spray cans

[anthony115merc]

are spay cans suitable for painting a boat? i sanded my fibreglass deck today and was thinking would this be good option to use

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: spray cans

i use it on aluminum boats, should be ok, but not the best. don't coat to thick use several coats, to keep it from running, allow time to dry between coats.

 

[Kevin70]

Re: spray cans

Also, try to find the cans that have a "fan pattern tip". These mimic spray gun patterns and are your best bet when can painting.

 

[sturdavj]

Re: spray cans

A tip I picked up back in my scale modeling days, warm the can of paint in a bucket of hot water prior to application. It helps with the tack and provides for more uniformed coverage.

 

[anthony115merc]

Re: spray cans

will this last good? and look nice? i am pretty good at painting with cans i painted my bike frame and looks like a prefesional job and lasts a long time would this be the same on fibreglass?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: spray cans

the prep work is the key to paint looking good. if not smooth and clean it's not going to look good. try it if you don't like it sand again.

 

[Robj]

Re: spray cans

Anthony,

You get what you pay for. Yes I have used spray paint to paint many items, generally smaller ones, and they looked good. Would I use them to paint a boat or car? No. Have you seen cars painted by spray cans? I have and they don't look that great. If you want your floor to look good, I think you have to spray, or others have rolled and then brushed on coatings that they claim worked well. Do a search, there were some posts just a few days ago regarding this topic, both on application technique and which products to use.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: spray cans

Go with the roll and tip method.... you appear to have alot of boat there. Surface prep is the key.

 

[Rob454]

Re: spray cans

Spray cans are ok for small items. If youre gonna spray get a spray gun. Paint cans dotn have enough velocity. I found out that spray cans on large surfaces arent the best
Im gonna paint my boat but Im gonna roll it on
Rob

 

[Mark42]

Re: spray cans

Yep, spray cans are best for painting small surfaces. Large areas need a spray gun. If you don't have compressed air, an airless sprayer will work fine. It will allow you to thin the paint enough that it will stay wet until you are done with a large are so there willl not be stripes from edges drying. Keeping a wet edge gives it the overall smooth look.

If you are working for a auto quality finish, get some good spray equipment.

If you are looking for something that will look fresh, hold up for years, then thinned Rustolium in an airless sprayer (about $45 to $75 ) will do the job. There are also urathane paints you can buy by the quart that you might want to look into. Stop at a paint store (not the Depot or Lowes, etc) and ask what they have that will hold up above the water line.

PS, I haven't tried roll and tip, but lots of folks on this forum have posted photos of amazing results using that method.

 

[sturdavj]

Re: spray cans

As TD mentioned earlier, surface prep is 75% of a good paint job. The remaining is split between 20% technique (spelled skill), 5 % materials. If you spend the extra time to prepare correctly for the type of paint your planning to use, and take your time during the application process you get the results your looking for.

If you do choose to brush, roll, of machine spray look into a product produced by Flood, called Floetrol. Check it out,

Floetrol is a conditioner for flat or semi-gloss latex paints and enamels. Adding Floetrol to latex paint improves the performance of the paint and keeps the projects flowing smoothly. Floetrol gives latex paint the flow and leveling of oil paint to enhance it performance in less-than-ideal circumstances. It minimizes brush and roller marks to make your paint job look better with less effort.

I believe they also make a similar product for urethane paints, if you choose to go that route.

 

[Robj]

Re: spray cans

I don't think I would use Latex paint on a floor or anywhere else on a boat.

 

[sturdavj]

Re: spray cans

It is not my intention to debate paint types.

It is just one of many options, paints have come a long way. I think folks would be surprised if they knew the areas (outdoors) in which latex is now being applied.

I can however tell you that I use it on the floor of my boat (and with the help of this forum in getting my boat up & running), not one of this fish I pulled into my boat last Friday objected to latex paint in the least little bit.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: spray cans

I would apply the paint via roller. I would not spray a deck.
A deck is made for walking on, I would not like it to be shiney hard and slick like a car paint job.
Besides, spraying it on gives the falsehood of adequate paint when in fact it can be extremely thin. Thus wearing out in traffic areas and requiring redo in a short time.

 

[anthony115merc]

Re: spray cans

maybe i might buy some sticky tape and tape up all the holes and paint it