ALEXSEAL products can be delivered by a variety of professional quality spray guns. As with all equipment, the spray gun, hoses, tips and paint reservoirs should be kept clean and rinsed with solvent prior to each use. Be sure to test spray volume and pattern on a sample surface prior to each application.
Spray Equipment Tips
Use professional grade, well maintained equipment. ALEXSEAL products are designed to be applied in a precise fashion. Low grade or poorly maintained equipment will jeopardize this quality. Spray guns, tips, and reservoirs should all be kept clean with attention to quality. Air hoses must be the correct type and capacity to assure consistent results. Prior to the application of any ALEXSEAL product, all equipment (e.g. pressure pots, hoses, tips, etc.) should be flushed with an ALEXSEAL Topcoat Reducer or clean, non-recycled virgin alcohol, lacquer thinner, MEK, or acetone. This includes new equipment, which may have an oil or residue remaining from the machining process that must be removed. Air hoses should only be flushed with high quality denatured alcohol, because the rubber inside an air hose is not solvent resistant like a fluid hose.
Standardize Your Equipment
Use equipment that is the same brand, type and capacity to achieve uniform results on jobs that have multiple application points. This should include having the same air cap, tip and nozzle for each sprayer, as recommended by the spray gun manufacturer.
Ensure Clean Gun/Hoses/Air
Replace dirty air hoses and check regularly for leaks. Check for air cleanliness by running air for 10 - 15 mins through a clean, white cotton rag and then checking for any residue. Change filters, service water and oil traps regularly. Be sure to use an adequate number of traps for long air hoses.
Check Environmental Conditions
Temperature (both air and substrate), humidity and air flow all may need controlling to optimize your result. DO NOT attempt to apply in marginal conditions or rush an application when current conditions are apt to change mid-application. Ensuring the air is as clean as possible and free of airborne debris from surface preparation or other sources, will help ensure the highest quality application. Rinsing the floor of the paint facility is highly recommended prior to application. Be sure to follow recommendations on appropriate “Technical Data Sheets” prior to applying any ALEXSEAL product. Refer to mixing charts, and choose the correct reducer to thin to the recommended viscosity.
Determine The Optimum Gun Setup
Use the fan check method to get your paint atomization set right. Check the fluid flow rate and air pressure at the gun. Test on a spare panel a minimum of three times prior to application.
Synchronize Gun Settings
Check that all sprayers have the proper fluid flow and air pressure, and that these are not modified during application. Use the same test area to compare spray results prior to continuing application.
Spray a Test Area
At the start of the job and before each coat, spray a decent sized area on a separate panel and check the appearance and wet film thickness (WFT).
Use mixing and spray charts and measure quantities precisely. Record the gun settings for future reference. Work well within the pot life, because as the paint continues to induct, the rheology can change, affecting the final result. Be sure to record the date and time products are opened, and dispose of product that has exceeded acceptable shelf life. Use the „Paint Application Protocol“ to record and save parameters such as mixing ratios, conditions and application method to refer to on future applications to assure consistent results.