Quote:
Originally Posted by Apot /forum/post/19517638
Thanks!
So here's my Wagner DD friendly mix:
1/2 gallon Behr Faux Glaze
4 Oz Delta Silver Metallic
8 Oz. Filtered Tap water
Squirrel cage mixed and stocking filtered
7 duster coats at 12-14" distance and 2-3 ft/sec speed. Dry completely between coats.
I'm skeptical about my ability to maintain co
stant distance and speed, but I really want to give this a shot.
Well, in actuality, painting S-I-L-V-E-R is among the easiest to do, it's just that you have to apply so many light coats.
The speed you move at is maintained easier than if you have to instead go much more slowly, and at a more measured pace. Maintaining Distance & Overlap is still critical, however if your moving quickly, those elements are also easier.
The paramount thing to remember is there is NO GOING BACK OVER A WEAK AREA!!!! You wait until the next coat and let that fill in. If by chance one of the Kids fall down the stairs, or the Wife sez the Dog is chasing the neighbor's Cat and you have to stop, you let the work dry "as is" and then "feather in" you restart. Feathering can also be used to even out a gross miscue between Rows where you dipped below the Overlap line.
Feathering involves turning the Gun to right angles to the Screen, starting it up, and then twisting it inward so that the Spray contacts the surface just at the edge of the needful area, and your moving across the surface at that point as well. You cannot point the Gun directly at the surface in the middle of the board/wall or you WILL get a much heavier "spot" or sometimes an initial "splatter" as the gun starts up.
Such is why one always starts each new application of the Rows at least 6" - 8" off the Screen area, and goes past the other far edge before dropping down the 1/3 Row height of Overlap and starting back across.
Absolutely, practice is essential to assure one's self of nailing down a perfect S-I-L-V-E-R. If you make up the Mix as listed, you've got plenty to spare so wasting is not an issue.
Remember that the first 2-3 coats will dry fairly fast (30 min - 45 min - 1 hr respectfully) but after that, the underlying coats will tend to retain the moisture longer and take longer to dry. ALWAYS wait at least 1 hour between coats past the 3rd coating The longer the better, and all the more reason to but a significant amount of Beer.
Avoid Tequila though. Last time I tried that.....well I'm not gonna go there again.
A few last tips.
- If you see the Wet Sheen of later coats go "Flat" in appearance and you can touch the surface without leaving a smudge, you can then place a Box fan centered to the surface and 8' away and put it on medium speed to hasten dry times...or better still, get the surface even dryer while waiting the entire prescribed length.
- If at any time during-after painting a coat you see a Hair, Bug, or Dust Bunny, DO NOT try to remove it. That is when you let the screen dry a long time...overnight if possible, then you can pluck the offending object right off.
- Wear clean, lint free clothes. A Cap is also a good idea. Sweep the area clean. Turn the AC off...of course.
- If the budget can allow such, after you wait for the Sheen to go away, and start using the Fan (or not) turn on the Heat in the Room or use a Heater to raise the Rooms temp to 85 degrees.
- In fact, if you do the Heat Thing first, and maintain that temp as close as you can (...remembering to turn off the heat / heater while spraying...) every coat's dry time will be accelerated.
These are items one learns by doing things over a period of time. They are intended to allow you/others to do things more quickly and with a greater assurance of success. Myself, every attempt is deemed critical when doing such for a Client. For fellow DIY'ers it should also be deemed just as critical because I dread seeing posts about issues cropping up.
That there have been so very few such postings by those who read, digest, and follow instructions, and the few who avail themselves of my standing offer to talk in person if a 23rd hour question or issue arises, that all goes to show that as DIY'ers we must depend upon others to help make our projects obtain a level and standard of quality and performance that far exceeds expectations.
DIY does not have to mean DIY-all alone.