Prime or dimple first

[chaliboy]

Just Curious,

I have always prime painted prior to dimple. Working on the Empennage, will soon start the tail cone.

The manual seems to lean toward Dimpling first. As I get to the end of the tail kit, there seems to be less or weaker guidance on when to prime.

Any idea or suggestion. Haven't had any issues with painting first....

[Carl Froehlich]

I always fabricate, then prime. I put the parts in a pile until I have to start riveting things together to move on. That is when I prime.

Carl

[chaliboy]

Thank you Carl,

I got that wrong on my initial post. I meant to say that I Dimple first then prime.

[1001001]

I've done both.

It's way easier to prime first then dimple. But you have to use a good primer that won't come off when flexed. In my experience it does not work with self etching primer, but the Sherwin-Williams stuff I am using works great when applied before dimpling.

[gotyoke]

I've done both and haven't found much difference. May depend on the primer--I use SW P60G2. If you decide to dimple first and need to scuff to prep for primer, do it before dimpling.

[skelrad]

I used to deburr and dimple, then prime. I got tired of destroying my fingers while scuffing over dimples to prepare for primer though. Now I mostly clean/scuff first, then dimple, then prime. It just depends on the build order though. For example, in building the wings, I scuffed and primed ribs first so I could rivet them to the spar and match drill to skins, then I dimpled them in place. As long as the primer has had long enough to truly cure, I haven't seen an issue with dimpling causing primer problems.

[wirejock]

Originally Posted by gotyoke

I've done both and haven't found much difference. May depend on the primer--I use SW P60G2. If you decide to dimple first and need to scuff to prep for primer, do it before dimpling.

That's the order I've always used. P60G2 as well
Fit
Scuff
Dimple
Wash
Prime