And now for a sundial-related question of a quite different sort: I'm planning to paint a large dial pattern on a masonry wall. However, I may not be available to repaint the surface when the original work deteriorates with prolonged Sun exposure and age. Thus, I'd like to do whatever it takes up front -- both in effort and expense -- to ensure the longest-lasting paint job. Does anyone have practical suggestions for the following:
* How best to prepare the wall surface prior to painting? * What type of paint has the best long-life characteristics? * Is there a type of protective coating I can apply afterwards (e.g., a lacquer, a urethane) that would enhance the durability of the original painted pattern? This dial will be in an environment with temperatures ranging from 0 - 35 degree Celsius, in coastal California (but not directly exposed to ocean spray), with 20 inches of rain each year and 6 hours (average) of direct Sun per day. I would think this longevity issue comes up when muralists decorate a wall. What methods do muralists employ to preserve their work? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mark Gingrich [EMAIL PROTECTED] San Leandro, California ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
