[J L]

I did before on a first coat with the same results. I'm going to give it a try again as a second coat today for kicks.

At least it should rule out the pump being the issue.

 

[J L]

Just sprayed it with a cup gun. Had to thin it way out to get it to spray but the end result was exactly the same. Guess that rules out the pump.

Time to spray some Mohawk cv to see what happens. Can't get Becker matador locally.

 

[Leo G]

Can't imagine the problem. I assume you've tried many different gallons.

 

[J L]

Yes, 4 different 5 gallon pails. Different catalyst. Different gallons of flow enhancer.

Just sprayed some Mohawk conversion varnish. Laid absolutely perfect from the AAA pump and a cup gun. Makes me feel better, kind of. Just wish I could get stealth to do that.

 

[Leo G]

WTF :blink:

 

[J L]

Yeah, no joke. WTF.:blink:

Honestly I don't have time to be messing with this right now. It's time to change products to something I can get here and the company can get up in Canada.

Becker was my #1 but the closest distributor is in Atlanta. :no: Maybe Chemcraft? I'll look into it tomorrow. I know Becker's standard white is the same color as Stealth's standard white - and standard white is what we're spraying. Not sure about the Chemcraft white. Mohawk's was a bit brighter. Looks good, but doesn't match.

But for now, I feel like I've methodically sprayed various combinations of stealth plus additives (yes, I keep a detailed log and have sent that log to the chemists from ML Campbell) and can't get it to lay right. If I had the same issues with the Mohawk, it would make me think it's something with my setup that is wrong. But since that laid beautifully, it's gotta be the stealth.

They spray it at our shop up in Canada and it lays out awesome. I just can't seem to replicate it, nor could the rep who was here yesterday. He told me what I was getting was "acceptable". That's BS. I hold up a panel sprayed in Canada and it's near perfect. I compare it to what I've sprayed down here and it's not even close. I told the rep my clients wouldn't accept that. He was like :blink:

Rant over.

Thanks for the responses Leo. :thumbsup:

In other news, our spray booths got 1/2 assembled today. :clap::clap:

 

[Leo G]

I tried.

 

[J L]

I couldn't sleep last night so I had a chance to think about this for a bit. With the mohawk CV, I reduced it with butyl acetate and flow enhancer #2. It laid great and stayed wet for all of 20 minutes before it began skinning over. I could see bubbles form, pop, and flow back out. It stayed wet so long I feel like I could paint the side of a barn with it while keeping a wet edge. Like this I could easily spray 5 trim boards all lined up without worry of overspray dusting and sticking.

With the stealth, it initially lays out great but the surface skins over in around a minute and then you can see the little bubbles start forming on the surface. Its almost like whatever carrier solvent they use is just flashing off too quick even when reduced with flow #2 plus care reducer. When they spray it in Canada, they reduce with care reducer and rarely ever have to add flow #2 and it stays wet long enough to spray large panels.

The only variable I can see between here and there is about 20-25 degree difference in temperature between the shops. Their building is insulated and stays relatively cool throughout the summer. Down here it's hot all day. Right now it is before 7am and it's already 85 in the shop.

They said that they have had this issue happen in Canada twice, both times during the middle of winter when their shop has the heat on.

Not sure what to think. I guess it's time to find another product.

 

[J L]

The saga continues. I just spent the last 2 1/2 hours with our ML Campbell distributor's rep and the Florida ML Campbell rep. For what it's worth, ML Campbell comped me a 5 gallon of stealth for the product I've burned while trying to get it right.

The ML Campbell rep picked up 4 gallons of care reducer from the other side of Florida for me and brought it over today. Currently the distributor doesn't sell care reducer but they will be bringing it in for us.

I cut up a bunch of boards that were already double primed and ready for top coat into 3' pieces to do test sprays. 1st test was straight stealth. Didn't flow great but it laid down fine but got covered in microbubbles. Next up was adding 10% care reducer. Same result. Added 10% flow #2 - same result. We turned down the pressure on the fluid and air slightly to 15 PSI air and 25 PSI fluid. I confirmed the spray pattern was still good on a piece of cardboard. Added 5% more flow #2 (now 10% care reducer and 15% flow #2) and wouldn't you know it, it laid out fine without microbubbles.

Mixed up another batch with the same ratio and sprayed another test board. It worked. I'm cautiosly optomistic that this is the ticket. Also, it's nice to have the care reducer available.

Now if the electrical work would hurry up and get done so I can get these shiny new booths fired up I'll be a happy man.

 

[J L]

Had 2 pieces to spray this morning with stealth. 2 different colors. Mixed up the 2 batches with 10% care reducer and 15% flow #2. One batch sprayed beautifully while the other got microbubbles.

 

[Leo G]

That's the voodoo part.

 

[J L]

Any thoughts about adding an touch of BC (butyl cellosolve) to the mix?

 

[Leo G]

It's not an official additive for MLC. Probably would work.

 

[J L]

It's not an official additive for MLC. Probably would work.

If the 10/15 mix didn't work on Friday when the ML campbell rep was there, they were headed to go get some. That was their only other idea that they had. I've got no experience with it but if it keeps it from skinning over quick, I'm all for it.

 

[Leo G]

I think BC is like Flow Enhancer #12. I have a gallon of it that I bought 7 years ago and I think I still have 95% of it left.

 

[Leo G]

What were the colors?

 

[J L]

What were the colors?

Standard white (just straight white from the 5 gallon) and a Benjamin Moore color called Cloud White. It's just a touch more tan than the standard white.

 

[Leo G]

Well it's certainly not the colors that are causing it. If you said white and mocha then I might have my suspicions.

 

[J L]

The one that laid well was sprayed from a cup gun at 4 wet mil and the one that bubbled was sprayed from the AAA sprayer at 4 wet mil. I just sent them another email.

Do you know if Becker Matador CV is non yellowing like stealth? I've heard both yes and no.

 

[Leo G]

No clue about the Matador.