Mixing paint

super99 · May 14, 2021

I'm getting ready to paint my Oliver 1550. I have a gallon of Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer and I'll start by painting the Clover White on the wheels and grill first. I'm used to rattle cans, but I'm gonna try spray painting this time. I'm wondering what to use to measure the paint and thinner before painting. If you use a cup with markings on the outside, you won't be able to read them after the first use, because the paint will cover the inside of the measuring cup. The primer said to use one quart thinner to one gallon of paint, the Agco Clover White says 1 1/2 to 2 pints/ quart. Open to any suggestions. Thanks, Chris

old-9 · May 14, 2021

just get as many as you need, cheap.
here

super99 · May 14, 2021

COOL!! My wife used to deliver parts for Napa and I still get her discount. I'll get plenty!!

47fivewindow · May 14, 2021

two pints equals one quart. That is way too thin. I just cut it till it sprays right, so a little more when it is cold. 20 percent or so.

super99 · May 14, 2021

I thought that sounded awful thin!!! My rememberer ain't that great anymore, maybe it was cups instead of pint.

muleman51 · May 14, 2021

Buy a 5 gallon can of Napas paint thinner/cleaner, you will need it for cleaning your sprayer and cups. Its cheap, when I painted dryers we used lots of it.

Stephen Newell · May 14, 2021

Spraying the finish use naphtha to thin it with if at all. With an oil based paint it's best to thin it as little as possible. I would try spraying it without thinning first. It looks really bad spraying an oil based paint, it should be thick enough it splatters. The paint dries slow enough it will flow back together before it sets up. Just try it on some scrap first and let it sit 15 minutes or so and see what it looks like. If you use too much thinner it screws up the sheen and is much more prone to run and actually takes longer to dry.

flying belgian · May 14, 2021

You do not need markings to know when a cup is half full. It is not rocket science. Close is good enough.

gene bender · May 15, 2021

not cheap anymore

Brown Swiss · May 15, 2021

I take the mixing stick and scrap the inside where I need to see right after filling the sprayer, plus put a cover on on it so it doesn't dry so fast! Rustoleum primer is the hardest to clean up after that I have ever used! I don't know how others do it but I always have some rough spots from the primer, so I take 400 grit paper with my hand and lightly go across it when dry, makes a nice smooth finish for painting!

Carlmac 369 · May 15, 2021

An old guy I worked with years ago never measured, he used the drips off the stir stick to determine the proper mixture.

He told me to pour a glass of milk, put the stick in it then remove and observe the drips then mix your paint so it drips the same as the milk.

I've done that for years with good results. After a few times you won't need the milk if you are observant.

showcrop · May 15, 2021

(quoted from post at 03:17:15 05/15/21)
An old guy I worked with years ago never measured, he used the drips off the stir stick to determine the proper mixture.

He told me to pour a glass of milk, put the stick in it then remove and observe the drips then mix your paint so it drips the same as the milk.

I've done that for years with good results. After a few times you won't need the milk if you are observant.

Carlmac, Super99 tells us that this is is first time trying to spray. I think that while what you have posted is perhaps interesting that it is very poor advice for a beginner.

Carlmac 369 · May 15, 2021

(quoted from post at 08:45:13 05/15/21)

(quoted from post at 03:17:15 05/15/21)
An old guy I worked with years ago never measured, he used the drips off the stir stick to determine the proper mixture.

He told me to pour a glass of milk, put the stick in it then remove and observe the drips then mix your paint so it drips the same as the milk.

I've done that for years with good results. After a few times you won't need the milk if you are observant.

Click to expand...

Carlmac, Super99 tells us that this is is first time trying to spray. I think that while what you have posted is perhaps interesting that it is very poor advice for a beginner.

Don't know about that. I used that method the first time I mixed and sprayed paint. Worked for me.

A bit of practice on an old hood or fender is helpful regardless of how the paint is mixed as well.

Crazy Horse · May 15, 2021

Well, we all heard about shade tree mechanics, I guess the same thing applies to or YT painters as well. If you were maybe confused before, now you should be totally confused. I have some kind of a flat metal stick here that I got once from a body shop supply with markings on it and you read it as it is immersed in the paint to determine how much paint or thinner you have added. I have no idea how it works or even what the markings mean, but they are used in body shops. I don't think someone made them up to be used as rulers.

Dune Country · May 15, 2021

I've used the milk drip method for many years.

Mike(NEOhio) · May 15, 2021

Whole, skim or 2%?

Goose · May 15, 2021

I have one of those and use it all the time.

Mine has two scales on each side.

Goose · May 15, 2021

Unfortunately, with mixing paint experience counts.

You get a gut feeling of whether paint is properly thinned by how it drips off the end of a stir stick.

banjoman09 · May 15, 2021

Im kinda where you are now- have a gun but never used it- even tho I should. Rattle cans...no mixing- no clean up - start and stop when you want.... good finish if you do it right...I guess Ill keep rattling mine on

MI-Bill · May 15, 2021

if you are new to painting with a spray gun, start out by spending a LOT of time with trial and error spraying of old junk, old metal pieces. Get to know the gun adjustments. Naptha is good. depending on the paint, better paint, correct same brand thinner can be used to thin the paint with better long term results. when painting outside, I often use a couple drops of oil base paint dryer. watch how the paint sets up so you can gauge how quickly the paint is ready for a second and last coat. good luck

Carlmac 369 · May 15, 2021

(quoted from post at 11:03:41 05/15/21) Whole, skim or 2%?

Whole.

Stephen Newell · May 15, 2021

It used to be when you buy paint it was so thick you could put a stir stick in the can and it would hold it vertical. Now, most all of it is watered down so much often thinning isn't necessary.

Mixing paint

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