i am making some interior "look at me up close and personal" routered signs for a client and of course the background is black..which shows every dust spec that falls while its drying. am i being too anal or does this drive anyone else crazy? also i sand in between coats using wet high grit paper...is there a better way? and no i don't have the space or $$ for a spray booth...my friend's employer just spent $100k on their osha safe big honking booth..it actually bakes the paint too...i'm sooo jealous, they have everything toy/tool imaginable..and as much as i would love to use it..i don't go there since he's not actually footing the bill for the electricity..i know if i had a special project i could use it but i don't like to take advantage of friendships. thanks for any advise.
Posted by Steve Nuttle (Member # 2645) on :
Karyn I can totally relate. Black is the hardest and without a dust free room or booth I don't know how you can get the type finish that you or I would be happy with. Depending on the size of the sign I have been known to build a "tent" over it while it dries to keep the dust and hair and bugs out of it. Did I mention hair? We have 3 dogs that have the run of the shop. Spring is the worse when they are shedding out! Good luck with what ever you come up with!
[ March 29, 2003, 11:19 AM: Message edited by: Steve Nuttle ]
Posted by Marty Engel (Member # 3483) on :
Hi Karyn,
The answer to your problem is probably not so much the lack of a spray booth, but rather the presence of dust in the environment and the type of finish you are applying.
Many finishes that are applied via spray are dust free in a few minutes or less. The cured finish may also be harder - and therefore lend itself to rubbing out once fully cured. Maybe you could use black lacquer spray cans from the hardware store... dries almost instantly.
As far as dust... do all you can to separate the fabrication and finishing areas of your shop. It is a good idea to vacuum your finish area (racks, tables, floor...) with a HEPA filter prior to any application of paint. It would also be a good idea to vacuum yourself - as dust loves to cling to clothes/hair.
And yes, dust in the finish hacks me off big time!
Good luck,
Marty
Oh, if you are spraying your finishes... Jeff Jewitt (www.homesteadfinishing.com) has a great book titled: Great Wood Finishes - where he illustrates how to build an inexpensive portable spray booth.
[ March 29, 2003, 11:38 AM: Message edited by: Marty Engel ]
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
You might try wetting down the floor to help keep dust from getting kicked up.
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Wetting the floor is a painters trick which has been used for years. When I was in NY I hung canvas with clear plastic windows and made a temporary room in which I put my prep station inside. The prep station is a body shop tool which acts as a down draft spray booth. Mine is still in Westchester county NY and I am selling it. If anyone is interested, you can contact me. Although it is portable, you'll still need a flatbed truck to move to your place.
Posted by brian-the-brush (Member # 2258) on :
Why not paint the black in matt paint, then the dust will not be seen as easily?
Brian.
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
Convince the client to go with white instead. Tell him that from a subliminal point of view, black will cause them to lose valuable sales and that its a well known fact that people will instinctively buy anything that has white in or on it. Make sure you look the customer straight in the eyes and say this with a dead straight face.
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
Karyn, if the idea of vacuuming yourself reminds you too much of a bad porno, you could paint naked. Posted by Jeff Ogden (Member # 3184) on :
Karen...
I agree that a low sheen would look good and hide the imperfections to a degree. If you had it dead flat, I think it would almost be a magnet for dust after it was installed. Most name brand paints have low lustre bases. If it was outside, that Matthews paint would look good with just the right sheen.If you can turn the object you're painting upside down to dry, it will have less dust. Old timers would paint outside when it's dewey out, because of there being less dust is in the air. Posted by timi NC (Member # 576) on :
Couple of tips not mentioned here,...tack rag to remove dust and straining your paint,.... hope this helps ya,....
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
A few more tips....
Affix them to a solid background with double faced tape and then stand up the board so dust will not fall onto them.
Spray them with laquer that dries in a minute. You could use a rattle can or even an airbrush.
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
i wanted them to chose white...i even made a sample sign carved in white corian...but they wanted black...unfortunately i don't have any black corian at the momment so i made it out of medex...its interior...here's what it came out like...crappy picture..it's raining/snowing. my husband thinks it's wonderful but i see dust specs...i think i need to let it go...i'm only human. thanks for the advice.
and bob stephens...remember i said my project/panel had a purpose? i lied..it doesn't...it will be a panel after all...i'll email you what it was supposed to be at some point...but i don't want to miss my deadline so i changed midstream...i can do that right? i'm a woman. Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
LOL Karyn yes you may. Purpose would have been too stressful for me anyhow. I dont have any extra time to use something else in my life. I like things that are static and dont require batteries, food, or wiping!
Although I was being a smart buttock, I think your white corian piece did look better. The client screwed up this time around.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
When I was in my mid teens I worked on the Mt. Washington. I was swabbing decks and painting and doing assorted maintenance. Cruising the lake was always pleasurable.
PS. I also prefer the white sample. If they don't buy it, perhaps I will.
[ March 30, 2003, 10:15 PM: Message edited by: Rick Sacks ]
Posted by Guy H. J. Hilliard (Member # 2529) on :
Karyn;
You seem to be getting very good use out of your new hightec toy (the CNC Router). I think the white one is great (not that the there's anything wrong with the black one ...).
Guy Hilliard
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
rick..you worked on the mt washington boat..cool!..that's in the lakes region...the mt washington hotel and resort is in bretton woods, probably an hour plus north from there...it's huge and over 100 years old..they also own bretton woods ski area and the cog railway. what a small world!
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
Good luck with what ever you come up with!![[Wink]](wink.gif)
