Home » Knowledge Base » Knowledge Base Article What's New  |  Site Map 

 

 
   
   
 
 


Today's
Sponsors:


Granite Road

Great Lakes Kiln Drying Association

Great Northern Lumber

Greco Manufacturing

GreCon

Green Forest Products

GUHDO

Hanson and Leja Lumber Company

CIM-Tech

Clear Lake Lumber

CNC Auto-Motion

CNC Parts Dept.

CNCROUTERSTORE.com

CNT Motion Systems

Colonial Saw

Construction Programs and Results

Construction Recruiters

COOLwoodworkingstuff.com

Copemaster

Cordes Machine

Country Saw & Knife, Inc.

Courmatt International Inc.

CP Adhesives

CraftMaster Manufacturing

CSH Custom Service Hardware Inc.

CTD Machines

Custom Woodworking Business

Cutlist Plus

D.S. Brown Machinery

Dancer Logging

Delle Vedove USA, Inc.

Delmac Machinery Group

Delmhorst Instrument Co.

Delta

Denray Machine

DeVilbiss

Diehl Machines

Dispoz-A-Blade

Diversi-Tech

DMC

DODDS

Don Hall & Associates

Donald Dean and Sons

Doucet Machineries Inc.

Downdrafttable.org

Durable Wood Products

E.W. Tooling Inc.

Eagle America

Eagle Machinery and Repair Co.

EasyCoper Tool Company

ECabinet Systems

Edge-It Edgebanding

Electrophysics

Elias Woodwork & Manufacturing

Elkom North America

Endeavor Hardwoods

EnRoute WOOD

ETemplate Digital Measuring

Eterna Lighting

ETK International

Eurosoft, Inc.

EX-FACTORY

Excel Dowel and Wood Products Inc.

ExpressSander.com

Extrema Machinery

FastCap

Finish Systems

FlexiCAM

FORDAQ

Forest City Tool

FormWood Industries

Freeborn Tool Company

FS Cruing

FS Tool Outlet.com

Fuhr International

Fuji Spray

Furniture D Cube

G&M Woodcopy Lathes

Gabbiani Machine

Gary M. Katz

Glue Machinery Corporation

Goby Walnut Products



WOODWEB DISCLAIMS any and all RESPONSIBILITY and LIABILITY for the accuracy and application of the information below. Readers agree to evaluate the significance and limitations of the information provided, and accept full responsibility for the application of this information. Read More ...

Would you like to add information to this article?
Interested in writing or submitting an article?
Have a question about this article?



Spray Quality Issues, Sandpaper Choice, and Inter-Coat Adhesion       A finisher has concerns about both the off-the-gun quality of his base coat, and the possible problems created by his sandpaper selection. Colleagues straighten him out on both counts. March 30, 2008

Question
I am working on a painted/glazed project. All SW products, white vinyl sealer, alkyd glaze, pre-cat topcoat. I cannot seem to get the white vinyl to lay out just right off the gun with no overspray. I tried sanding a sample with 2000 grit Norton Sandwet waterproof sandpaper, and then glazing. The 2000 grit was coarse enough to denib what I needed it to. I then glazed the sample and it did not have deep enough scratches to cause a problem with glaze lodging in the scratches. I have never used this type of paper before. Could it cause fisheyes, etc with the topcoat?

Forum Responses
(Finishing Forum)
From contributor J:
I've never had a problem with Nortons. I like their Black Ice the best and have used it a lot for auto paint prep, which it's designed for. That demands a clean product.



From the original questioner:
Sorry, I should have included the complete schedule.

- 2-3 coats tinted vinyl sealer
- (hopefully sand with 2000)
- glaze with van dyke brown alkyd base glaze
- topcoat with 2 coats pre-cat

The paper I am looking to use is black in color, but I don't think it's called Black Ice. Not sure if that is the same thing.



From contributor R:
Using such a fine sandpaper could cause adhesion problems worse than any kind of contamination could possibly create. Don't try to cure faulty spraying techniques with sandpaper. Discover what is causing the spray problems and correct them first.

I've sprayed SW white vinyl on many projects with fine results. What kind of spray gun are you using? Is it hooked up to a pressure pot? What PSI range are you spraying in? Have you used some retarder in the mixture? How much do you thin the product? Are the gun parts absolutely clean? If not, that's the cause of many a spray problem, overspray being one.

Let's solve the spraying problems first and not worry about the sandpaper. Once you get the spraying end of it down, you can use 220-320 grey silicone carbide papers by most any manufacturer. I happen to like 3M, but that's just my preference.



