Mixing Cellulose Paint

[Aled Owen]

The sort of projects I take on aren't really big enough to use spray guns for (I restore old Cylinder Lawnmowers), so I'm thinking of using cellulose paint with brush application, I like cellulose because of it's fast drying properties, but the stuff I've done on brush with cellulose before, I've found the paint dries while I'm applying it, so I don't have time to brush it in and create a smooth coating.

Anyway, am I right in saying mixing the paint in with cellulose thinners would increase the time the paint takes to be touch dry? I've tried water based paints as an alternative but I hate waiting for hours for the paint to dry as it slows down the restoration process, I'm after a touch dry finish in about 2 or 3 minutes ideally, what sort of thinner mixture should I be after to achieve this?

Cheers
Aled

 

[langy]

You could brush or roller 2k paint which would be miles better and dry fairly quickly

 

[the snooper]

when spraying celly its a 50 50 mix but when brushing you probably wont need that much thinner, if i were you i would mix 50 25 and try it but it depends on the temperature aswell even that may be too thin

 

[the snooper]

You could brush or roller 2k paint which would be miles better and dry fairly quickly

and no worries about isocyanates as it isnt being sprayed

 

[Weldinator]

Would still need to use a good face mask though, at least i will be

That wont gain much work for the future in a few years time, they wont get rusty with 2k

What ever you use ask the paint shop what the recommended ratio is, some like 50/50 some dont, use quality thinners too, it will take 10 min flash off period for each layer at 20d. Or search google for the product technical data.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I never found celly any good for brush painting.

I also had small jobs where mixing paint was more bother than it was worth, I then bought an airbrush from the bay of evil, think it was about £7 and it was spot on, surprising the results I got, you can adjust the spray from a line thickness to about 40mm wide.

This is the one and the price has dropped

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRO-MINI-...Crafts_DrawingSupplies_EH&hash=item3ca9f4c6e9

Don't be put off by the low price, they really do work well.

I also bought a tanning spray gun for slightly larger work, still a fair bit smaller than the normal guns, think that one was only just over a tenner.

 

[steveo3002]

celly isnt the right stuff for brushing

look at rustoleum combi paint , that has a huge following with people roller or brush painting stuff , it stays wet for a while and flows nice and flat

 

[langy]

and no worries about isocyanates as it isnt being sprayed

Yeah but I still like to use a short duration mask as the fumes are fairly strong.

 

[langy]

celly isnt the right stuff for brushing

look at rustoleum combi paint , that has a huge following with people roller or brush painting stuff , it stays wet for a while and flows nice and flat

If I'm rollering or brushing 2k I just use a slow hardener & 30% slow thinnerX

 

[Seano]

I know you said your projects are not big enough for guns and compressor set ups, but have you given any thought to a small HVLP setup, relatively inexpensive, and its always there for future work.

 

[steveo3002]

i put off having a small compressor at home for years thinking i didnt need one , now ive got one its great being able to spray whenever i like

for a lawn mower id have thought a diy store enamel would be good enough

 

[Seano]

for a lawn mower id have thought a diy store enamel would be good enough

You can always use a drop of celly thinners in it to help it flash off quicker as well.

 

[Chipper]

Second the Rustoleum, or Japlac, I liked that a bit better. Enamel will keep it's shine longer as well.

There's a "rocket" for enamels too. Terabene, terobene? Some spelling like that.

For stuff like that a mini gun and little comp would do fine, and cheap too. Say £20 for the gun, £40 for a small comp s/h (Aldi ones were £80 new). Reg/trap, hoses, and away you go.