Happy Easter everyone,
I have been working on getting a nosecone completely smooth for about three
days. Alternating layers of model clay filler and sanding (particularly
because the clay doesn't bond to the plastic and sometimes cracks or
breaks). I had to fill in a number of 1/16" deep scrapes, groves and pits.
It's an honest john so the spin motors have been challenging. Already looks
amazing however this process is oh-so-slow. I'm looking for advice on how
others perform this slow task.
Is there a magic *mix* I haven't found yet?
-cat
Binder Design - 27 Mar 2005 18:10 GMT
> Is there a magic *mix* I haven't found yet?
>
> -cat
Automotive spot putty.
Mike Fisher
Kevin Trojanowski - 27 Mar 2005 18:36 GMT
> Automotive spot putty.
Great stuff; dries relatively quickly, sands very nicely!
-Kevin
james hendricksen - 27 Mar 2005 19:27 GMT
> Happy Easter everyone,
>
[quoted text clipped - 61 lines]
>here.however that said... anyone who follows the above will never have a
>problem with nose cones again. Jim H. Master Painter
Andrew Grippo - 27 Mar 2005 21:49 GMT
I've been around industrial coatings and performed paint inspections to NACE
standards for years and never saw or heard of anyone spraying primer and not
sanding it. The anchor pattern left behind during the preliminary sanding of
the rocket is the key to tight adhesion of the prime coat.
Always remember that the primer IS the paint job and all other coats after
that are just color. If the paint chips down to the nose cone then the
primer simply wasn't applied correctly. The problem of chipping usually
stems from inadequate sanding of the surface or the primer was applied too
heavily, that's why light coats are always recommended by paint
manufacturers.
There are other reasons as well for paint not adhering correctly such as
environmental conditions. Paint should never be applied if the surface temp
does not have at least a five degree separation from the dew point and the
humidity should always be below manufacturers recommendations.
I agree with everything else you wrote and I'll try the final light coat of
primer and not sanding it just to see if it works! This old dawg likes to
learn new tricks!
Andrew
>> Happy Easter everyone,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 63 lines]
>>here.however that said... anyone who follows the above will never have a
>>problem with nose cones again. Jim H. Master Painter
Jerry Irvine - 27 Mar 2005 23:26 GMT
> I've been around industrial coatings and performed paint inspections to NACE
> standards for years and never saw or heard of anyone spraying primer and not
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> Andrew
This should be in the FAQ.
> >> Happy Easter everyone,
> >>
[quoted text clipped - 63 lines]
> >>here.however that said... anyone who follows the above will never have a
> >>problem with nose cones again. Jim H. Master Painter

Signature
Jerry Irvine, Box 1242, Claremont, California 91711 USA
Opinion, the whole thing. <mail to:01rocket@gte.net>
Please bring common sense back to rocketry administration. (too late)
Produce then publish. http://www.usrockets.com
Ebay. http://tinyurl.com/6wlp8
james hendricksen - 27 Mar 2005 23:44 GMT
> I've been around industrial coatings and performed paint inspections to
> NACE standards for years and never saw or heard of anyone spraying primer
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>>>
>>> -c
David - 28 Mar 2005 00:33 GMT
Yes, you did... you said it in all caps and twice in fact:
>,you are now ready for what MOST PEOPLE DO NOT know,this goes for the
>rocket body and fins also.......coat the cone with one final light coat of
>primer......LET DRY.....DO NOT SAND......do NOT sand.... then begin you
>final finish coats.
-- David
>> I've been around industrial coatings and performed paint inspections to
>> NACE standards for years and never saw or heard of anyone spraying primer
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>>>>
>>>> -c
james hendricksen - 28 Mar 2005 03:49 GMT
> Yes, you did... you said it in all caps and twice in fact:
>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>>>>this forum....... more attention is paid to dotting the I's and crossing
>>>>the T's than the actual content implied
David - 28 Mar 2005 04:35 GMT
Wow. Didn't mean to push you over the edge, I was just pointing out why the
other person thought you said not to sand primer - because you did. I
realize you didn't say NEVER to sand primer. I don't think anyone said you
said that. :-)
Chill!
