Spraying Antifoul

[wiggy]

In preveios years I have had great success spraying hard antifoul but because I only have HVLP set up I have to thin paint to such an extent that its efficiency is reduced. Does anyone know the spec of a high pressure comressor set up that will spray antifoul either un thinned or only by recomended 10%?

 

[rob2]

I don't know much about spraying and would just like to caution anyone thinking about this that the stuff is TOXIC. The best way to ingest it is by atomising it and inhaling. Wear masks, preferably air fed, full face ones and make sure no-one else is in harm's way!

I seem to remember that there is a piece of kit usually referred to as a "schutz" gun - intended for applying underseal to cars. Sounds about right to me... It is compressed air powered, but doesn't atomise the gloop - just throws it!

 

[pvb]

Professional kit needed...

I think to spray antifoul successfully - and above all safely - you need to use professional-grade airless or airmix spray equipment. This can be hired. Naturally, you'd need proper breathing and eye protection. It would also be worth making sure that spray mist wasn't likely to land on nearby cars, etc. (Many years ago, whilst antifouling by brush on a breezy day, I covered my lovely black BMW in tiny spots of red antifoul; took ages to get it all off!)

What's wrong with manual application?

 

[Talbot]

Unless this was done in a sealed tent, and with the sprayer in full body protection similar to that used in car paint booths, I would be seriously concerned about the health and safety issues. The problem of overspray affecting nearbye boats is just as relevant. Dotn even think about it near mine.

 

[Grajan]

Yacht A/F are not designed to be sprayed due to their toxisity and when thinned to a sprayable consistency overspray and film thickness become a serious problem never mind what it does to you or those downwind of you

 

[fishermantwo]

Quality airless gun, I think mine is about 110 watts. The antifouling I use is like molasses. Do not thin, just open so its spraying full bore. The problem is the constant refilling of the one litre reservoir, better to remove the filter on the bottom of the pickup as well as this slows down proceedings too much. Its best to have someone mixing and preparing paint while one person paints, one litre only lasts about 5 minutes at the most and a 40 foot trawler takes about 20 minutes to paint.

The ultimate is an airless gun with hose that sucks straight from the 10 litre container. The quality of finish is far superior than rollers or brush. The paint fills all the crevices etc and leaves no holidays. If you pay a yard to do the job this is how they do it.

Wear a mask obviously but overspray is not much of a problem as with a normal air pressure job. I have sprayed in about 20 knots of wind as well when I have had to. The paint comes out at great pressure.

I have experimented with a Schultz gun but it was not that successful. Take a look at the new airless guns now on the market.

 

[wiggy]

Do you have a manufacturer for airless sprayer, all the ones I can find look great for painting the side of a warehouse at one extreme or a fench with stain at the other but nothing in between?

 

[philip_stevens]

[ QUOTE ]
Yacht A/F are not designed to be sprayed due to their toxisity

[/ QUOTE ]

Jotun SeaGuardian was sprayed onto the hull of the containerships (when dry-docked) I used to sail on. It was generally sprayed onto all commercial ships hulls due to the size of the vessel.

It is still sprayed onto the hulls at Falmouth DD. You can watch from the Cliff.

I use Jotun SeaGuardian on my Konsort Duo, but apply it with a short hair roller.

 

[Grajan]

Phillip
Marine and yacht A/F are different animals
Yacht A/F's are produced to be applied by brush and contain more sophisticated biocides that are not designed to be sprayed plus health a safety restrictions would make it impractical in normal boatyard.
Where as Marine/commercial products are designed to be applied by airless spray and have slow release biocides that can be atomised and are covered by commercial H&S regulations

 

[fishermantwo]

Mine is a Swiss manufactured gun, the name escapes me now and is hidden by old paint. Think it was Oldfield. I paid $300 for it but equivalent ones now are $100.

 

[pvb]

You\'d better tell International...

[ QUOTE ]
Phillip
Marine and yacht A/F are different animals
Yacht A/F's are produced to be applied by brush and contain more sophisticated biocides that are not designed to be sprayed plus health a safety restrictions would make it impractical in normal boatyard.
Where as Marine/commercial products are designed to be applied by airless spray and have slow release biocides that can be atomised and are covered by commercial H&S regulations

[/ QUOTE ]You'd better tell International - they think that common antifoul like Micron can be applied by airless/airmix spray, see their product info.

 

[wiggy]

Re: You\'d better tell International...

Lots of antifouls have info on the tin about mixing for spray application. As to spraying in a yard, as long as surrounding boats etc are protected and you dont kill yourself it must do less damage to the environment than the average 4x4 on the school run!

 

[oldsaltoz]

We have sprayed antifoul using an airless hired for the day, it takes longer to mask than it takes to apply.

Use a low pressure and moderate flow, you should see a flat fan shaped spray, keep this between 4 and 8 inches from the hull and no drops are formed, so no drift.

The finish is very smooth, nothing like a roller or brush.
We have groups of boaties in the yard who get together and hire an airless for the day and share the cost, they do 6 or more hulls in an afternoon.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[philip_stevens]

My Jotun SeaGuardian was the same as the DD used. It came in a 20 litre drum that was decanted into 5ltr drums. They sprayed, I rolled - same stuff.

Still the same product, but I am able to get it in 5 ltr drums now.