latex paint

[Ron Coleman]

It seems to be a trend to use latex paint on airplanes recently. One of the litltle secrets to a smooth application and good flow out is to mix the latex paint with windshield washer flluid. The only latex paint I have experience with is Sherwin Willims best commercial paint. I does result in a sort of satinish gloss. A lot of people think that it really shines, but it looks to me like old Dulux. No big deal, what ever you like...However I bought an airplane finished in Sherwin Williams latex and to my dismay I discovered that it is softened by many fluids, like gasoline. Even now, a year old, the paint is softened by paint fumes. You hands may stick to it and it picks up dirt and grease and does not hardened fully after it dries.

It is a heck of a mess. I don't know how to get it off and I'm hesitant to paint over it. I would test this stuff before i would use it.

RonC

[Dano"T"]

Re: latex paint

That's one of the reasons it is now mandatory to use approved topcoats with whatever covering systems you use....you used to be able to use whatever top coat after the UV coat....now they want you to use Approved products.

[N96337]

Re: latex paint

Yep, as Dano says, textbook reason the additional regs needed to be.
John

[VictorBravo]

Re: latex paint

I met a guy in Arizona a few years back who swore by Rust-Oleum, applied with a roller. He had put it on a Tri-Pacer and found it to be flexible, cheap, and reasonably resistant to most stuff.

The airplane was not a show winner by any means, but the reason for that was not the paint itself. He didn't do the extensive prep and detail masking that makes a showplane. But the paint itself had a decent satin gloss to iy, and the fabric drumming had not ringwormed it at all. This thing had been in outside the phoenix area and the sunshine there is of course ruthless on airplanes.

Very likely "not approved" by today's new rules, but I would not hesitate to try it out on an experimental airplane if budget and spray booth restrictions made it attractive.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: latex paint

I used "Aluminum" colored Rust-Oleum on an old Honda I owned and the finish looked like a 2 year old car the day after I painted it. Not that it's a bad thing to look 2 years old when the car was over 10! I eventually sold the car and saw it about 10 years later (those old Hondas seemed to last FOREVER!). It STILL looked like the paint was only 2 years old. Rust-Oleum makes a really TOUGH PAINT! I STILL use Aluminum Rust-Oleum on things like wheels and lawn furniture. Wears like concrete.
Hank

[Marv]

Re: latex paint

I like Rust-Oleum paint for car frames because of its indurance and ability not to chip. At one time i used Martin Senior acrylic enamel without adding hardner for aircraft and it did a good job and held up well and did not ringworm. I think the main trick was not to put the paint on real thich or add hardner. Marv

[jim cooper]

Re: latex paint

3 years ago a fellow in western N.Y. sprayed a cub he had rebuilt with rust oleum sunshine yellow. Looked great and has held up well last time I saw it. Personally, I think latex is a bummer on an airplane. JC