Understanding Paint, Finishes, and Metal Materials

Paint

A mixture of a solid pigment suspended in a liquid vehicle and applied as a thin, usually opaque coating to a surface for protection and decoration.

Pigments

Gives paint its color.

Vehicles

A nonvolatile fluid in which the solid body material is suspended.

Thinners

Volatile solvents that cause the paint to flow better.

Additives

Includes driers, anti-skinning agents, wetting agents and preservatives.

Driers

Reduce the time for evaporation and oxidation.

Anti-skinning agents

Prevents a skin from forming on the surface of the paint in the can.

Wetting agents

Helps distribute pigment particles evenly.

Preservatives

Retard or eliminate the growth of mold or bacteria.

Latex Paints

Paints with water-based thinners (also called emulsion paints) that dry and harden through evaporation, do not peel when the substrate is not entirely dry when painted, produce fewer odors when drying, and clean up easily with water.

Enamel Paints

Also called oil-based or alkyd paints, used with solvent thinners and mineral spirits that dry by both evaporation and oxidation, produce more odor and emit more VOCs.

Sheen or Gloss

Refers to the amount of light reflected from a paint surface and depends on the size of the particles of pigments and the ratio of pigment to liquid.

Flat

No sheen; conceals minor imperfections, suitable for ceilings and walls in low-use rooms.

Eggshell

Smooth finish with a subtle sheen; scrubbable, suitable for family rooms or bedrooms.

Satin

All-purpose, popular sheen; washable and scrubbable, suitable for almost any room.

Semi-Gloss

Medium sheen; extremely durable, washable and scrubbable, suitable for high-abuse areas.

Gloss

High sheen; shows imperfections, suitable for doors, trims, and cabinets.

Paint Systems

Paint products are applied in a series of coats, commonly a three-coat system consisting of primer and two topcoats.

Primers

Serve to bind substrate.

Sealers

Specialty primers used to limit the absorbency of the substrate or to limit imperfections from showing through.

Fillers

Applied prior to painting to provide a very smooth surface for painting.

Colorwash

A decorative paint finish technique.

Combing

A decorative paint finish technique.

Crackle-Glaze

Imitates old peeling paint and provides a cobweb look.

Rubbing

A decorative paint finish technique.

Antiquing

The process of artificially aging paint.

Distressing

A decorative paint finish technique.

Sponging

A decorative paint finish technique.

Dragging

A decorative paint finish technique.

Spattering

A decorative paint finish technique.

Stamping

A decorative paint finish technique.

Stippling

A decorative paint finish technique.

Faux Finish

A decorative paint finish technique.

Ragging

A decorative paint finish technique.

Stenciling

A decorative paint finish technique.

Steel Wool Technique

Using steel wool and rubbing off the new paint to create a patchy worn look.

Stencil Plate

A stencil must be strong and robust as the designs often entail a great deal of repetition.

Faux Finishes

A form of imitating existing finishes onto our existing substrate, such as tortoise shelling, marbling, and graining.

Verdi Gris

The color that copper and bronze turn with age and unprotected exposure to the elements; a blue green shade replicated in a paint effect.

Graining

The art of imitating natural timber graining, achieved by using a brush or comb to pull through a translucent glaze applied over a base coat.

Marbling

The imitation of the natural product of marble, achieved by painting on veins of various shades and applying varnish to seal it.

Tortoise Shelling

The art of imitating tortoise shell, achieved by working with wet varnish and adding desired colors to create markings.

Bambooing

The imitation of bamboo, achieved by painting turned or carved wood to copy bamboo knots and grain.

Alligatoring

An incomplete form of peeling where the paint cracks into large segments, with edges breaking away from the surface while the center remains attached.

Bleeding

Discoloration of a coating caused by soluble color in the underlying surface.

Blistering

Formation of blisters on a coating due to dust, grease, sap, moisture, excessive heat, or direct exposure to the sun during drying.

Blushing

Cloudiness on the surface finish caused by poor or improper drying conditions.

Checking

Defect in paint film wherein short narrow cracks or small squares resembling a checkboard are formed.

Paint Defects

Various issues that can occur in paint applications, affecting the appearance and durability of the finish.

Definition of Paint

A substance used to create a protective or decorative coating on surfaces.

Paint Computation

The process of calculating the amount of paint needed for a project.

Ingredients of Paint

The components that make up paint, including pigments, binders, solvents, and additives.

Classification of Paint

The categorization of paint based on its properties, uses, and formulations.

Paint Application

The methods and techniques used to apply paint to surfaces.

Solution for Alligatoring

Remove all loose paint, sand the surface smooth, powerwash, and repaint according to instructions.

