Rust Converter July 27, 2008
Posted by admin in : Painting Tips, Recommendations , 6commentsBoatman 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
Posted by admin in : Painting Tips, Recommendations , add a comment
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 , 11commentsI’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 , 6commentsIn 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.
Nippon Easy Wash Now Comes With Teflon December 6, 2007
Posted by admin in : Painting Tips, Recommendations , 2commentsNippon Paint has improved its Easy Wash range by adding Teflon. For those unfamiliar with Teflon, take a look at your frying pan! Yes, you heard me right. Teflon’s most popular application must be in non-stick pan. Thanks to Teflon, your sunny-side-up can be transferred to your plate in one complete ‘clean’ piece, not having to 
scrape off pieces that are stuck on the metal, like our older non-Teflon frying pans. Well, now thanks to Teflon, sources tell me that Nippon’s latest product - Nippon Easy Wash Plus with Teflon - is flying off the shelf!
Nippon Easy Wash Plus with Teflon is an improvement of its predecessor - Nippon Easy Wash. With the addition of Teflon, an already easy-to-wash product is made even more washable. On top of that, this latest line covers hairline cracks as well as being mould-resistant. The colour range has also undergone an overhaul. The latest range has strong colours such as Red Flag, Earth Flag and Candy Pink. The usual shades of whites (Lily White, Rose White, Orchid White, Apple White etc.) still exist, but in slightly different shades. There are a total of 33 colours, inclusive of Pure White. In the next post, I will scan the Colour chart for all to see…
