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Adam Paul
09-07-2004 22:45:17
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The other day, a topic was started by "Ramrod" regarding his progression from rattle cans. I agree, a lot of good information was shared. One thing I did not notice, and want to call attention to, was the safety issues involved with spraying paint. For the most part we look at the rare occasion of spraying our "N" as a fun filled day. Well, hate put it this way, but that very thought could near kill you. I'm going to take a minute and discuss some of the safety issues.
As one (or you) begin/s to embark on the idea of painting your tractor, you begin looking at the quality of paint... You may first start out at the tractor store looking at some grey or red paint, and consider that as a possibility. Perhaps a little homework on the subject and you realize that the "tractor" paint is synthetic enamel. Known for usually being inexpensive, with the down side being quick to color fade. With all that work going into cleaning and prepping, surely you don't want the color fading. You realize that the next step up in paint is a logical one. You've decided to use decent quality "single stage" automotive acrylic enamel. Single stage referring to no need for a clear coat. Well, you're not going to find that at the tractor store. You find yourself at an auto paint supply place (DuPont, PPG, or NAPA paint [Martin-Senour]) and you begin talking to the paint guy and they do a color match for you. Also, they mention that if you want the paint to dry in a reasonable amount of time, be more chip and gas resistant, and have a real good shine, you should get a "hardener" to add to the paint and thinner. Hardener is a great thing, but it can kill you as it contains ISO's or isocyanates. Breathing or ISO's is VERY, VERY DANGOROUS!!! ISO's can also enter your blood stream through the moisture in your eyes... THEIR IS NO FILTER ELIMANT (on a conventional facemask) that can stop isocyanates from entering your system!!! The only way to prevent them from entering your system is by using a full face "Positive Air Supplied" facemask. This type of facemask uses an oil free (usually turbine) air supply that ports fresh air into the facemask. The facemask is "positive" in that it supplies more air than you can suck in during a deep breath, as well as provide positive bias on the facemask, which will push the ISO's away from the mask, if the fit becomes not perfect. Having a fresh air supply is really really important if you’re going to be using hardeners.
With out the use of a hardener, paint can literally take months to dry, so hardener is a good thing. The down side is, a fresh air system can be expensive. Figure on about $500 or so for a "hobby" setup. I know it sounds discouraging, but well worth the investment....
Even synthetic enamel benefits from hardener, but other than a positive fresh air system; there still is no "safe" way to apply it. So now you have to ask yourself, what should I do? Don't use a hardener or the second (By the way, I'm not recommending second choices) best would be to have a full facemask with at least P95 filters AND paint with a brush, outside upwind of the job at hand. If you don't use a hardener, like I said, it can take months for the paint to fully cure, and a couple of weeks to be at least mildly useable. Much safer though…
All this hardener stuff is a bitter reality, but better hear it now, than in an ambulance or worse...
Adam
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