Solution for Bleeding

Lightly sand the affected area, re-prime, and paint, allowing to dry completely before additional coats.

Solution for Blistering

Find and remove the source of moisture, remove all blisters, sand, and repaint according to directions.

Solution for Blushing

Lightly spray a mist of lacquer thinner or retarder over the blushing area and let it sit to see if it clears up.

Condition of Blushing

A milky white haze that appears on the paint film.

Solution for Checking

Remove all loose paint, powerwash, sand edges, and rinse again to remove debris and dust.

Cracking/ Crazing

the formation of cracks on a surface coated with varnish or enamel caused by lack of elasticity in the film

Flaking

paint defect in which the film breaks into small pieces and fall off

Grinning

a condition in which the base or undercoat shows through the finishing paint film

Orange Peel

wherein the paint resembles the peel of an orange

Pinholing

formation of tiny holes in the paint film, very similar to pinholes, caused by changes in atmospheric conditions during drying, by application over sweating or incompletely dried undercoats, or by spots or grease or sap in the underlying surface.

Runs / Sags

irregularities on the surface finish due to uneven paint flow during application

Tackiness

characterized by stickiness of film when it is supposed to be tack-free. May be due to application on very greasy or unclean surface esp. in the refinishing work

Washing

a condition wherein the paint on the surface gets washed down by the rain or chemicals

Wrinkling

the appearance of wrinkles on the coating due to application in thick coats, or to cold weather

Ferrous Metals

Metals that are made wholly or partly of iron.

Non-Ferrous Metals

Metals that do not contain significant amounts of iron.

Noble Metals

Metals that resist oxidation when heated in air and are not easily dissolved by inorganic acids, including gold and platinum, followed by titanium, silver and stainless steel.

Metal

A pure substance, composed of a single type of atom.

Alloy

A mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, often created to improve the properties of a metal.

Corrosion

the gradual deterioration of metal by chemical action, usually takes place when metal is exposed to weather, moisture or specific corroding agents.

Oxide

a combination of oxygen with another element, such as rust.

Galvanic Corrosion

due to the exposure of a metal to an electric current in a liquid with two dissimilar metals.

Patina

the greenish film on the surface of old bronze and copper, a chemical process that occurs naturally over time when materials are left out in the open and exposed to weathering agents.

Aesthetic Qualities of Metal

Metals can be formed and finished to create textures varying from smooth and matte to ridged, pockmarked, hammered or perforated.

Metallic Colors

colors that are inherent in the material or those which develop slowly over time.

Casting

the process of forming a material into a particular shape by pouring it into a mold and letting it harden.

Extrusion

shapes are produced by forcing semi-molten material through a die with a pressure ram. Long linear shapes are produced by extrusion.

FORGING

formed by hammering, pressing, or rolling metal into the desired configuration

Mechanical Finishes

accomplished by buffing, grinding, polishing or otherwise texturing the metal surface for a specific appearance

Mechanical Finishing

includes various techniques that alter metal's surface by physical means, rather than applying coatings or using chemical reactions.

Reasons for Mechanical Finishing

Functional Benefits, Cost Effectiveness, Enhances Aesthetics, Improved Performance & Durability

Buffing/Polishing

Employing abrasive materials to remove blemishes and create a smooth, shiny finish.

Grinding

A semi-finishing process that shapes and finishes metal components by using abrasive wheels to remove material.

Shot Blasting/Bead Blasting

Projecting abrasive particles onto the surface to remove oxides, scale, or paint, and create a textured surface.

Brushing

Creating a directional, brushed finish with fine scratches using abrasive materials.

Mechanical Plating/Peen Plating

A method to deposit coatings, like zinc, onto metal substrates using mechanical energy and heat.

Tumbling

Using vibratory finishing techniques with abrasive media to smooth, finish, and deburr metal parts.

Chemical Finishes

involve treating the surface of a metal object with chemicals to create a variety of effects, including enhancing corrosion resistance, improving aesthetics, or altering the metal's conductivity.

Oxidizing

Creating a layer of metal oxide on the surface through a controlled chemical reaction with oxygen.

Passivation

A chemical process that creates a thin, protective oxide layer on stainless steel, enhancing its corrosion resistance.

Galvanizing

A process where a thin layer of zinc is applied to steel, providing a protective coating against rust.

Tin Plating

A process where a thin layer of tin is deposited onto the surface of a metal, often used in electronics for its soldering properties.

Etching

the removal of any oxide film or surface irregularity and provide a design, a clean surface texture or a polished effect.

Coating

Surface treatments applied to metals to enhance their appearance, durability, and corrosion resistance.

Anodizing

An electrochemical process that creates a protective oxide layer on aluminum, making it more durable and resistant to corrosion.