-- David
>> Yes, you did... you said it in all caps and twice in fact:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>>>>>this forum....... more attention is paid to dotting the I's and
>>>>>crossing the T's than the actual content implied
Andrew Grippo - 28 Mar 2005 04:01 GMT
Rocket parts and industrial pipes and railings should be painted the same
way. The paint has no idea what it is being sprayed on and will perform the
same regardless of the surface as long as the coating is formulated for the
intended application.
I've never heard of or seen a manufacturer recommendation or coating
specification requirement for a seven degree separation between dew point
and surface temp or needing a four hour window after coating before the
temperature drops. Drops to what? From what?
I've never said you were wrong I simply stated that I've never seen or heard
of some of the things you've mentioned. The only reason I even posted
anything is because what you've stated is diametrically opposite of the
industry accepted, case proven and manufacturer recommended methods used to
apply a base then intermediate coating.
After some consideration I think leaving a light coat of primer unsanded
would actually be detrimental to the next coating due to the loose adhesion
characteristics and graininess, think about how easy it is to just rub off a
light coating of primer. I think the smoothness of the intermediate coat
would be less then ideal and with the potential for adhesion problems it
may actually just peel off in sheets.
Andrew
> Yes, you did... you said it in all caps and twice in fact:
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>>>>>
>>>>> -c
Tweak - 29 Mar 2005 16:14 GMT
> Rocket parts and industrial pipes and railings should be painted the same
> way. The paint has no idea what it is being sprayed on and will perform the
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> would be less then ideal and with the potential for adhesion problems it
> may actually just peel off in sheets.
Always sand the primer before applying paint, the paint before applying
clear coat, etc..
Want better results? Use automotive "hi fill" primer out of a paint
gun. Then you can sand/respray in minutes instead of hours, and it
sands, fills, etc. much better than spray cans. WAY cheaper as well.
Don't have paint equipment? Take the rocket to a body shop and ask
about them hitting it with some primer next time they are doing another
job. Should cost next to nothing.
I may not know much, but I know a thing or two about paint.

Signature
Tweak
CJC - 27 Mar 2005 23:16 GMT
You could try Selleys Heavy Duty Plasti-Bond......Not sure if you can get
that brand??? Depends on what type of plastic the nose is made from???
Will not adhere to polyethylene, polypropylene or Teflon. Make sure the NC
is clean........really clean. Use acetone etc. to remove any oils on the
surface etc to aid in adhesion.
May also help if you actually scar, scuff or put small pin holes in the area
to filled. The filler is pushed into the hole and will provide a kind of
rivet when it sets to help lock in the material....
http://www.selleys.com.au/products/live/306/104.asp
> Happy Easter everyone,
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> -cat
cat - 28 Mar 2005 12:50 GMT
Thanks for all the great advice.
This nosecone is ABS, most of the ones I've worked with are PVC, ABS or PP,
the PP is too soft and nothing sticks to it.
I searched the archives and heard people mention the body-filler and thought
it would work just about the same as the model filler clay I had been using.
But it sounds like it sands a lot easier. I will try the body filler, if it
sands faster then it will be a 50% gain in time.
My process is pretty simple but lengthy:
Scratch up the nose with 80grit sandpaper and apply a light coat of krylon
ultra flat black (It seams to stick better then any primer I've tried) once
the primer has dried it shows every imperfection, and I start sanding. Any
pits, seams, cracks get a light fill of putty. Once dry I stand. Because it
was a light coat I usually have to add 1-2 coats more of the putty to fill
in all the cracks (the testors brand putty cracks in think layers and take a
full day to dry if thick). I'll add a few layers of ultra flat to get a very
smooth surface then lightly sand with 220 grit to better bond the final
coats of paint. This method produced very nice results, but is very time
consuming on larger surfaces.
-cat
Larry - 29 Mar 2005 20:25 GMT
Try PlastiKote bumper primer from an auto parts store.