How To Paint With Water Borne Paint

Learn how to master waterborne paint technology and spray a flawless classic two-tone finish on a ’66 Chevy pickup. Transitioning from solvent-borne to waterborne base coat requires a few key process adjustments: mixing at a precise 20% reducer ratio (stirred, not shaken), straining to eliminate bubbles, and sanding with a finer 600-grit to prevent visible scratches. Achieving excellent coverage with a waterborne-compatible spray gun means keeping a fast gun speed, maintaining a 3-to-4-inch distance from the panel, and using specialized Venturi air dryers between each of your medium-wet coats. Finally, see why painting past your color break avoids heavy paint buildup at the tape line before sealing the entire job with a solvent-borne clear coat using a dedicated secondary gun.