The first picture shows the canopy top after multiple coats of epoxy wipe. It no longer looks chalky and the surface is smooth with some brushmarks. After this the canopy exterior was painted with 2 primer coats, then 3 finish coats. The last picture shows the canopy installed.
Turning the canopy over, I'll use the inside to illustrate the steps of 2 primer coats, then 3 finish coats.
- clean it! This part has been in at least 3 dusty shops for about a decade. SImple Green, isopropyl alcohol and lots of paper towels.
- light sanding at 240 or 320. This is where I can feel the surface and start to know all the rough spots.
- micro or glazing compound - the micro is for larger areas and deeper surface flaws. Another round of light sanding
- wet sand at 320, working steadily around the perimeter 2x
- clean, alcohol wipe and tape off protected surfaces
- Awlgrip primer mixed and applied as per directions
- wet sand 320
- inspect for flaws and repair as indicated (thus the parts with brown patches of glazing compound)
- clean, degrease (a wipe on, wipe off nasty chemical), tack cloth
- Awlgrip priimer
- sand, clean, degrease as above, then inspect and repair
- Alexseal 501 topcoat, mixed and applied as per directions, adding a 15 minute conversion period _not_ called for in the directions
- sand, clean, degrease as above, , then inspect and repair
- Alexseal 501 topcoat
- sand, clean, degrease as above
- Alexseal 501 topcoat
Yes, I am happy to put that part aside!