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There is definitely a "catch 22" if you fly in primer. Primer surfacer is porous, but that leaves the plane with a good base material for the painter to work with. If you apply an non-sandable epoxy primer to seal the surface to protect against absorption of oil, the painter will be left with a nightmare trying to sand the non-sandable primer. My painter had a IVPT that had been painted with a white epoxy primer that just gummed up when he started sanding.
One thing that definitely helps is to apply the last coat of primer surfacer before flight and don't sand it. Sanded primer is more porous than un-sanded primer. I wiped down the belly and other areas that were exposed to oil and exhaust on my ES with large quantities of lacquer thinner three times before taking it to the paint shop. I soaked a small area and then wiped down the area with fresh paper towels. I repeated the process two more times. Lots of lacquer thinner and lots of paper towels. The paint is fine after 5 years.
Mike Easley
Colorado Springs
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