Solignum Wood Preservative August 3, 2008
Posted by admin in : Painting Tips, Recommendations , 1 comment so far
Solignum Wood Preservative
For those of us who have the misfortune of experiencing a termite visitation, we quickly develop a certain respect for both the termite and havoc the visit
usually creates. I’ve had several "visits" in my life and one thing I’ve learned is that they tend to stay! Termites are extremely resilient and have very big appetites. And termites are the only infestations that I sought professional help for, especially after making several failed attempts at locating the Queen termite. (Let me digress a bit here for the benefit of those contemplating calling in the pest control people. Depending on the size of the project and the degree of infestation, you can expect to pay about $100 - $300 for it. I paid $100 for a visit recently and paid $300 for an annual contract, which kind of guarantees that your property remains termite-less for a whole year, subject to monthly visits that are inclusive. Thought you would like to know.)
Back to the topic of wood preservative. Over the years, many products come and go. But one that is as resilient as the termite must be the Solignum Wood Preservative. I think the product has been around for more than 20 years, and probably more. Which leads me to a simple conclusion about this product - it works. Also, not many products here come with a royal seal that says:
The product features are as follows:
- colourless or brown
- pack in 5-litre or 1-litre metal container
- used only on unpainted and unvarnished wood
- penetrates deeply to protect
- protect against fungi, wood rot and insect borers eg. termites
- can be used on interior and exterior wood
- can be painted, varnished or stained
I like the fact that painting or varnishing the wood does not affect the preservative action of the product.
Solignum Wood Preservative should best be applied to the woodwork prior to assembly. This allows the application of the preservative to be as thorough as
possible. Once assembled, the cross-sections and the underlaying sides are difficult to reach, let alone apply. Speaking of cross-sections, it is often advised that these areas be double coated for deeper penetration and thoroughness.
For a copy of the product brochure, please go to Protim Solignum Ltd’s website or to the following link:
http://www.solignum.com/SolignumExportLeaflet2feb04.pdf
To have an idea how termites can devour your home, watch this animation (remember to click on the termite):
http://www.solignum.com/termite-animation.htm
Rust Converter July 27, 2008
Posted by admin in : Painting Tips, Recommendations , 2commentsBoatman Rust Converter
Of all the different ways to deal with rust, this really leads the pack!
I first saw the use of rust converter some years ago in a metalworks industry
estate in the western part of the island. My response at that moment was : "Geez, why are you applying milk onto the air-con ducting?’ Good thing those words were uttered only mentally, not verbally. That was my first encounter with this amazing product - the Rust Converter.
The milk-like substance, upon contact with rust, first turns the rusted surface blue in colour.
After about 15 - 30 mins, the rust is converted into a black-coloured protective coating that is inert to further oxidation.
Red lead or red oxide primer act differently by covering the rust with a coat of oxidised paint while rust converter actively reacts with the rust. Once the inert black coating is formed, rust is arrested. The metal can either be left as it is, or top-coated with a alkyd, epoxy or polyurethane paint.
The advantages of the Boatman Rust Converter are:
- it can be applied directly onto rust with minimal preparation
- it’s non-hazardous, non-toxic, not flammable
- it’s water-based and easy cleanup (environmentally friendly)
- it’s extremely easy to apply, with brush or roller, or even dipped
While the practical coverage depends greatly on the extent of rust, 1 litre of the rust converter can cover approximately 10 sq m. It dries in 15 - 30 mins but should be top-coated only after 4 hours.
Boatman Rust Converter Datasheet
ICI Dulux Mouldguard July 15, 2008
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ICI Dulux Pentalite Mouldgard - A933-25664
ICI has come up with a product that solves a particular persistent problem faced by homeowners - mould growth. Mould can appear in many places, but particularly in areas where you don’t want them. Seriously, would you rather have mould present in your storeroom or in your bedroom. I haven’t heard of complaints of mouldy storeroom (yet?) but there seems to be a disproportionate occurrence in bedrooms. Bathrooms and kitchens are also favorite haunts. What they do is create an eyesore on the surface of the paint while slowly digesting the paintwork. With food and moisture, it spreads wider and wider. Before long, the entire wall or ceiling becomes a community of many different types of moulds, giving the wall an unintended spectrum of colours.
Often overlooked also is that moulds are detrimental to health. In a different period in my life, the study of mould spores in the air was, at that time, my only pre-occupation. In infested areas, spore counts can go up to a level that requires quarantine. People have known to fall sick just from exposure. No wonder those TV makeover nannies are usually masked up while cleaning in mould-infested homes.
