>Larry, > Thanks for your Smooth Prime information. Why do you only use >"cross-linker" in the first three coats of primer? How many total coats of >primer do you recommend? >Jim Morehead +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The instructions indicate that the cross-linker is to make the primer more resistant to gas, oil, etc. They recommend cross-linking the first three coats and to use a total of six coats. For anyone interested in using Smooth Prime, the instruction book is FREE from Wick's and is in their catalog. I assume it is on their web site also. As to how many coats do I recommend, I'm not sure. I've been doing quite a bit of sanding between coats (not following instructions) so I'm not even sure how many coats some areas have. I'm basiclly priming and sanding till I get the finish I want. A great deal of this $125 a gallon material is ending up on my driveway as dust. Too bad I can't collect it and ship it back for a refund! As I mentioned in my earlier post, I'm on my third gallon and that should easily finish the job with some left over. I going to GUESS that someone building a standard KR with several premolded parts such a wing skins, and more tolerant of defects than me, may get by with just two gallons. Finally, if you use a squeegee to apply the primer it tends to dry on the squeegee very quickly and is VERY hard to remove. I found that by holding the squeegee under warm running water and rubbing with a piece of Scotch Bright, plastic pot scrubber or similar, the primer comes right off. Good luck........... Larry Flesner
