Top Coat Troubleshooting

[todd gustafson]

Hi all. The face lift to "ROSIE'' continues. Last night was our first coat of Top Coat of Awl Grip. After many countless hours of prep work we are finally getting closer to the words that came out our mouths 3 months ago "lets paint the deck and top sides on "Rosie" this winter."............wow what a long haul. As they say.....everything is prepwork.

OK, now that we earned our stripes for the prepping (we hope)....... let's bring out the Top Coat.

We were told and later learned that each, the High-Build, 545 as well as Top-Coat had it's own "feel" for application........... which it does. Learning each gave you a better understanding of what to expect and how to apply. With that said we planned out our strategy, where to start and finish breaking the boat into three parts.....where there might be a dry edge (if at all).

Having our tool ready.... (I cleaned the brushes with M.E.K. and roller came new out of bag (we used and liked the WHIZZ high density foam rollers)

First we tested the paint on a test board...... it not being primed didn't help us much so we started with the coach cover, lazarette. It seemed to flow ok we added a splash more of reducer to see if it would flow quicker.... it seemed too. We had lots of little bits of dust........ We chemical washed the boat.....tack clothed..... and still tiny bits of dust.... (once we got the the deck it seemed to subside but there was still evidence.... )

On to the deck....... the roll-tip went on very well.....seemed to flow well, added splashes of reducer as needed...... "wow, i could live with this". No paint strokes, sags, cool... whats the big deal, what were we worrying about, loosing sleep over?.... When we were finished looking over our hard work it seemed that paint was pooling up on the edge of the coach roof on the deck...... and a few other areas too. It seemed that a few spots that were not as "shinny", more translucent, like the color just ran off....... ??????? Plus it seemed like we had a wet edge for quite a while (the temp was 64 on the floor, a few more at the deck level).

Where we putting it on too heavy? Not enough reducer? Too much reducer?.......... Why the pooling? The translucentcy in areas?

We have not seen the boat yet today...... We plan to add another coat today (will wait till dry to touch)....... hope the second coat will go on better.

Thanks,
Todd

[Tim]

A common mistake is to apply this paint too heavily. The characteristics that make this paint theoretically flow and level so well also work against the applicator who applies too heavy a coat: that very flow can, and does, lead to sags anywhere the paint application is too thick, during the period before the reducer flashes off and "freezes" the paint in place. This problem is exacerbated by the extra-slow reducer specified for brush/roller application.

From your description, this sounds like it could be the problem.

[todd gustafson]

Well, after a week of nights sanding we are attempting another go at the top-coats to the deck.......

We thoroughly cleaned the boat and work area, threw away any dirty rags used sand paper etc. ..... anything that could create dust.

We plan to wash brushes, de-lint (new) rollers, new paint suits and tack cloths....... We even have a "anti-static cloth" given to us by the Awl-Grip rep.........

It is still in the 20's-30's here and the temp in the work area is in the mid 60's....... a bit warmer up higher at deck level.......

We have an old mirror we plan to "test" the paint on........since we added to much reducer and paint we are going to start with the minimum amount of reducer first, and add as needed.......... Hope this session goes better than the last......:)

We will let you know how it goes when we come up for air....

Todd

[Rachel]

Good luck!
(Although it sounds like you've done enough work and prep and research that I should be saying "good skill!".)

Rachel