.  If it is not make another quick light pass over it.  I am mopping the floor and wiping down the walls of the paint booth before painting, as the priming drys fast enough that it creates paint dust on the floor.  The topcoat paint drys slow enough that it sticks to the floor and does not dust.

 

Paint gun