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I am painting my M38. I primed it and then rattle-canned Gillespie paint for the first coat. Today, I used my HVLP gun, mixed Gillespie and Xylene 4:1.
I live in Wyoming, daily temps are high of 85 and 55 at night.Humidity is around 20%. I am painting the jeep inside my garage.
- How long should I wait before putting on a second coat?
- How long should I wait before putting on a third coat?
- How long should I let the paint cure before painting/stenciling?

Thanks,

A

These are my recent experiences with the exact method you are planning with the Gillespie paint with the exception of the heat. I did mine outside with the HVLP Harbor Freight gun.

I was able to hit a second coat by the time I finished the first coat. The Xylene off gasses quick. 4:1 is right on the mark for mixing. I hit all three coats as fast as I could spray, clean, reload and mix. I painted my stencils a week later or so.

The Gillespie is very easy to use. Good luck.

One very important place to seek detailed data on the correct application of a specific paint is from that paint manufacturer. For the more general industry standard principals just google "Restoration Repainting of Antique Automobiles".

Wes brings up a very good point about the manufacture`s specs. In the last 20 years things have changed drastically with auto finishes due to ozone requirements from the government. Paint materials have skyrocketed in price because of it. Many new car finishes are now water based paint due to all the regs. Back in the old days with reducers and thinners, temperatures and humidity determined what type of thinners were used on automobiles so it would flow best for a good shine on the paint job. The warmer it was the slower the dry time thinners and the cooler it was the faster or hotter the thinner you wanted to use. I don't know that would be an issue with military vehicles as most appear more flat. Jim

Oops 1 more if anybody ever tells you to thin your paint with mineral spirits laugh at them. It might be dry in 6 months.

My belief is that Xylene should be mixed with your paint, and any kind of Spirits should only go in a mixed drink - which can affect your paint job .

Done many of them, using Gillespie from Rapco and use ONLY xylene; as you said. And Eades said it; it will dry very fast, second coat as soon as you finish going over it all. I only use two thick coats.
Stencils; when you can't smell it, it is completely dry even though it will be dry to the touch in less than an hour.
I also use a HF HVLP gun; I do clean them but if they get too gummed up, just throw it away; the only cost $17.
Have fun.
M38s have to be 23070; like the original 2430 no longer made.
After 56 use 24087.
I have an M606 in the works right now and soon will be 24087.

I just finished painting last week. I paint in the morning before it gets too hot. I put the next coat on within 24 hours with no prep, just make sure to use a tac cloth before painting. If It has been more than 24 hours, I scuff the surface with 000 steel wool, vacuum, then use a tac cloth to remove dust before painting.

I mixed my GCI paint 4:1 paint to xylene. See the link below. It’s a good video on adjusting your spray gun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiLX3Dcp4F0