ICI Dulux Pentalite Mouldgard is designed to prevent moulds from growing on its surface. Like I mentioned, Mouldgard is ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens where mould growth is likely. Some characteristics of the paint :
- White in colour
- Smooth, matt finish
- water-based, water clean-up
- dries in 1 - 2 hours, depending
- no lead content
- interior applications only
- coverage of about 10 sq m per litre
- 5-litre pack size
It is good to first prepare the surface by applying Dulux Fungicidal Wash prior to painting. This will kill off existing moulds and spores.
The recommended recoat time is 1 - 2 hours, but in my own use, the drying time can be as fast as under 1 hour if good ventilation exist. I used a commercial grade fan to aid air flow. I always suggest 2 coats to achieve a good finish.
ICI Dulux Pentalite Mouldgard is my recommendation (even if mould growth is only suspected).
I’ve attached the product brochure and the product datasheet for your reference.
Jotun Epoxy Paint (Penguard Topcoat) June 19, 2008
Posted by admin in : Marine Paints, Recommendations , add a commentI’ve been asked on many occasions to recommend good epoxy paints for concrete floors. I can name a few from past projects, such as Ameron’s
Amerlock 400, Berger,s Epilux 218 and Nippon’s Copon EA4. I have added another to my range. I do that when a product solves a problem I have. For Amerlock, it was its surface-tolerance. For Epilux 218, it was its sheen. For Copon EA4, it was its stock availability. Jotun Penguard Topcoat qualifies for its performance and colour. I’ve seen completed projects and results are usually quite good. Also, most colours in the RAL range, the BS range and the NCS range can be produced. For the uninitiated, that’s easily a thousand colours.
Jotun Penguard is a two-pack epoxy topcoat based on a polyamide-cured epoxy resin. In other words, it is an epoxy base with a polyamide curing agent. Epoxies are heavy-duty coatings and are much more lasting than conventional coatings such as alkyd paints. When fully cured, which takes about 3 days for this product at 35 degress Celsius, it is very hard and tough. It is resistant to water, chemicals, oils and many types of solvents.
Some Technical Details
Penguard has a volume solid of 50%, DFT of 50 microns when dry and 100 microns when wet, a theoretical coverage of 10sq m per litre, dries in 4 hours at 35 degrees Celsius and can be re-coated after 3 hours. Like I mentioned earlier, it only becomes fully cured after 3 days. Pot life is 8 hours at 23 degrees. I suppose it gets reduced to about 1 - 2 hours at 35 degrees. It is a good practice to always do the mixing of any 2-pack products in a very cool place so as to prolong the pot life. Remember never to mix more than you can paint on. Once mixed, 2-pack products cannot be kept longer than the pot life.
Priming
On concrete flooring, besides the standard surface preparation, I would recommend priming with Jotun Penguard Primer. The primer is white in colour and can be top-coated in 2 hours (assuming 35 degress Celsius and good ventilation).
Colours
Penguard Topcoat is available in its standard 40 colours (see colour card here), and can also be tinted to over a thousand colours from the BS, RAL or the NCS range. Some colours, especially the dark ones, cannot be reproduced. So, please check first. Price Depending on whether it is a standard colour or a premium colour, the price ranges from $60 - $80 per 5-litre set (this consists of a 4-litre base and a 1-litre curing agent)
Let us talk about Natural Color System or NCS next time we meet….
Heat Resistant Paint February 18, 2008
Posted by admin in : Marine Paints, Recommendations , 2commentsIn the week before my long holiday, I received 4 enquiries for heat resistant paints. 2 of the enquires are from the marine industry, 1 from offshore, and the last is a motor-cycle enthusiast. Of the 4, only the motor-cycle enthusiast had requirements for more colours. Unfortunately, colours are quite limited for heat resistant paint. The colours generally available are silver/ aluminium (most common), black and red.
Heat resistant paint can come in normal paint cans as well as in aerosol spray cans. Hobbyist generally prefer the latter but a can of 300cc - 400cc does not cover much area for industrial usage. Heat resistance can range from as low as 180 degree Celsius (356 degree Fahrenheit) to as high as 600 degree Celsius (1112 degree Fahrenheit). (online conversion resource : www.onlineconversion.com/temperature.htm) One product popular with some of my customers in Brunei and Indonesia is "Red Hot Aluminium Paint".
Red Hot Aluminium Paint is a product of Sheffield Bronze Paint Corp from Ohio, USA. It is available, as the name suggests, only in aluminium colour. As for its heat resistance, it boasts ability to withstand 1600 degree Fahrenheit (871 degree Celsius), much higher than most others. While I’ve not tested its ability to withstand that kind of heat, feedbacks from customers have been positive. Also, I’ve several repeat sales to a few of my export customers. Only gripe is its pack size of 1 US Gallon, which is too small for bigger projects. Currently retails for SGD$65.00.
