Re: Spraying finish

[JLucas ILS]

Chuck, Runs may be a part of the learning curve but not a part of everyday painting...certainly by a pro. The trick is to know when the coating will run amd stop just before that point. I found that it is easier to do this when using quality waterborne coatings...my favorite Target Coatings and not to thin it more than what they recommend (10%) and to thin with their retardent and not water. Keep a clean rags available and start spraying. You always want a wet edge and to work new spraying into this edge. Use a side light to help show the wet coating. Then, practice, practice, practice.

[Kruppt]

"WoodChuck" wrote in news:gI52b.10139$ [e-mail]:

I look at the surface I'm spraying from, at an angle that I can see reflected light off the surface I'm spraying when spraying clear coats. For my first coat, I just spray a very thin glossy coat. (just enough build till it looks smooth and glossy) Then let it tack up a little.(for

5 minutes or so) Then you can shoot a LITTLE heavier coat over this tack coat. I sprayed cars myself, and it took a bit of getting use to spraying clear poly, as I was spraying this stuff on like I would car paint which sets up very quickly. Poly has to be sprayed on in MUCH thinner coats, as it does not dry anywhere near as fast as car paints. You have to reduce it a bit also, as poly is to thick to spray well right out of the can. I have reduced it with lacquer thinner with good results. (dries much faster) I'm speaking of Mini-Wax Fast Drying Poly in my case. The smaller touch up guns work great for spraying furniture by the way.

Kruppt

[WoodChuck]

Thanks. I am also spraying Minwax Fast Drying Poly thinned about 10% with mineral spirits. I never thought of using lacquer thinner. How much are you reducing it?

I am also going to install more lighting fixtures in the shop. I think that may help as well.

Chuck

[Kruppt]

"WoodChuck" wrote in news:d044b.4551$ [e-mail]:

In my case, I was reducing 3 parts poly to 1 part lacquer thinner. About 25-30%.(allows for a finer spray) I have had really good results doing so. I spray very thin wet coats. I let each coat dry/tack up, before spraying another coat, and spray each following coat, over the previous coat while they are still tacky, but set up well, so insuring each coat melts in with the other, until I have reached the desired thickness I want. I was using naptha thinner earlier, but it took to darned long for the poly to set up in my location, tried the lacquer thinner and it has worked great for me. Ditto on the lighting, you can't control what you can't see. I have been using the satin poly.

Kruppt