Pettit 6999 Sandless Primer - How to Apply

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This information provided here has been reproduced courtesy of Pettit Paint Company. Wholesale Marine reproduced this information on 3/26/2010.

GENERAL INFORMATION

-Eliminates the need to sand before applying antifouling paint.
-Recommended over vinyl ester and other blister resistant gelcoats where sanding is forbidden.
-Longer tacky time for improved recoatability.

Pettit 6999 Sandless Primer is a pre-treatment primer designed to adhere tenaciously to unsanded fiberglass gelcoat. When properly topcoated with antifouling paint, the primer and antifouling will bond together strongly, resulting in a finish with excellent overall adhesion. Sandless Primer is ideal over vinyl ester gelcoats, where sanding of the gelcoat may void osmotic blister warranties. It may be used over conventional gelcoats as well, and as a tie coat between two part epoxy primers and antifouling paints.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Shake or stir the 6999 Sandless Primer thoroughly. Apply one thin, continuous coat by brush or short nap roller only. Do not spray. Monitor the drying of the 6999 Sandless Primer carefully. The dry times listed here are only estimates. Humidity, ventilation, film
thickness, as well as temperature can all affect the rate at which the 6999 Sandless Primer cures. Read and understand the application
and topcoating instructions on the reverse side carefully before applying the 6999 Sandless Primer. For larger boats, or on hot, humid days, it may be advisable to section the boat and apply the primer and antifouling to each section rather than the whole boat at once.

SURFACE PREPARATION

Surface preparation in a no sand antifouling system is of critical importance. All surfaces to be painted, regardless of age, should be scrubbed with detergent and water and then rinsed thoroughly. Allow to dry and then dewax thoroughly with Pettit 95 Fiberglass Dewaxer. Vinyl Ester gelcoats or resins should be dewaxed at least three times prior to applying 6999 Sandless Primer. All surfaces should be completely free of all wax, mold release agents, and other contaminants. Failure to properly prepare the surface will result in flaking and peeling of the primer and/or antifouling paint.

COVERAGE.....approx. 600-700 sq. ft/gal.

APPLICATION DATA

METHOD.....Brush or Short Nap Roller.
Do NOT spray.
NUMBER OF COATS....One
WET FILM THICKNESS PER COAT...2.0 -2.5 mils
APPLICATION TEMP.....50 degrees F. Min. - 95 degrees F. Max.

Pettit 6999 Sandless Primer has been formulated to be used below the waterline on vinyl ester or polyester gelcoats as well as epoxy barrier boats when sanding is prohibited such as vinyl ester gelcoats with blister warranties, or is otherwise impractical. Sandless Primer is recommended for use with all Pettit antifouling paints.

Surface Preparation: The surface to be painted must be scrubbed thoroughly with a detergent and water solution and then rinsed completely with fresh, clean water. Then using Pettit 15095 Fiberglass Dewaxer and plenty of clean rags, wet the surface to be painted with a rag wetted with the Dewaxer and wipe clean with a dry rag. Continue in this manner until the entire surface has been dewaxed. Check the surface for residual wax or mold release by running water over the surface. If the water beads up or separates, repeat the dewaxing process until all traces of wax, mold release and other contaminants are removed and water sheets off the surface. Always dewax Vinyl Ester surfaces at least three times prior to using 6999 Sandless Primer.

Mixing: Shake or stir the 6999 Sandless Primer thoroughly before using. Make sure any pigment settled to the bottom of the can during storage has been properly remixed into suspension. Thinning is not necessary or recommended.

Estimated Dry Times: Counting the minutes or hours after the 6999 Sandless Primer has been applied is not nearly as important as actually checking the paint film in determining when the Sandless Primer is ready for topcoating with antifouling paint. To check the Sandless Primer, touch it with your fingertip using moderate pressure. If it feels wet or you get paint transfer to your fingertip, it is still too wet to topcoat. Depending on the Pettit antifouling paint that will be used, the 6999 Sandless Primer must dry set-to-touch or tack-free before topcoating (see Topcoating instructions). The primer has dried set-to-touch when it feels tacky when touched with a fingertip using moderate pressure. No paint should come off the surface onto your finger. The primer has dried tack-free when no surface tackiness is felt when applying moderate pressure with a fingertip. Use the chart below to estimate the drying times of the Sandless Primer. Remember, this guide is only an estimate.

Humidity, ventilation, film thickness, as well as temperature can all affect the rate at which the Sandless Primer dries. Therefore, wide variation from the estimated dry times shown below can occur.

Temp. Range Set-to-Touch (Time to recoat with Tack-Free (Time to recoat 50 - 65 degrees F 2 hours all Antifoulings except 4 hours with Pettit Ablatives) 65 - 80 degrees F 1 hour Ablatives) 3 hours 80 - 95 degrees F .5 hour 2 hours

Topcoating: With Pettit ACP-50, Horizons Copper Ablative 60, Pettit Ultima SR: Allow the 6999 Sandless Primer to dry tack-free (see the description of tack-free in Estimated Dry Times above). After the primer has dried tack-free, apply one coat of antifouling paint. Do not let the Sandless Primer dry longer than four hours after it reaches the tack-free state before starting and finishing the application of the antifouling paint. Follow the recommended dry times for the antifouling paint before applying the second coat.

With all other Pettit Antifoulings: Allow the 6999 Sandless Primer to dry set-to-touch. Then apply one coat of antifouling paint. Finish applying one coat of antifouling paint before the Sandless Primer dries to a tack-free state. Follow the recommended dry times for the antifouling paint before applying the second coat.

Clean-up Thinner: Use Pettit 97 Polypoxy Thinner or 120 Brushing Thinner. Clean up spatters on the boat and yourself before they dry. Dried primer will be extremely difficult to remove. Use soap and water only to remove spatters from yourself.