Crescent City Color — Metal Paint Procedure

Primed Metal
Etch Primer Route

Follow the numbers top to bottom. Don’t skip a wait time — each step has to be ready before the next one starts.

✓ This sheet: Etch primer
Other sheet: Epoxy approach for bare metal
When to use this sheet: You are using etch primer as your first primer on the metal. Spray 1–2 medium coats, then follow the clock below — the 2-hour rule decides whether you must sand.
1
Illustration of hands sanding a metal panel with an orbital sander, with a spray bottle of cleaner beside it
Prep Metal

Sand & Clean

  • Sand the metal with 80–180 grit.
  • Wash with Wax & Grease Remover. The surface must be clean and dry before any primer.
2
Illustration of a painter in a respirator spraying etch primer onto a metal car fender
First Primer

Etch Primer — 1–2 Medium Coats

  • Spray 1–2 medium coats of etch primer over the metal.
  • Going on within 15 minutes? No sanding needed — move straight to urethane primer.
  • More than 2 hours have passed? You must sand before you continue.
15 min — no sandingPast 2 hrs — must sand
3
Illustration of a painter spraying gray urethane primer on a panel, and a hand sanding the primed surface smooth
Primer

Urethane Primer

  • Spray the urethane primer over the etch primer.
  • Wait 5–10 minutes between coats.
  • Wait 2 hours before sanding.
5–10 min between coatsWait 2 hrs to sand
4
After Sanding the Primer

Choose One Path

PATH A — You are going to seal

Sand with 320

Spray 1 medium coat of sealer. Wait 30 minutes — and no more than 2 hours — then go straight to paint.

PATH B — Straight to paint

Sand with 400–600

No sealer. Sand finer with 400–600 and go straight to paint.

5
Illustration of a painter spraying glossy blue paint and clear coat onto a car hood panel
Paint

Paint — Medium Wet Coats

  • Apply medium wet coats until coverage is achieved — usually 2–3 coats.
  • Wait 5–10 minutes between coats.
  • After paint, wait 30 minutes to 12 hours before clear.
2–3 coats for coverage5–10 min between coats30 min – 12 hrs before clear
6
Clear — Last Step

Clear Coat

  • Wait 5–10 minutes between coats of clear.
  • Let it sit 24–48 hours before buffing. Don’t buff early.
5–10 min between clear coats24–48 hrs before buffing

Gun Setup

Paint & Clear — tip1.3 / 1.4
Priming — tip1.4 – 2.0
Paint / Primer20–25 psi
Clear25–30 psi

Tip size we recommend: 1.3/1.4 for paint and clear, and 1.4–2.0 for priming. Set the pressure for the coat you are spraying — clear runs higher than paint and primer.

Times at a Glance

Etch primer — no sanding window15 min
Etch primer — must sand after2 hrs
Urethane — before sanding2 hrs
Sealer — wait, then paint within30 min – 2 hrs
Paint — before clear30 min – 12 hrs
Clear — before buffing24–48 hrs

To print for the shop: use your browser’s Print option — this sheet is laid out to print cleanly.

Source: Crescent City Color “Metal Paint Procedures” — Jorge Santana, Jan 3, 2023. This sheet covers the etch-primer route only.