Eastwood OptiFlow Roll on Primer, Eastwood OptiFlow Roll on Primer Experience Options

[mgarrison]

For anyone interested in the Eastwood OptiFlow roll-on Primer product, I wanted to share my personal experience with it. Full disclosure; I have not done any body work or paint since HS 40 years ago. Back then I helped prep my '69 Saab Sonett for a color change using enamel paint, color sanding & buffing. I thought I would try the OptiFlow to avoid the mess of spraying primer, and the cost of buying a primer gun/tip.

I watched the Eastwood and other videos on YouTube. I printed out and read the instructions start to finish, and then reread the step I was on - I wanted to follow them as close as possible (I tend towards OCD with details).

The Optiflow works basically as advertised, but I feel like their demonstration videos may have had some behind the scenes "magic" to them you dont get to see. When compared to my personal experience, and a couple other videos, the OptiFlow in the Eastwood video seems thicker, and much less prone to run - that was the biggest issue we had with applying the OptiFlow; if you use basically any pressure at all on the foam roller or the foam brush they suggest using, the product runs all over the place. It's so thin I would describe it between water and skim milk. A serious challenge to work with, at least with all the edges, seams, etc. on the 914!

Anytime the roller hit an edge, seam, or opening the product ran where you did not want it. These two examples in particular show how well it "flows":


The finished texture is a bit disappointing...It's possible we rolled it out too much, or maybe had too much/too little product on the roller, I really dont know. A major challenge was encountered anytime you had a spot the roller did not fit into. In this case its where the sail meets the rear fenders. I ended up with a "ridge" of product that will need to be sanded down.


Any surface that was not easily accessible, or flat was quite the challenge to roll out effectively. And again, the tendency to run was difficult to stay on top of!


Here's a couple more examples of how easily and often the product got away from us.


After filler work, and block sanding I'm thinking I may just spray the final coat of primer. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Just wanted to share my experience...YMMV (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)