Paint Retarder

I built a Nobler a few months ago and decided to spray paint it. It was my first try at this, and I had a terrible time with blushing. It ended up looking nice, but it was like a flat finish. I used Brodak Paint all the way. Someone mentioned on a previous post that you need to use retarder with the paint. Now I am ready to paint my Smoothie and I want to do better. I am useing Brodak Pitts Red for a base color. I have the retarder but nothing to tell me how much to use. My spray gun is a touch-up gun with only a 5 ounce pot. Could someone please tell me about how much retarder to mix with the paint? I'm going to paint this today or tomorrow, if the sun stays out. Thanks, in advance! (any other pointers would be appreciated) itsabob...

You will probably find more than enough information by using the SSWF search function and the key words "Retarder" or "blush". There has been much written on several threads dating from last summer. Don't use too much retarder! I have removed blush by misting a soft spray of thinner over (not sprayed AT) the blushed area.

SK

Brodak thinner is a very quick drying thinner, blended for the dope. You need retarder only under high humidity conditions--generally when the humidity is over 50%. Then you should use "just enough". Brodak dope needs to be thinned at least 100% (as much thinner as dope). Use 10-20% retarder at most under high humidity conditions. If that does not do the job, wait for dryer weather (Or paint inside where you have a dehumidifier or air conditioner running. Hot weather also makes paint blush). If you use too much retarder you will slow the drying time too much and get meltdown where the top layer eats into the bottom layers and then the pigment starts moving. Your paint can get all sorts of "funnies" under those conditions. Not good.

Use retarder with caution and only when needed.

LAST EDITED ON Jun-04-04 AT 11:33 AM (CDT)
 
Its,
Part a parcel of the blush/moisture problem is you air supply. Be sure that you have some means of knocking out any entrained moisture from the air supply you use. Nature of the blush is trapped h2o in/under the fast drying top layer of fresh paint.