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I finally broke down and bought spraying equipment.

I easily built up and blocked out four layers of primer on the canvas canoe I am restoring.

I wet sanded the "last" coat of primer until it sheeted all around. I let it dry. I wiped it with solvent.

When I sprayed my first coat of paint, I got a lot of fish eyes.

1) Why?
2) What now?

Thanks.

Fish eyes can be caused by the glues in sandpaper not being the same ingredient or base as your paint or improper chemicals that is compatible in the wipe down process to the paint. The rag that you use to wipe down can also cause it too. First we need to know the types of primer and what type of chemical that you wiped it down with. What type of paint are you using and the thinner that you used to get it to work in your spray gun? Also if you did not wait for the canvas to completely dry from the wet sanding too even though you wiped it down, simple dampness will do it.

If the paint is an enamel, a simple fix is to wipe it down with mineral spirits several times and then let dry for several days. Yes its a messy job to dilute and smoothe the surface out if its cured past the skin over phase. If it is still gummy, I would do one of two things depending on how much in a hurry you are. Attempt to let it cure as long as its bonded which can be determined by checking at the edge say under the rail edge or at the ends so that you do not actually mar it in the middle of the side for example with even your finger nail. I don't recommend wet sanding any real surface of any of the wooden boat surfaces and finishes. Sure many people wet sand varnishes in the final stages and that fine but no primers since its job is to create a "pourous" surface because of its bases and the lack of a sheen component, so that topcoats also bond to it.

Thanks, Oyster.

All of the products - primer, thinners, paint - are Interlux. So I am hoping that there is no compatibility problem there.

It is possible that I did not let the wet sanding dry enough... It seemed dry, but could have been damp...

Also, I just picked up "any old rag"... I will use a clean one next time.

We are going out this afternoon, so I cannot go and mess with it. I need to let this coat dry.

I'll let it set up for a week and then start sanding.

didn't know about not wet-sanding between paint coats. oops.

B.

People usually use wetsanding on topcoats in the final stages of finishing in most cases. Thats really where its worth the added time, IMO. But primers also have a different purpose and that is filling and actually all the real work should be done with the primers. People get impatient many times and skip priming completely because of the extra work involved. Blocking primers will do more for your topcoats and the final appearance than anything that you do. But your topcoats will last longer if you take the time to prime.

I did four coats of primer. It really helped to fair out the imperfections.

Now I need to deal with the new imperfections.... soldier on... we'll get it eventually.

B.

If you can get it cured enough, just sand the heck out of it now using about a four inch block with 120 and then 180. Apply a thin coat of primer over the topcoat and check it out, maybe tinting the primer a bit with some yellow, just enough to make it pale. Then use some spray primer and dust a guide coat over the surface.

there are products you can get that you add to the paint to help you cope with fish eyes. I have used this product in the past and it worked well. They also say it is a shine enhancer.

http://yhst-13811118617756.stores.yahoo ... 20238.html

A lot of people don't like these products, because strangely enough they add silicone to the paint(or at least that is my understanding). The reason I say that is strange is because silicone is one of the causes of fisheyee, along with oils and grease, etc. BUT don't get me wrong this stuff works. I never had a problem with fisheyes.

maybe this will help you out.

BTW if anyone every used armour all or similar products over the years on your painted canvas hull that could very well be the source of the contamination as these products contain silicone.

Another possible cause is water in the lines.

Are you using a water separator/dryer or water filter in your setup? Compressed air will create water droplets that will also create fisheye.

I use a cheapo filter that screws into the air inlet on my spray guys. Never had fisheyes once I started doing this.

KB

Yep, x2. they work well.

Some paint shops that spray a the two part paints use a toliet paper filter in their lines.

Moisture from the tank!

That sounds like the most plausible explanation, given how careful I was on the prep.

Off to the store to buy a filter....

Learning as I go (the hard way), like usual....



So... after the filter is added... here is my recovery plan...

1) Dry sand the current 1st coat of paint
2) shoot another layer of primer and dry sand to fair out the fisheyes
3) start again with the paint

We are runnin' out of "paint friendly" weather!

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

B.

make sure you drain the water from the compressor tank before you start spraying too

The filter (and a tank draining) seem to have fixed the problem.

Thanks!

B.

awesome Bruce. Its amazing how much water can collect in the tank eh?