twn

I am looking for the proper washer fluid to mix with the latex. I thought the washer fluid to use was the blue type HOWEVER!! The blue type is the winter type with an antifreeze additive. The red washer fluid is the summer type with mostly just a detergent.



Do I need the blue type or the red type??

the hobbyman

Go to an auto paint store and ask them for a bottle of activator for waterborne paint, it's the correct stuff for latex.

spaceworm

At most any paint store or even Wally World there is an additive to improve the flow of latex paint. Although I and many others have used (blue) WSW antifreeze, the proper additive is better.

Good luck

scale only 4 me

My Feedback: (158)

Denatured Alcohol worked well for me

I believe Flotrol is what spaceworm is talking about,, I didn't like it at all,, the DA worked better for me

CK1

My Feedback: (60)

Here is what I have been using and it has been working well for me . I have tried various combinations of paint , floetrol , washer fluid and this is what I found works best under my conditions ,considering viscosity , ability of mixture to flow out with minimal runs ,coverage and drying time.
I am using a gravity feed touch up gun .
40 psi air pressure
mixing ratio
6 oz exterior latex paint
1 oz floetrol
2 oz blue w/washer fluid
stir well and strain before putting in the pot .
I have been painting in my basement that stays a constant 64f year round . The low temp slows the paint curing process.
I apply a light first coat and allow it to flow out and dry for approx. 8 hours .
The second coat is a little heavier and allowed to dry for 24 hours
The third and last coat is a heavy coat and is allowed to dry for 48 hours before handling or assembly.
Latex paint appears heavy and very spattered and egg-shelled when first applied but will flow out over several hours and thins as it dries. It will not immediately look smooth like other paints you may have used.
Your conditions and temperatures as well as differences in paints may yield different results . The key is to experiment a little on some scrap before you start spraying your models .

Sonny.C

My Feedback: (23)

CK1,

Thanks for the detailed latex painting information!


Which exterior latex paint brand(s) do you prefer?

Which latex paint brands work well and which ones do not?


Thanks!





Painting Newbie,

Sonny Coleman

OldScaleGuy

My Feedback: (2)

There has been a lot of discussion over the years regarding using windshield washer fluid as a reducer for spraying latex. Personally i use distilled water and it works fine for me along with Floetrol or any other good additive to improve flow. While i have used latex, i don't feel like it is the best paint option for our planes but it works and the cost is right but certainly not for a glow powered plane.

raptureboy

The blue one use to be known as summer washer fluid but now they are adding in something like rainex to make the water bead up in some brands. Like the others flotrol and or alcohol works fine and if your going gas your good to go but glow will require a fuel proof clear coat of some kind. I personally use Behr paint but then I work for the Depot.

CK1

My Feedback: (60)

Sonny ,
I have found that Valspar Ultra exterior latex from Lowes, which is a paint and primer in one works very well for me on cloth covered planes. On sheeted surface planes such as AT6 , Mustang etc. I have been using Modern Masters metallic silver latex for a simulated natural aluminum look.
OldScaleGuy is correct that for glow powered planes Latex paint would not be a good choice . Latex is not fuel resistant unless you top coat it with an epoxy clear coat.

Check6

My Feedback: (427)

This came up at a good time. I will be painting a Bates Hellcat 80 in. Using Glidden semi gloss exterior mixed to Federal Standard color chips. The match is perfect. I just went over to Vailly avaition website and read up on his method. Roy has been doing this a long time. Why reinvent the wheel. He uses blue washer fluid and about 2 oz. of floetrol per Qt. of paint. I maybe doing some painting today . I'll let you know how it works and hopefully post some pics.
Thanks,
Fred Menna Check6

Ham639

My Feedback: (13)

I don't ever use the floetrol. Tried it, couldn't tell a difference. I do use "Fresh" Blue windshield wiper solvent.

I have had great success with Latex paints.

The secret is to be patient and every color will mix and spray a little different.

Also always spray with "Flat" paints. Coverage is much better and always clear coat.

Latest paint job below:

F4u5

My Feedback: (81)

And use Behr Paints!

JQ

Ham639

My Feedback: (13)

And nothing else

ESSAR

Wow! that paint job looks amazing Ham! Nice work.
I do all my painting and weathering with water based paint cut with water then clear coat at the end with a good urethane automotive clear.
Good luck with your project,

Andrew.

Ham639

My Feedback: (13)

Nice job Andrew. There is always more than one way to skin a cat

BobH

My Feedback: (2)

Just latex paint. No washer fluid, no flotrol, just water. Cleared over with Nelson's clear.

Leroy Gardner

Now that's a good latex paint jog and advice, however distilled water also works fine, just takes longer to dry. Laytex staines like crazy so always clear coat with fuel proof clear. You don't need 2 or 3 coats for a good job, with a little testing most of you can spray it with a cheep HVLP gun (laytex that is), remember it's heavy, so don't go nuts with it.

FireBee

My Feedback: (34)

I am using a automotive touch up gun .
60-80 psi air pressure
mixing ratio
8 oz exterior latex paint
2 oz floetrol or "thins-it"
2 oz tap water
stir well and strain before putting in the gun.

I spray a light coat, wait 5 min and spray a second coat and maybe a third right away.
I have used Taylor,s do it center paint(or Benjamin Moore) or Valspar too.
Latest project 90" Zero done with four different colors of Ben Moore color matched with their scanner at Taylor's Do It Center.

After 2 days drying, I weather with oooo steel wool and paints. then clear coat with Min Wax polyurethane. Clear satin ( gold label) for gasoline engines, or top flight clear for nitro

Ham639

My Feedback: (13)

I like the idea of using distilled water. I'm going to try that next time. Thanks for Sharing.

Ham639

vertical grimmace

My Feedback: (1)

I like latex as well. I use Behr with Floetrol. Blue windshield washer fluid. The thing with the windshield washer fluid is it has alcohol so it dries a little faster than just water. I have noticed a difference since using the floetrol. This aircraft was painted entirely with my airbrush, so latex will come out of that small of spray gun as well.

kahloq

Definitely Behr paint is best for latex. It is both primer and paint in one. Valspar from lowes is a copy that's lower quality and only came about as competition to Behr. Home Depot over Lowes any day!!!!!!

flyallday

I have been using Windex with Behr paint and getting nice results.

Harry

scale only 4 me

My Feedback: (158)

Behr flat
Denatured alcohol
Pashe air brush
Systems three LPU Satin Finish Top Coat with cross linker,, tested with 30% nitro and still rock hard btw

TomCrump

I made latex paint for 30 years, using tap water. I see no reason to buy distilled water to do the final thinning since 90% of the water already in it, is from the tap.

OldScaleGuy

My Feedback: (2)

I believe it would depend on the condition of your tap water. Too hard, too much lime, too much iron, too soft, etc. I have used distilled water for the "cleaner" water it provides and it is very inexpensive.