An Affordable Alternative To Expensive, Dangerous Chemicals

By Gene Yarbrough

Forum 6 was buzzing with interest in using typical household latex paint as a finishing system for experimental airplanes. Malcolm Morrison (pictured) presented his experience with finishing his personal airplanes with off the shelf, readily available, and affordable acrylic latex and/or acrylic enamel paint available at any typical hardware store. Malcolm’s presentation gave a complete and thorough step by step explanation of the process he used to achieve a surprisingly good finish.

Malcolm’s process involves proper preparation of the surface, application of primer, intra-coat sanding procedures, color coat application and sanding procedures, and final polishing. Samples handed out for inspection to the audience displayed a remarkable shine and desired weave filling in the fabric. Morrison said his process can be used on both metallic and fabric covered airframes with primers and paints by Glidden, Behr, and Sherwin-Williams. Additional benefits to using these readily available paints is an almost infinite color palette to choose from, lack of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) that make other paints dangerous to your health, practically no environmental impact, and easy water-based cleanup.

Application of the paint system is similar to any other typical paints with a few twists. Instead of harsh chemicals such as lacquer thinner, acetone, or toluene, the latex paint is thinned with windshield washing fluid. Malcolm states that straight water can be used as well but the windshield washer fluid has other ingredients like alcohol and soap that helps atomize and disperse the paint and aids in flow out for a smooth finish. Morrison said his technique has been the result of much trial and error with several undesirable results as the procedures were developed.

Morrison’s results are counter-intuitive to most people’s experience or expectations with household paints. Malcolm attributes his achievements to the fact that modern “latex” paints don’t contain any true latex rubber as in the past, and are more akin to acrylics and enamels that will produce a sufficiently hard layer to tolerate polishing to a high shine yet remain tough enough to flex on fabric airplanes without cracking. The paints also contain UV stabilizers and maintain good color and adhesion according to Morrison’s long term (3 years) experience.

(Staff image)

FMI:  http://wienerdogaero.com/