Finding the Right Paint for the Job

Painting can mean any number of things to any number of people.

It can be art on a canvas, changing the color of a bedroom, marking gas lines in a front yard, or knocking off a little rust and keeping a fleet of vehicles looking good.

Painting always becomes easier, however, with the right tool for the job.

At Kimball Midwest, specialty paints are a passion and Ultra Pro-Max is the top-of-the-line spray paint that is almost always the right tool.

First, if you are using spray paint, there are several things to be aware of right off the bat. The first thing is to get a dust mask, and if need be, an organic vapor respirator and, of course, safety goggles.

Second is know the difference between these two words: hide and coverage. Though at times they are used interchangeably, they are anything but interchangeable terms.

Coverage is how far a can of paint will go. Hide is how well the paint you are using will obscure what you are painting over.

OK, now it’s time if figure out what you are painting. Is it big? Or something that will fit on a table top to apply?

If the latter is true, pick up a furnace filter at your local hardware store. This is an item that can be used over and over, so don’t worry about the money. The great thing about the furnace filter is that it will secure most overspray and won’t make your surface dirty. Drop cloths and tapes also can be useful to avoid overspray.

Are you painting wood? Metal? Drywall? No matter what it is, make sure your surface is prepared the right way.

If it’s wood, make sure your surface is smooth, sanded with a 220 grit, working up from 100 grit. You’ll also want to prime the surface.

Is it metal? A fine grit emery cloth is what you’ll need, if your aren’t finishing it off with a grinder. If it has any rust on it, however, you’ll need to knock it off first. Wire brushes and sanding discs work well here.

Drywall? Smooth out the joint compound (or spackle) with a wet sanding sponge (to keep down dust) as your last sanding before you prime and paint.

If you are spray-painting an upright surface, and are doing it for the first time, you may be reticent and wary of drips. The simple way to avoid that is to simply read all directions. Check the can for the proper spraying distance and drying times before you begin painting.

The other way is to make sure you are applying thin coats, not inundating the surface with thick coats of paint that will never dry and are bound to drip simply because of the weight of the paint you just used.

So let’s stick with fleet maintenance for a moment. If you are trying to knock some rust off first, the aforementioned wire brushes will do a lot of good.

But let’s face it, if you are trying to knock rust off a vehicle, getting into some of the pits and nooks and crannies can be more time than it’s worth, not to mention nearly impossible. And one thing we know about rust is if you don’t remove it all, it will come back.

But Kimball Midwest has a product (Rust Master Plus) that changes the chemistry of the rust into a black polymeric coating. It’s no longer rust, and it’s ready to be painted in 24 hours.

From there you have another choice, but to us, it’s simple. Ultra Pro-Max is the best choice for high volume painting. With four times the solids of other spray paints, it provides four times the coverage of an ordinary competitor’s paint.

It comes in a variety of colors that can match your fleet and make you stand out.

If you’ve got a bad back, and need to make marks on the ground, pay attention.

Inverted marking paints are perfect for making a mark you can easily find on the ground. The special formula won’t clog and requires less shaking of the can.

And if you have a lot of marks to make, the Compact Inverted Marking Gun or the Inverted Paint Marking Stick are the perfect tools to help you along with the job.

So, let’s say your job is small. Like, really small. And a can of spray paint isn’t going to give you the pinpoint accuracy that is desired.

When a scratch or chip is really all you need to cover, grab a marker.

The Ultra Pro-Max paint marker offers a high solids paint marker with a 3/16-inch chisel tip for both fine lines or a broader mark. The markers are permanent, ideal for use on vehicles and apply to virtually any surface.

If you need an expert to help you find the right paint or accessory for the job, .