Can I shoot now?
Yes!, but not paint, not yet..
The last thing to do before the paint flies is to lock down all of our previous work with a sealer. There are many different varieties. The absolute best, where local laws allow, is to use the same epoxy primer we used when starting out. When using epoxy primer as a sealer, it is reduced 15-20%, so that it is thinner and shoots more like paint. This also allows it to flow out in a smoother film before starting to dry, or “flash”. This is the point at which paint no longer flows, but is not yet dry.
Epoxy primer is mixed to the proper ratio with the proper hardener for the booth temperature. It may require an “induction time” during which the all those little epoxy molecules start to find their little friends and start to hook up together. This time depends upon the product used and the booth temperature.
When the epoxy primer is ready, it is reduced by the proper amount, then shot onto the car in a single medium coat, enough to flow out, but not so much as it will build up any thickness. This epoxy sealer gets to dry a minimum of one hour, and a maximum of 24 before it must be top-coated.
After the requisite hour, we go back into the booth for a last-chance inspection. This is the LAST CHANCE! Any specs of dust, pits, fisheyes, or anything that might show up as a flaw in the final paint should be fixed now. Generally, we are in good shape at this point, due to all of our careful prep work.