Sunday, December 2, 2007

Chemistry Problems



Today I finished blocking out the guide coat on the MR2. With all of the low points identified, it was time to put "icing" on them. Icing is just a thin (not pasty) filler designed for minor blemishes. Icing comes in two parts - the filler and a catalyst to make it hard. I mixed it up and slathered it on.


Here I ran into a problem. I grabbed an old tube of catalyst. Unbeknown to me, the catalyst was dead. So, my icing never solidified. I gave it like 4-hours. It should be sandable in about 30 minutes. It wouldn't sand, it just smeared.

Out came the acetone.


Let me just say... I freaking hate acetone. I hate the way it smells. I don't like getting it on me. And it's difficult to deal with because it evaporates quickly. It is great for removing uncatalyzed body filler. In fact, its about all that will work. Luckily, acetone doesn't remove catalyzed paint or catalyzed filler.

After much scrubbing with an acetone soaked rag, I was right back where I started.

Some of the filler I put on had catalyzed, and it didn't come off. I put more icing on, this time using another tube of catalyst I had on hand. I tried to feather it in as best I could. Which wasn't very good.

Unforutnately this almost gaurantees I'm going to need two more guide coats. The next one to fix this mess up.

Live and learn I suppose.

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