Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    ACT
    Posts
    102

    Default finishing acrylic gloss on doors

    Hi all,
    I have tried using dulux Aquanamel on my doors as im using white and dont want it to yellow as with enamel paints.
    My problem is I cant get a smooth finish like an enamel.
    I have tried rolling with a foam roller, brushing, tipping off and spraying but none seem to give a smooth look.
    the local dulux shop suggested adding Flowtrol which i did but still no luck.
    is this just a part of using acrylic or is there a trick to getting a smoother finish?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Gorokan Central Coast NSW
    Age
    80
    Posts
    941

    Default

    Only ever tried using acrylic enamel once........never again.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    31

    Default

    I recollect a professional painter telling me that most paints require perfect climatic conditions - not too cold, not too hot and, in particular, the right humidity (humidity measures the amount of moisture in the air - it does not have to be "sticky" to be humid). Perhaps it is too cold to be painting with acrylic?

    Does the paint can provide directions as to the right climatic condition conditions?

    In the past, I have received good advice from Dulux's Technical Service Department (Telephone: 132525). Follow the prompts and eventually you will get to speak to a technical person.

    In the past, I have got very good results using Rota Cota's "Perfect Finish" or "Dream Finish" brushes (Bunning, Mitre 10 etc.). Expensive though.

    HTH


    Mike

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Noosa Heads
    Posts
    446

    Default

    Hi Dan,

    I have been experimenting with Gloss Aqua enamel to try and get a smooth glossy surface like oil enamel without the yellowing.

    The technique which generally works best for me is to spray the door up in oil based enamel first to a nice smooth shine - wait 3 days or more for the enamel to gas off then lightly spray a thin coat of Aqua enamel over it. Dont fine sand the enamel. Spraying is the only way for a large surface.

    It is best to lie the door down when spraying. A light coat will dry with as smooth and pure a surface as oil enamel - but if it goes on too heavy then you get dulling down in patches etc.

    Hold the gun about 50% furthur away from the work and try a misting approach. You should be able to see individual droplets just coming together then stop. after a couple of minutes the droplets will run together and it should dry to a nice uniform shine.

    I use the same pre enamel technique for skirting and architrave now , except I use a paint pad to wipe a thin coat of aquaenamel over the surface.

    Hope that helps

    Doog

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Graceville. Qld
    Age
    78
    Posts
    27

    Default Paint etc

    Hi Dan,

    I'v got an old Queenslander house, the sort wher you need a hammer in one hand a saw in the other and a paintbrush hanging out of your bum just to keep 'em looking good. But I would not swap!!!

    Done an awful lot of painting etc over the last 20 years or so, and to get that nice smooth finish is a bit of a trick. It takes time and patience - have not used spray, and this is how it works for me.
    Presuming you are down to bare timber.
    1. Do your best to find a dust free environment
    2. Final sand on timber 240 grit
    3. Oil based primer
    4. Oil based undercoat
    5. Let dry thoroughly, lighly sand back with 240
    6. Oil based undercoat
    7. Sand back with 240 and have light on an agle to see if all pores etc are filled and you have a perfectly smooth surface. If not another undercoat and sand back. Keep this up untill you get that perfectly smooth surface
    8. Top coat. With the Aquaenamel I would certainly use Floetrol in the recomended dosage. Use a good quality synthetic bristle bush and put on thinly. Always finish your brush strokes in the same direction, with a very light touch.
    When using acrylics, to get a good finish it also helps if you pick the weather right, not too hot and not too dry as the paint has a tendency to go 'off' in the brush. I'd also wait until the temperature is over about 16

    It's a long slow process,and you have got to kid yourself it's worth the effort. I think it is, especially when people make comment about how good it looks.

    Have fun!

    Colin Howkins
    Graceville Qld

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Altona Vic
    Posts
    66

    Default

    Doogie, do you use an airless sprayer or a normal spray gun?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Noosa Heads
    Posts
    446

    Default

    For spraying Aquaenamel I use a normal gun and thin the paint about 10 %. Best results occur on cooler and less humid days. I have found that with Aquaenamel the longer the paint stays wet on the surface the more likely it is to dry to blotchy shine levels.

    today I finally found a recipe for ultra high gloss enamel / glass smooth type finish that doesn't yellow!! I'm going to try it out and see if it works. If it works I'm gonna go into the paint business LOL!

Similar Threads

  1. repainting gloss surfaces
    By mic-d in forum HINTS & TIPS
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 31st July 2010, 05:06 PM
  2. bi-fold doors
    By pawnhead in forum DOORS, WINDOWS, ARCHITRAVES & SKIRTS ETC
    Replies: 32
    Last Post: 13th November 2007, 11:15 PM
  3. Finishing or framing BiFold doors
    By ptyltd in forum DOORS, WINDOWS, ARCHITRAVES & SKIRTS ETC
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 30th December 2006, 04:33 AM
  4. Replies: 16
    Last Post: 22nd November 2006, 11:31 AM
  5. High Gloss Acrylic
    By Geoff Sims in forum FINISHING
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 14th June 2001, 08:16 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •