Mixing paint questions

[ryans69chevy]

Looking for some ideas/procedures on how you guys mix primer/paint. Tonight I sprayed epoxy for the first time and I just want to make sure I'm doing it right and not being wasteful. Its always nice to learn other tips and tricks.

I have small mixing cups (pint size??) that I bought from the paint store that has different ratio marks on them. I mixed a small batch since I had no clue how much I'd need. Ended up needing to mix up another batch since I ran out so I used another mixing cup.

Do people clean these out to re-use them or are they a one and done type item?

Is it smart to put a funnel or strainer or whatever they are when pouring the paint from the mixing cup into the gun hopper? I dont have any, not sure what the point of them are, just remember seeing them on different shows.

Nason's tech sheet shows an induction time of 30 min if over 70 degrees. How precise does a person need to get on that? If you mix and then spray right away, what happens?

I had trouble telling when the first coat "flashed". It was probably 5-10 min between my coats. Once I was spraying my second coat, I could tell where it was laying down. Maybe I was expecting more of a drastic sign or something or maybe I didn't wait long enough between coats for the first one to flash?

If you want to share a step by step procedure from mixing, to spraying, to cleaning the gun that would be awesome.

Thanks,
Ryan

[hugger6933]

Epoxy primer? usually flashes when it stops shining[wet] it starts turning dull it is drying and you can spry you next coat just dont get in too big of a hurry spraying small spot cause you will end up stacking the wet primer on wet primer then when you think you good to go it starts to run. But thats more of a cooler time thing you should be ok this time of year just take your time you will be fine. The mixing cups are meant to be disposable or rinse them out use them to hold screws and clips or whatnot. Strainers are a needed thing cause if you dont you will get a booger to either stop up a nozzle or better yet spit out on your slick primer and make more sanding for you. By the way, there is always more sanding to do. I prime some spots sometimes the size of a quarter or so and I try my best just to mix up a very small amount to of course keep down wastes and costs its just a thing you will get more comfortable after more mixing and spraying. I have sprayed hundreds of gallons of primers and paints over the past 35 plus years I have done this. Jim