From contributor G:
I have used that finishing schedule several times but not with 2000 paper. That is way too fine. 320 or 0000 steel wool is plenty. 2000 paper is for polishing, not scuffing, a surface for an application of another finish. As said, this will give you adhesion problems. You need to have some tooth for the next stage to stick to. A light sanding with 320 will not, or should not, leave scratches deep enough to cause problems with your glaze. But adding glaze will leave a slight tint and change the color of the white. Is this what you are trying to avoid? Rub the glaze harder and faster or add a little naphtha to your rag to get a cleaner non-glazed surface.


From the original questioner:
Thanks. I am spraying using a Turbinaire HVLP (0.75 needle and #2 aircap I believe). I don't know why I am having so much trouble with it. On moldings or columns, or something else small, it's not a problem to keep a wet edge, but when doing a larger door or face frame, by the time you get back around, it's dry already. I know retarder would help this, but it seems to me that you have to go painfully slow to lay out enough material to flow out completely/break the surface tension.

I have tried thinning, as well as different turbine speeds, different material flow rates, and I feel like I am using the proper needle and aircap per the chart given with the gun. I might have had this trouble with clears before and not even known it. This solid color lacquer finishing is a completely different beast.

About the color of the glaze, changing the overall color of the surface a little bit is desirable in this case. I am just trying to avoid sanding scratches for the glaze to lodge in.

I didn't even consider losing tooth for the topcoat with the 2000 grit. I'm glad I didn't start that! I tried 320 on a sample and it left scratches that were too deep. I had a bit more success with 400, followed by a 0000 synthetic steel wool. Is this okay to topcoat? Would 800 be too fine to use?



From contributor J:
I don't know if this helps, but I sand with 600 grit and it works fine for my lacquer topcoats. If I use 400 or coarser, I have scratches show. So 600 for me! And that's 400 on the Cami scale. Not the "P" number scale which would be more like "P1000" grit.


From contributor P:
.75 is a pretty small needle. Could be that it's atomizing the finish so much that it's dry before it hits the wood. I'd try bumping up to at least a 1.0. I have the Turbinaire, too. I spray most topcoats with a 1.5 needle and #2 aircap. Your finish manufacturer should be able to tell you what the best needle/cap combo is.


From contributor S:
Ditch the turbine (anything but) and the 2000 grit (220, 240, 320) paper and your troubles will vanish.


From contributor T:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the topcoat will make a chemical bond with the vinyl and itself, therefore adhesion is a non-issue.


From contributor R:
What, you think the pre-cat will melt into the vinyl? Don't know, but I would not chance it.


From contributor C:
Yes, the pre-cat will melt into the vinyl, if the vinyl is not catalyzed. But you do take a chance that if too heavy a coat is applied, or if you're using retarder at all, that it will potentially lift the vinyl. Remember in the initial stages of application the pre-cat is like normal nitro lacquer; not until the bulk of the solvents evaporate and the oxidation starts does the alkyd/amino start crosslinking and become the catalyzed finish. That's the reason they have a recoat window, and once reached, you can no longer spray unless you sand or abrade.
Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below?
  • KnowledgeBase: Knowledge Base

  • KnowledgeBase: Finishing

  • KnowledgeBase: Finishing: General Wood Finishing




    Would you like to add information to this article? ... Click Here

    If you have a question regarding a Knowledge Base article, your best chance at uncovering an answer is to search the entire Knowledge Base for related articles or to post your question at the appropriate WOODWEB Forum. Before posting your message, be sure to
    review our Forum Guidelines.

    Questions entered in the Knowledge Base Article comment form will not generate responses! A list of WOODWEB Forums can be found at WOODWEB's Site Map.

    When you post your question at the Forum, be sure to include references to the Knowledge Base article that inspired your question. The more information you provide with your question, the better your chances are of receiving responses.

    Return to beginning of article.



    Refer a Friend || Read This Important Information || Site Map || Privacy Policy

    Letters, questions or comments? E-Mail us and let us know what you think. Be sure to review our Frequently Asked Questions page.

    Contact us to discuss advertising or to report problems with this site.

    To report a problem, send an e-mail to our Webmaster

    Copyright © 1996-2008 - WOODWEB ® Inc.
    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without permission of the Editor.
    Review WOODWEB's Copyright Policy.

    The editors, writers, and staff at WOODWEB try to promote safe practices. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Readers should undertake the use of materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.

    WOODWEB, Inc.
    RR4 Box 265A
    Montrose, PA 18801

    Contact WOODWEB