Paint Application

The choice of application can be affected by the type of finishes to be used. A finish
formulated for compressed air spraying is suitable for compressed air hot-spraying or
airless spraying by adjustment with thinner. Some types of finishes may be ill-suited or
impractical for a certain method of application. For example, some catalysed finishes with
‘pot lives’ of only few minutes would be a hazard in hot spraying application. A good
finishing system depends on having the right equipment, materials and processing
techniques, thus requiring co-operation between the equipment supplier, the paint
manufacturer and the user.

Brush Application
Brushing is the oldest, and a versatile method of application under unlimited variable
conditions and situations. It is still the best method to paint large complex objects. Brushing
helps the paint penetrate and reduce wastage. It is mainly used for decorative and
maintenance application.

Choice of Brush
Best quality brushes are made up of hog bristles. These bristles taper from the roof towards
the tip where each is split into two, for finer strands known as flag, which deliver a slick
finish.

A proportion of animal hair or vegetable fibres are used in cheaper variants. Brushes made
of nylon bristles are also available. These are superior than pure bristles in their resistance
to wear, but are smooth and non-absorbent. Hence, they carry less paint and have a
tendency to overspill from the brush.

Always select a brush of suitable size, for the work at hand. Using a small brush on a large
area makes it difficult to apply an even coating and slows down rate of working; while using
a large brush on a narrow area makes accurate "cutting in" impossible.

Use and Maintenance of Brushes

Bristles in new brushes hold dust and must be washed out before using for finish work.
Soap water can be used for washing out the new brushes. A paint brush works best when it
is 'broken in' i.e. the tip of the bristles are levelled. A brush must be 'washed in' in order to
distribute the paint throughout the thickness of the brush. The brush is dipped in paint and
 rubbed against the sides of the kettle. After painting is over, brush back the excess paint
into the container and scrape it clean with a blunt putty knife. Rub it on a suitable surface
and rinse out in a thinner and 'spin' dry. Wash it thoroughly with soap water and leave it for
drying.

Brushing Technique
 Start with smaller areas for even distribution of paint without loss of time.
Otherwise, brush marks are inevitable.

 The pressure of the brush must be equal for all strokes so that the paint easily
penetrates into the surface

 To ensure the levelling and elimination of brush marks, ‘laying off’ should be done
with very less pressure

Paints Suitable for Brushing

Air drying type, based on long/medium oil length alkyds, emulsion, distempers are ideal for
brush application. Quick drying type paints based on medium to short oil length alkyd and
fast evaporating solvent like Xylene are not suitable.

Roller Application
Hand Rolling
At present, hand rolling is done mainly for decorative and maintenance paintings. Roller
coating application is most effective on broad, plain surfaces. The covering material for the
roller can be a plastic sponge. When equipped with a long handle extension, you can use the
roller for floor painting and places that are otherwise inaccessible.

Techniques
For larger areas it is more convenient to work from a bucket than a tray. A perforated grid is
placed inside the bucket, the roller is dipped into the paint and then rolled over the grid to
remove surplus material and distribute evenly. In the tray, a reservoir at one end holds the
paint. After charging the roller, it is rolled out on the platform of the tray. To use, roll is roller
 over the surface in criss-cross strokes, working the material out evenly. Paints normally used
for brushing can be hand-rolled.

Advantages
Although not as quick as spraying, it is usually quicker than brush application, especially on
rough surfaces. Another advantage is that it enables the semi-skilled operator to obtain a
reasonable standard of finish and hence, is likely to be popular with amateur painters.
Roller application on narrow or broken surfaces does not show any special advantage over
brushing.

Machine Rolling
Roller coating application is used exclusively for coating metal containers such as tins,
drums, kegs and barrels.
The coating material is fed on the rubber roller through two smaller feed rollers which are
of precision ground iron or steel, and which are also adjustable for pressure in order to
regulate the film thickness of the coating. The sheets pass between rollers, rubber covered
roller and a metal backing roller. After coating, the sheets pass through conveyor belts in
the ovens and are stewed.

Paints suitable for roller coating must have:

 Excellent adhesion and flexibility

 Complete opacity

 Perfect flow and application characteristics

 Adequate chemical resistance for end use

 A hard mar-proof film formation quality

 Adequate intercoat adhesion between coats

Spray Application
Paint Suitable for Spraying
Paints are normally based on short oil alkyds and compositions based on fast evaporating
solvents like Xylene and NC Lacquer.

Conventional Spraying
This method works on the principle of jet of fluid paint subjected to a stream of air. The
correct balance between air and paint is essential for atomization and hence, successful
spraying. The system required for spray painting consists essentially of a source of
compressed air, filter for removing dirt, water and oil, a container for the paint and a spray
gun.