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I picked up this cup gun for $49.95 at the local Harbor Freight. I also grabbed some air hose and a few adapter fittings and couplers that allowed me to connect to my scuba tanks as a source. Since I don't have a compressor, this gave me a viable alternative.
To be honest, this was my very first time ever using a spray gun that I can remember. I was a bit intimidated by it but I didn't let it stop me. All was going well until this snap ring popped off (right after I'd started of course). I suffered through it and finished the job though. After everything was sprayed, I figured out how to adjust the spray pattern. I also discovered, after I was done with the job, that the harder you pull the trigger, the faster the paint comes out. I probably coulda finished in half the time had I figured that out sooner.
A local repair guy recommended Gel-Coat as a primer. He has the local glass supply house mix up what he calls "Sanding Haze" as a primer. It's just gel-coat with a sandy colored tint to it. I got a couple quarts of it and added 3 percent wax and some sanding additive put out by FGCI. I forget the name of it. For all I know, I could've been violating the very laws of chemistry by combining the two additives but I did it anyway. And it actually worked very well. Absolutely no stickiness to the finished product whatsoever. I think it will sand very nicely. I did get everything sprayed.
I was pretty amazed at how fast any sanding/fairing flaws will jump out once they get wet. I've got some work yet to do in a few areas and I also suspect my taping job is going to bring me a little more work but for the most part, I was pretty happy with the results. I was especially proud of the interior work, particularly the little ramps at the end of my deck gutters. These turned out much nicer than I had predicted.
I think every damn
bug in the county came by for a taste while the gel was drying. And I managed to
stick my shoulder in the gel when I was crawling underneath to spray the ducer
housing. I'm just glad this is a primer coat. It'll fix.
That's about it for now. I'll be sanding the entire repair area and re-working
the areas that need it. Maybe I'll get some paint on it by the weekend...
