Roller Leaves Bubbles in Toplac Paint!

Zagato

Zagato

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I am using a very smooth roller and it was fine for the undercoat but for the top coat it's just leaving a swathe of tiny bubbles :eek: I can flatten it off again by going over it quickly but it still leaves some. I have thinned the paint down by 10% but it makes no difference, using less on the roller makes a little difference so wondered why it's doing it. Is the paint too cold maybe, never had this problem before :confused: Thanks...
 
Zagato said:
I am using a very smooth roller and it was fine for the undercoat but for the top coat it's just leaving a swathe of tiny bubbles :eek: I can flatten it off again by going over it quickly but it still leaves some. I have thinned the paint down by 10% but it makes no difference, using less on the roller makes a little difference so wondered why it's doing it. Is the paint too cold maybe, never had this problem before :confused: Thanks...
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are you "tipping-off" with a brush or pad
 
Glad it's not just me. I'm using International thinners number 1 which is what is recommended, I'll try thinning it a bit more. It's because the paint is so thick and sticky and the temperature is not helping.

Sailorman I haven't even got to tipping off yet, I'm just rolling on a load of bubbles at the moment :eek: and then flattening them down by going over again quickly and lightly with the roller. It's only the first coat, so will sand back and do again but would like to know why it's doing it before I attempt the second coat! Something nots right...
 
Warm the tin of paint in a bowl of warm water (keep the paint in the house overnight)

Don't overload the roller and when it's exhausted use that to tip-off by gently ghosting the roller over paint film before reloading.
When you say very smooth roller you do mean foam and not wool, don't you? Actually I find the medium foam rollers better, the really smooth ones just seem to slither around..

Antifoul02.jpg



paintrollering.jpg



TaylorAFprimer.jpg
 
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Zag, I initially had the problem that you mention but now I don't. Nothing special, straightforward paint straight from the pot, all I do now is finally run the roller very lightly over the applied paint, bursting any bubbles. When I say lightly I really do mean that. Have now been painting two boats, a Broads sailing cruiser and a Drascombe Longboat, for five years so I have mastered it, and am glad that I have, far better finish than I can achieve with a brush.
 
Thanks folks, I have just sanded down the first coat which wasn't a bad finish in the end from yesterday. It's meant to rain at 11.00 am so no time for B&Q. Will do the same roller it on and flatten it off again with quick sweeping light rolling. Needs 2-3 coats apparently so see how it goes. Nice paint though and glossy finish :D
 
toplac

you can only use a brush for gloss paint not a roller because gloss is not easy to work with has to be put on and brushed out it drys quickly its on to roll a under coat because its matt paint this is what i have found out over the years of having a wooden boat.:):)
Zagato said:
I am using a very smooth roller and it was fine for the undercoat but for the top coat it's just leaving a swathe of tiny bubbles :eek: I can flatten it off again by going over it quickly but it still leaves some. I have thinned the paint down by 10% but it makes no difference, using less on the roller makes a little difference so wondered why it's doing it. Is the paint too cold maybe, never had this problem before :confused: Thanks...
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I've been told that you should thin with Owatrol or similar until the paint will flow off a spoon 'through the eye of a needle'. Then apply with a roller and tip off with a fine brush. Preferably with one bod on the latter and one on the former.

I shall find out how true this is later this year......

C.
 
Sy-Revolution said:
I've been told that you should thin with Owatrol or similar until the paint will flow off a spoon 'through the eye of a needle'. Then apply with a roller and tip off with a fine brush. Preferably with one bod on the latter and one on the former.

I shall find out how true this is later this year......

C.
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Don't even try the brush, and don't overthin the paint (5% at most) Get the paint temperature right.
Thin paint looks lovely when you put it on and then runs as it skins.
If it looks a bit orange peely as you apply it and you have the right temp and viscosity it will flow as it skins and you'll get a lovely finish.

Try it on a (vertical) primered sheet of ply before committing yourself.

( ambient temps are a bit low at the moment. Best at about 15/20°C) Too warm and it will drag.
 
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Lakesailor said:
Don't even try the brush, and don't overthin the paint (5% at most) Get the paint temperature right.
Thin paint looks lovely when you put it on and then runs as it skins.
If it looks a bit orange peely as you apply it and you have the right temp and viscosity it will flow as it skins and you'll get a lovely finish.

Try it on a (vertical) primered sheet of ply before committing yourself.

( ambient temps are a bit low at the moment. Best at about 15/20°C) Too warm and it will drag.
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It's about finding a method that works for the particular painter with the particular paint on that particular day.
I'm not a great painter, but the best finish I ever got on topsides was after making a disastrous mess with yacht enamel. I wiped it off with whitespirit, went out and bought a can of dulux trade gloss. No thinners, put it on with a foam 'Jenny Brush'. Still looked good five years later IMHO. Especially as it was done outdoors in January, albeit on a very sunny day.

One thing about air bubbles in paint, I don't think it comes from stirring the paint as some people say, in the above case I had no problems despite the paint being colour mixed same day, they put the can in a shaker to mix it.

Next time I will pay Lakey to do it, that is a good finish in those pix!
 
sueashforth said:
you can only use a brush for gloss paint not a roller because gloss is not easy to work with has to be put on and brushed out it drys quickly its on to roll a under coat because its matt paint this is what i have found out over the years of having a wooden boat.:):)
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That is simply not the case! Scores and scores of boats have been painted using rollers, the finish being almost equal to that achievable by spraying. It just requires practice. Personally I do use mini rollers, paint straight from the can, takes me less than an hour to do both sides of a 28' timber sailing boat.
 
sueashforth said:
you can only use a brush for gloss paint not a roller because gloss is not easy to work with has to be put on and brushed out it drys quickly its on to roll a under coat because its matt paint this is what i have found out over the years of having a wooden boat.:):)
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I know you have just joined and we should be gentle, but that is nonsense.
Have you seen post #7 They are done with rollers.
I have done loads of boats with rollers. If there is a problem applying gloss with a roller then you need to look at the conditions and your technique.
 
About to have a go at this

Lakesailor and other experts

Really useful tips on this thread, thanks. Just one question - probably dumb, but indulge me please! What roller size works best - mini or standard size? (ie, the sort you paint radiators with or the sort you paints walls with). I realise it should be sponge whatever the size.
 
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