Paint thinning

[BoatBuoy]

Getting ready to spray-paint my boat trailer sometime in next couple of days. Prep work is almost finished. I'm using a siphon-feed spray gun with a 30 gal. compressor. I'll be using Valspar Anti-Rust which is very similar to Rust-Oleum. I have sprayed before but many years ago. I know if spraying, thinning should be done. Would someone know approx. what ratio of paint-to-thinner would be a good starting point? I sent Valspar an email, but they said they could not make a recommendation due to EPA regulations.<br /><br />NOTE: oops, wrong forum, could someone move it to Trailers. Thanks.

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Paint thinning

Originally posted by BoatBuoy:<br /> but they said they could not make a recommendation due to EPA regulations.<br />

I can see their point. Siphon feed guns are a no-no in the paint industry nowdays. In our modern and enlightened age, Commercial shops/users will get a big fat ticket if a govt. inspector so much as sees one hanging on the wall covered in dust & spider webs. They've been replaced with the HVLP ones that are more efficent and have less overspray. But if you spray something like 10 gallons or less a year, they're still OK.<br /><br />Anyway:<br />If the can doesn't tell you what solvent to use to thin it with, usually whatever it says to use for clean-up will work.<br /><br />Don't just grab Lacquer thinner or something handy. If the solvent is too strong, it will do to the chemistry of the paint about like what happens to a newspaper when you run over it 2 or 3 times with a lawnmower. <br /><br /><br />Without instructions, you'll have to experiment on the trash can or something. Start with a 4 to 1 reduction. 4 parts paint, 1 part reducer/solvent.<br /><br />Spray a little, see how it looks and comes out.<br /><br />If it comes out like cotton candy, or big globs that won't lay down and flatten out, add more reducer. <br /><br />If it looks real watery, go back to shooting it straight out of the can without any solvent.<br /><br />Another way is to look at how it runs off the stir stick. It should run off the stick and drip like anything else you're used to spraying after its been thinned/reduced.<br /><br />A paint gun is balanced for the viscosity or thickness of something its set to spray. So your paint will have to be as thin (viscosity wise) as anything else it sprays.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Paint thinning

Thanks Winger. I will let you know how it goes.

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Paint thinning

Originally posted by BoatBuoy:<br /> Thanks Winger. I will let you know how it goes.

Great.<br /><br />Although I speak for myself:<br /><br />Its great to hear follow-ups from folks who you've answered their questions,,,,,,<br /><br />And they've done well with your suggestions or info.<br /><br /><br />//////////////<br /><br />I hope your project comes out well, and you can pass on your experiances to the next generation coming along.

 

[rverano]

Re: Paint thinning

If you say the paint is like Rust-Oleum, Rust-Oleum is thinned with Acetone. Like Winger stated, try to make sure you use the correct thinner.