No,wet on wet is not two coats,the first coat must dry before the second is applied.

I don't spray, but I do believe you can spray a second coat over a wet coat within minutes of each other. No brush allows you to do that.

Paintguy will know.

Michael

Yeah, it allows you to put on a coat that will cover as if you did 2 coats, but this is not really the same as doing 2 real coats. After your first pass has started to set up, you hit it again and this re-wets your first pass. If you were to do one heavy pass there is a good chance you will get sags or runs. Fogging the paint on in layers lets you build up a thicker paint film without getting runs.

Thanks Paintguy. So what is the downside of a thick single coat that has the same paint depth as two thin coats? Is the paint going to blister later on or chalk off or is it just as good?

Yeah Paintguy!!!
I was waitin' for someone to say that...
"re-wets the first pass".

* There's some risk (with someone who isn't a good sprayer!!) that if too heavy a coat is sprayed on, and then re-wetted too soon...the innermost portion of the coat may allow the weight of the newest coat to sag, because the underneath portion is still wet.
* Paintguy...have you had to correct stuff like this from D-I-Y-ers...or just bad painters?!?

Faron

The rule of thumb is that two coats are better than one no matter how thick you put the paint on. But, if you are only doing one coat, a thick one is going to look better than a thin one. It's not going to blister or chalk off. So, the only real downside is that it's still one coat. The more real coats you put on (after the previous coat is dry) the deeper you paint film will be and the more durability, eveness of sheen, etc you will get. Have you ever seen a wood floor with 2 coats and then 3? It looks better and richer with each successive coat...that kind of look can only be achieved by doing more coats and not by doing one heavy one.

Paintguy,
Yeah, I think you've hit on a good point here...
* DRIED coats are the key to better appearance from any coating.
* "Richness" of color and coat eveness come only from dried layering; instead of "damp-upon-damp", which runs the risk of never letting the bottom-most layer never really dry.
* Good points p-guy!

Faron

IN the trade, the prime and first coat is for money. The topcoat is for show, baby.

Michael