I built a frame & panel assembly to install above our fireplace brick (3 sides using poplar & MDF). Using Benjamin Moore latex paint, the paint consistency is nice but kinda thick and shows brush marks, so I bought a bottle of Floetrol (as recommended by Paul Snyder in FWW# 177).
The bottle instructions say to mix it 1:1 with the latex paint. It that just for spraying?Before I screw the mixture up for my brushing application, I thought I’d ask for input. Any thoughts on this?
Replies
1:1 sounds like too much. I'm used to adding 20oz or so to a gallon before spraying. You shouldn't need it for brushing, unless your shop is too hot, but it won't hurt.
I've always mixed it to "taste" (no I don't eat it). 1:1 does sound like too much. Remember that adding Floetrol will diminish the opacity some.
Datachanel
Doing things the hard way
I usaually add an ounce or so to a cut bucket. I sometimes add a little less than 1/4 of the bottle to a quart of paint. It does make the paint flow better. Stir it in well. It's important to just lay the paint and resist the temptation to go back over the already painted surface. This, with a good properly loaded brush will help to cut down on the sanding to get rid of the brush marks. It takes a little practice, but you can certainly get a nice finish this way. It's nice to paint with a brush, I like it.
Also...This is just my opinion, Benjamin Moore is fine quality paint but I tend to prefer Sherwin Williams, either way though I'll use either, maybe Sherwin Williams just suits my style.
Hi daveinnh,
I have been brushing Ben-Moore paint on some plantation shutters for the LOML. I added about 8 oz of Floetrol to the gallon, this makes it much easier to keep the 'wet edge' and the brush marks seem to flow out much better.
Use a good Purdy or Wooster brush and your results should look great
Best of luck
Edited 1/5/2006 9:55 am ET by BOBABEUI
I don't know where you heard 1 to 1, but that is way too much. The paint may never dry. If I remember correctly the directions on the bottle recomend 2 or 4 oz. to the gallon. I have added a lot more than that. I usually mix floetrol and water 1 to 1 then add that to the paint untill I get the consistancy I need to spray nicely. Brushed latex will always look like it was brushed. I'd go with oil based paint and thin it pretty heavily adding Penetrol as well. That will give nearly perfect results with a brush.
Mike
Typically you mix smallest amount as possible and slowly increase with floetrol. Brush and roll you will typically mix about 8 ounces per gallon max spraying you can mix 16-32 ounces (32 is more common for airless sprayers). Here is an in depth guide to floetrol.
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