Spent the session prepping the panels for painting. I am using the water-based Stewart Systems primer and paint for my project. I had heard some good things about it and felt the mess and clean-up would be a bit easier for me to handle in my residence. I was not sold on "water based" techlology, but after researching I figured I may as well give it a shot....after all this is the experimental/amateur built realm.
The first part was taking time with red scotch bright pads to prep the surface by giving some "teeth" for the paint to grab hold of, which takes some time to do.
Next was to use Stewarts Eco-clean solution deluted 15:1 to wash all the panels and make sure they are clean. It is a very good cleaner and you can feel the panels squeeky clean when done.
Then to prep the surface further the panels get treated with Stewarts Eco-etch. This is an etching fluid that further preps the surfact and gives the primer more teeth to hold on to and better adherance.
Finally after all the panels are dried, I wiped them all down with isopropyl alcohol to get any final dirt and film off the panels.
Thats it...."the panels were hung by the chimney with care, in hope that "prime day" soon would be here."
