I'm finally over my "Post Commerce Stress Disorder" Thanks again Jimmy, and the "gang" for a wonderful time!
Ok to my question; When and/or why should you not use hardener with your paint? Today was my first experiment with it, and it seems to cure alot of "headaches" associated with enamels (i.e. drying time, lifting off with a mask, etc.).
I have not seen many posts about hardeners, Is this something everybody already knows? Or have I not been paying enough attention to the BB?
------------------ I'm so happy I'm a resident in Letterville! "If you keep doing what you have been doing, you'll keep getting what you have been getting."
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I assume you are talking about 1shot hardener or similar? I love the stuff! I almost always use it except when I need more time for blends and such. But then thats just me...
------------------ Brian Stoddard Expressions Signs A few puddles east of Seattle
Posts: 790 | From: Redmond, WA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hi David...Do NOT use hardener if you figure that you are gonna be the one they call to remove the catalized, painted lettering a year down the road!!!!!!! It is tough as nails to remove! LOL
------------------ Dave Grundy shop#340 AKA "applicator" on mIRC "stickin' sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles!" in Granton, Ontario, Canada 1-519-225-2634 dave.grundy@quadro.net www.quadro.net/~shirley "A PROUD $ supporter of the website"
[This message has been edited by Dave Grundy (edited November 06, 2000).]
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No telling where all I've use hardener, LOL. Bill
------------------ Bill & Barbara Biggs Art's Sign Service, Inc. Clute, Texas, USA Home of The Great Texas Mosquito Festival Proud second year Supporter of the Letterheads Website MailTo:twobeesusa@netscape.net
Posts: 1020 | From: Lake Jackson,Tx | Registered: Nov 1998
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Catalyzed enamel does't work well if you need to do a quick double coat usually. Sometimes it gets those spider webs or bubbles. Work fast if you're using a mask, and peel the mask right away, because you'll find a thicker film than normal and it's nice to get the hard edges to roll a bit. Removing catalyzed enamel can teach you new words. I've seen truck doors rot away to where most all of whats left was my lettering. Besides the 1-shot product, you can get a hardener for synthetic enamels at most anyplace thatr sells automotive paints. Only use a little bit, and NEVER pour the remnants back into your can. Also, there are many health warnings about breathing that stuff.
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posts: 6718 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I love the Hardener that 1 Shot puts out tho a little on the heffty side in pricing... I just finished some signs using a lettering mask and roller coat the background in red,and you all know how red takes its time in drying!!! I also added some of the 1 Shot UV Clear to the paint to see if it will give it more life without turning Pink over time as these signs will be south facing.... As someone mentioned do not put remainding paint back into the can only mix as much as you need..If not enough the mix somemore... The Hardener is great stuff if you are going to airbrush something that will be clear coated in the future as well.....
Raven/2000
------------------ Raven/2000 Airbrushed by Raven Lower sackville N.S. deveausdiscovery@sprint.ca
Posts: 4327 | From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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I've been using it in nearly everything for the past year. Love it. Backgrounds dry shinier and stick better. Masks won't rip around the edges when peeling. PVC loves that stuff - canNOT get it off. We use for the base coats in our carved letters too, no chance of any puddles skinning over and staying wet. Probably the only place not to use it is gold size.
There's a lot of different types it seems. The most expensive automotive versions (about $50&up/pint) work the best, better results with less product added. Economy grades we've tried (about $25/pint) have been dissapointing. One Shot's hardener is good all around, but none of my suppliers carry it, and have to special order with a two week wait. Use what you can get easily.
As a side issue, we recently picked up a cheap HVLP gun that has saved a lot of paint and given great results. Highly recommended tool.
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The One Shot hardener is specifically made for use in alkyd enamels and if you can find any, hardener for synthetic enamels (DuPont Dulux 77 hardener for example) may also be used. The hardeners for two-component urethanes will harden enamels so much that they will loose their adhesion to the substrate much quicker than without. One Shot accelerates the dry time while Chromatic does not. The other concern is that recoat over hardened enamels will have less adhesion. When coating a background and then lettering with paint, this should be done within 24 to 36 hours or the lettering will not adhere well. Same issues apply as lettering over two-component automotive finishes.
------------------ Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio Greeley, Colorado, USA kent@smithsignstudio.com
Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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Thanks again Jimmy, and the "gang" for a wonderful time!
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