With summer coming to a close we can now consider putting away retarders and flow enhancers, which were needed so badly on those really hot days, and change the chemistry of our wood coatings and lacquers in response to the weather.
For those who use water-borne coatings, the use of additives isn’t always the most productive. With the arrival of cooler weather, let’s take a look at what my friend from Tillamook, which is on the Oregon Coast and is known for cheese, dairies and cool coastal weather, taught me. It will help you out this winter and it’s a great tip.
|
Evidently, I had strongly encouraged this fellow to keep his water borne lacquer warm several years ago and, being “smarter than the average Cheesemaker,” he came up with an innovative way to take my words to heart. He went to Bed, Bath and Beyond or a similar store and purchased an electric candle warmer. That’s a low temperature “hot plate” that will melt a candle and allow the fragrance to escape and fill the room. You know, I’ll bet his wife had something to do with this idea!
Stick one of these under your gallon of water borne lacquer and it will keep it warm, which reduces the viscosity. Lower viscosity helps those normally thick fluids to spray out and atomize better. Viscosity will become more and more of an issue as the days and nights cool.
Just one more thing about Tillamook: The mascot of Tillamook High School is the Cheesemaker. Anyone from this small coastal farming/lumber/fishing community is, therefore, a Cheesemaker. And who hasn’t heard of Tillamook cheese???
Until next time…spray on!
Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.