Photo Etch

[porschercr]

Having not worked with P.E. before, is it necessary to use Self Etching Primer?

 

Thanks,

Trevor

[Ace-Garageguy]

Self-etching primer is preferred whenever you're trying to get decent paint adhesion to any metal parts.

[porschercr]

Thank you.

[Exotics_Builder]

Self-etching primer is preferred whenever you're trying to get decent paint adhesion to any metal parts.

Are you painting the PE?  If just attaching to a model, and keeping it metal, no primer is needed but I always clean with rubbing alcohol or lacquer thinner.   What Bill said is correct, but you would only do self-etching on metal.  I use it on stripped diecasts before repainting.

Edited November 2, 2017 by Exotics_Builder

[porschercr]

Are you painting the PE?  If just attaching to a model, and keeping it metal, no primer is needed but I always clean with rubbing alcohol or lacquer thinner.   What Bill said is correct, but you would only do self-etching on metal.  I use it on stripped diecasts before repainting.

Probably both.

Edited November 2, 2017 by porschercr
re-worded

[Ace-Garageguy]

Just a thought...for scripts, grilles, light surrounds, etc. you can also polish some PE to a chrome-like shine.

[Exotics_Builder]

Just a thought...for scripts, grilles, light surrounds, etc. you can also polish some PE to a chrome-like shine.

Absolutely.  Just need to be careful not to bend it accidentally.

[astroracer]

Small photo-etched parts can be cleaned and painted just like the plastic. There is no need to use self-etching primer as long as the parts are sanded and cleaned along with the base plastic pieces.

 Self-etching is important on aluminum, especially on 1:1 (1 to 1) builds, but is not a requirement when painting stainless or nickle pieces which most P.E. parts are made from.

Mark

[Ace-Garageguy]

Small photo-etched parts can be cleaned and painted just like the plastic. There is no need to use self-etching primer as long as the parts are sanded and cleaned along with the base plastic pieces.

 Self-etching is important on aluminum, especially on 1:1 (1 to 1) builds, but is not a requirement when painting stainless or nickle pieces which most P.E. parts are made from.

Mark

This is one of those areas where different people have had differing experiences.

I've had some primers and paints pull-away from edges on small metal parts (aluminum and other metals as well) both scale and real. In my experience, shooting a coat of self-etch seems to be good insurance against this happening.

You have plenty of extra metal to experiment with left over as the frets the parts come on, so experimentation prior to committing to finishing an important part is always recommended.

[porschercr]

 

Agreed, the extra insurance is best.