Nova Paint

[jim shula]

I'm using Nova paint for the first time on a 48x60 sign. It says to not thin more than 10% with water but I'd like to spray it on and just looking at the consistency, I don't think it's going to spray well if I just add 10% of water.

Does anyone spray this paint, and how do you thin it down? I use an HVLP sprayer.

Thanks

[joe]

Jim,

Two suggestions.

First, you need to invest in one of those little Critter Spray guns. They spray latex like a dream.

Second, when using a 1/8" foam roller along with a little FlowControl it will flow out nicely. This paint ends up too flat for me. I end up with a couple of coats Modern Masters UV clear varnish.

Joe

[RossMosh]

You have to take my advice with a grain of salt since I'm very much a novice but I just sprayed some Nova paint yesterday and today about an hour ago.

Called up Nova, ordered the paint with the 235 extender. They said thin the paint 20-25%. They say water is fine but extender is better. Yesterday I sprayed it with 20% thinning (10% water and 10% extender) using the Critter as Joe recommends. It sprayed but was a little too thick and I had a little clogging/gunking issue and there was a little more orange peel than you'd like to see.

I eye ball thinned the rest of the batch to what I'd believe is about 25% (still attempting to keep the water to extender ratio the same). Sprayed very well without any clogging/gunking issues and orange peel is down to a more than acceptable level.

As for the paint itself, I bought the ~$50 a gallon opaque blue. So far I have nothing bad to say about it. It's as Joe advertises. Dries flat, smooth, and not sticky at all. My only complaint so far is the color selection is a bit lacking. There is no opaque "sign" burgundy/red that is rated for outdoor purposes. At least not that I see.

[joe]

I'm with Ross on this one all the way.

To get the proper maroon colors for a job I ended up mixing their majenta with the burgundy. The majenta isn't rated for out doors so I've coated the surface with several coats of UV Clear.

I really like the little Critter sprayer but for jobs of any size where a perfect coat is needed I use the portable, battery powered, Graco. This is a smaller version as their big commercial rigs. It's was developed for the commercial house painting industry for touch up. A quart can of paint slips right into the carriage.

The pattern can be changed with an internal tip. I'm using the ten inch pattern which gives the smoothest surface I've ever had on large panels. A 4'X12' panel finishes in less than four minutes.

Joe

[jim shula]

Thanks Joe and Ross. I have a critter but I'm partial to the hvlp gun I've had for about 20 years. I can adjust the spray pattern into a fan for either left and right or up and down motions whereas the critter just sprays out like a shotgun array.

[joe]

Jim,

I agree with regard to the Critter. With our HVLP there are two different tips and needles. My best experience with latex is the larger of the two combinations and the nozzle turned to full choke. This means you'll back away from the surface to be painted. But I'm sure you know all that.

The beauty with the Graco is there's no air. Even with my HVLP units there's overspray. It's all about the adjustment and air.

Joe

[mikeacg]

Thanks for the info on mixing magenta with burgundy Joe! I've been pulling my hair out on that one. I put down a red base and painted over it but couldn't get a good, smooth color. They also want a forest green which I guess I'll have to mix the same way.

Mike

[joe]

Mike,

Looks like were on the same page with that one.

Right now I'm experimenting with these materials with new brilliance with in some colors. Here's the challenge.

When we review the light fastness of these colors our options narrow down. What I'm experimenting with to this point is how much #2 or #3, transparent grade, added to the standard paint before it degrades the UV life expectancy.

For example, if you want a beautiful graded dark green, it's possible to begin by painting a yellow background. Once dry thin layers of blue can be added to bring the down to the green one desires. That's easy but my dilemma light fastness. By mixing dry colors, one on top of each other, there's brilliance unequalled by a strait mixed paint. This has been done for years by billboard painters using "Smith Cream" which gives the illusion of depth. That's tough to bring about with fast drying paints.

Perhaps I should show a few tests with these techniques showing the net effect of layering colors. If your needing a strait forward dark green I'll see if I can mix a couple up in the next day or so for a post.

Joe

[mikeacg]

Joe,

I need a dark green. I put down a green base but it gets too dark. I'll try the yellow today and let you know how that works... Thanks for your help!

Mike

[joe]

Mike,

Sorry it's taken me so long to follow up on this topic. Too much work.

Looking over my Green Nova's wasn't too helpful. However here's a couple of suggestions. When a color is close to what you want but not quiet there one step is to add a small amount of a Thalo hue.

If there's anyone who doesn't know much about paints, they come in two forms. The first and most opaque are the natural earth materials. Followed by the chemical colors which are usually staining gels that are transparent due to poor UV resistance.

It's possible to lay down a dark green as a base the mix one of the chemical stains with the original paint giving it much more like. It's always to clear coat this technique. The amount of Thalo added to the paint will change the exterior life.

PhThalo Green #116
PhThalo Deep Blue #115

The Nova products also combine with other latex paints. If you're almost happy with some other brand but need a little tweeking this might work.

Joe

[mikeacg]

Joe,

I tried the yellow but it didn't make me happy. I finally settled on using a coat of med. green with 2 thinned coats of transparent dark green. Looks pretty good now! Will try the same thing with the maroon areas.

Mike :)

[joe]

Mike,

The maroon and the Thailo, rubine colors can mixed together to bring up some amazing colors. Be sure to topcoat well.

Joe