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Body Repair
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Spray Techniques
Precaution :
- When working with toxic chemicals, solvents, sprays, paints, etc., always work in a well ventilated area. For some jobs, eye protection and respirator masks are required.
- Always wear eye protection, and follow proper safety Note, when working with power tools.
- For mixing and spraying on the bed liner, it's necessary to wear gloves, goggles and a respirator mask.
Spraying on the Primer and Bed Liner
- With the primer components mixed thoroughly, and a black pigment added, pour the primer into a standard automotive paint sprayer. Then you can hook the sprayer up to an air compressor and start painting.
- It's typically easiest to start at the front of the bed and work rearward, painting the sides and bottom as you go. Longer spraying strokes make for a more even coat and use less primer. This procedure should only take about 20 minutes. Allow another 20 minutes for the primer to dry.
Note :
- Before spraying primer, be sure to cover any plants or any nearby vehicles. Avoid spraying on a windy day.
- If the bed liner is not sprayed on within four hours of the primer being applied, the primer will have to be re-applied.
- Once the primer has dried, you're ready to mix and spray on the bed liner. Like the primer, this particular bed-liner spray comes in two components that must be mixed together before spraying. The mixing can be done in the larger of the two cans.
- Following the manufacturer's instructions, we mix the correct proportions of components "A" and "B" together, along with a rich, black pigment. (Custom colors can also be obtained to color-match the bed liner to your truck.) To mix the components thoroughly and evenly, we used a mixing attachment and a 1500-rpm electric drill. Following the manufacturer's directions for this particular mixture, we stir for no longer than 45 seconds. The proper amount of stirring is essential to getting the right consistency for spraying.
- Once the components are mixed properly, the bed-liner mixture is loaded into a hopper loaded atop a high-pressure sprayer. The sprayer is similar to the ones used to add texture to drywall, and requires a heavy-duty air compressor. The operating range of the sprayer should be 80 psi. to 10 psi. Hopper spray-guns can be purchased for $20 to $60.
Note :
Once the components have been mixed and stirred, it's critical that the liner be sprayed on right away. When spraying on the liner, the temperature must be at least 68 degrees, and the liner must be allowed to cure at or above that temperature as well.
- The average pickup bed requires about 4 gallons of spray-on bed liner for good coverage. The compound will dry to touch in 12 hours, but requires about 72 hours to completely harden.
- The person spraying on the liner should wear coveralls to protect clothing, as well as gloves, safety glasses and a respirator mask.
- The inner wall of the tail-gate is sprayed as well, and allowed to dry for 12 hours before the tailgate is reinstalled on the truck.
- As soon as the liner has been sprayed on, the tape and plastic must be removed right away. If the tape and plastic aren't removed quickly, the tape will be bonded to the body of the truck.
- Once all of the tape and plastic is removed, the truck is placed inside the garage so that the spray-on liner can cure thoroughly.
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