Applying Imron paint

[rswirtz]

I'm painting a replacement hatch cover that goes over the cabin door on my 38 FBDC. I'm going to roll and tip it.

Just picked up the paint and read the instructions while at the store, it says to use 'Activator'.

Paint $68 a Qt
Activator $57 pint

Question is, what is the activator for? Do you have to use it? Is it a thinner, hardner?

Thanks in advance, Rick

 

[Boatsb]

Yes and no.

The paint will dry without activator. The paint will cure with it.

Its a cross locked polymer that cures to make it so durable so use the activator and get the benefit of the paints durability.

 

[rswirtz]

more paint can reading: it says : FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY by professional, trained painters. Not for sale to or by the general public.

hmmmm........ sounds like some scary paint.

 

[Boatsb]

Don't breath the fumes. Use a respirator ( fresh air supply) if spraying and be careful of the overspray as its some tough paint to get off.

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

if you are unfamiliar with 2 part paints you really need to read the msds and application sheets. 2 part paints are not you're fathers enamel and can do serious damage to you if you don't take precations.

jim

 

[MikeP]

I have sprayed a lot of IMRON over the years on motorcycles/cars/boats/ariplanes and believe it to be the best paint you can apply.

DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT USING IT WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE TOXIC CHEMICAL MASK!!! Don't even mix it without the mask! It is TOXIC. I had a friend collapse while spraying a very small panel in open air without a respirator.

When he awoke in the hospital, the doctor actually told him that if it was up to him they would have ignored him and allowed Darwin's "survival of the Fittest" to work as it should! Per OSHA you should be wearing a suit with a supplied air respirator though if you are not spraying, the need for the suit is probably minimal.

Also, as mentioned, without the activator, it's not even good regular paint. Just use Brightside or something similar if you don't want/need the durability of Imron.

Re rolling and tipping - I have never done this with Imron and, as far as I know, it does not have a good reputation for this. However, I have never researched it. There may be some new recommendations for mixing, etc that make it more suitable for that purpose.

 

[34Hatt]

Imron is meant to be sprayed!!!!! If you roll and tip you need a paint that can be rolled and tipped. You use different Catalyst and thinner for the application you are using such a spray or roll. For a small part I would just use the Brightside or Perfection. If you can't match the color you can buy two colors and blend them if you want.

 

[rswirtz]

Thanks all, Yeah that stuff is beyond my amatuer usage, I took it back and got a refund.

 

[captbuddy]

I guess I was one of the lucky ones. Last Nov. while on the hard for a bottom job, I sanded down my spray rails and applied emron with a brush. First the primer andthen the Hatteras white. Really turned out nice and smooth. I was surprised at how it flowed together. Looks last a spray job from up on the dock. Just my 2 cents worth.
captbuddy

 

[TedZ]

Imron may be applied by brush, roll or spray. There are appropriate thinners.
No two component paint can be used without the activator.

http://pc.dupont.com/Phantom/content/DIC-main.html

There are many low VOC mixes that eliminate the need for any respiratory protection when OUTSIDE and when BRUSHING or ROLLING. A standard respirator is not a bad thing...safety glasses also.

Dupont 2 component products say for professional and/or industrial use. The industrial products are better as they are cheaper and have more solids. Possibly 1% less sheen. You will never see it.

Go buy it back!

Ted

 

[Boatsb]

No one even mentioned the primer and preparation. before any paint the prep is the most important part. Do the prep for Imron Get it really smooth and ready for paint and it the painting worries you have someone els do the Imron coats. Better saye than sorry.

FWIW Imron/ Awlfrip and most other pro paints have similar safety precautions. Learn them and it's like owning a gun. Most of the safety rules are the same.

I guess that any can of Imron should be considered loaded.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Spraying urethane paint is a breeze !

A few little trix, but I know you can do it !!
Prep prep prep as always ! Stay upwind. Spray a DRY tack coat. wait 10 minutes.
Spray a 5 mil wet coat and go have lunch. Come back and admire your handy work !! Keep the work well of the ground or anywhere dust will contaminate it.
As always, spray INTO the unpainted area leaving a "wet" edge behind you. The
thing that scares guys the most, is it goes on THIN. They try to cover with one
coat and it runs all over the place. If the tack and one coat doesnt do it, wait
30 minutes and repeat steps 1 & 2. Practice on a similar sized piece to get your
speed, thinners, pressures and coverage down. After prepping, I can paint my 36 Roamer in less than an hour ! Need a helper to mix batches as I go. ws

 

[Boss Lady]

applying paint is not rocket science, but you do need to do it enough to get some experience. Come on, think about it, how many painters have you met that were real good painters, and were usually drunk when they laid that masterpiece! LOL don't be intimidated, just try it. there is no magic. Some people think you have to be a drunken high school drop out to be a good painter.