Bru Peckett wrote: > Allan Cazaly wrote ... > > <..> > >> 1) Procure an old working electric chip fryer. >> 2) Procure a large paint kettle or similar to fit in the chip fryer. >> 3) Put some water in the bottom of the fryer. >> 4) Fill the paint kettle with the enamel boat paint and heat up the >> paint until it is very hot - DON'T LET IT BOIL - >> 5) Spray the paint hot. > > Bl**dy hell! I wouldn't try this at home :-0
I won't.....! 8-) capable of raising the temperature to *well* above the flash > point of the solvent carrier > > On a cold day, I used to drop tins of signwriters enamel into *warm* > water (bath water temp, no higher) to aid the paint flow and that > could be a good plan for spray enamels too but raising the > temperature any higher than that, whilst it might result in an > apparently good finish, is probably going to create a brittle hard > skin, possibly over a film of paint that never really sets off > properly depending on how many microns thick each coat is. That may > be why your finish chips so easily. > > The paint manufactuers data sheets will give the optimum application > temperature and it's a really bad idea to stray outside of that range. > The biggest problem with spray enamels and cellulose based paints, > apart from needing respirator gear (not mentioned I notice - eek!) to > apply 'em, is that the ambient temp needs to be tightly controlled > during both application and drying. Not easy to achieve in your > average wet dock. > > The other problem, IMO, is that if you get a spray paint job right the > finish is far too good! That may sound daft but a high gloss coach > finish a la Rolls Royce is the last thing you want on your average > narrowboat 'cos it tends to show up every little imperfection in the > steelwork. Personally, I find a well applied brush finish much more > suitable and with a little practice a good hand with a paintbrush can > achieve a very nice finish indeed (it's all in the laying off) Agreed. I'm not in favour of those boats that have just looked like they have rolled off some car production line. Boats take more punishment, and the last thing I want is to be worrying about the next overhanging branch... If there's a scrape in future times, then I want the paint and brushes handy to do a quick and reasonable repair. I'm sticking to good quality brushes, and finishing off the last coat on the larger panels with a small foam roller. Ron Jones Process Safety & Development Specialist Don't repeat history, unreported chemical lab/plant near misses at http://www.crhf.org.uk Only two things are certain: The universe and human stupidity; and I'm not certain about the universe. ~ Albert Einstein
