The selection of the pump is indicative to the volume solid. So, I’ve mentioned volume solids. Volume solids is how thick the material is. Can we thin the product before we put it on? Do we need to thin it? Do we manipulate the product’s viscosity with heat?
All of this information is provided in a document like this which is called a product datasheet. Now, the product datasheet is a relevant information I need prior to putting anything through this pump. The datasheet itself will explain what type of product you’re applying. It’ll also tell you the characteristics to the product itself, which is fundamentally what you need to understand. The characteristics.
The most imperative aspect here is the volume solids. How many volume solids is in that tin of paint to give me some indication of transfer efficiency? In this particular instance we’re using a product which is acrylic polyurethane, which is 57 percent volume solids, and I need to apply that within the realms of the manufacturer’s recommendations.
This datasheet also tells me drawing times. This datasheet also tells me or gives me an indication of what I require whether I can use an airless spray and air spray brush or roller.
The other important aspect of it too is mixing. So, how do I mix it? What’s the mixing ratio? The important thing as far as this is concerned is the working pot life. So, the working pot life is indicative to how long the product will would remain fluid before it starts to cross link or coalesce, dry, harden, and so forth. So, if I understand all of this then it gives me an indication of what I’m required here to utilize this pump.
So, the paint itself, once I mix that, I’m committed then to utilizing the airless pump to transfer the material onto the wall as quick as possible prior to the product drawing in the tin or in the pump. This is called hot potty.
So, by putting the catalyst into the base, mixing it up, and putting it through the pump, it becomes a hot product. Why is it hot? Because the catalyst in the product is starting to cure or make the product cross-linked.
So, I need to be able to mix the product and put it through the pump as soon as possible so that I don’t have inherent problems with the pump stopping because the products cured in it and so forth.
So, there’s quite a lot involved before we even think about utilizing the product through the pump. The other aspect of it too is, of course, that this is a datasheet.
The other important aspect that I need to know is all the information I need to be able to refer to is the material safety data sheet. So, there’s two different things. There’s a data sheet and the safety data sheet. The safety data sheet explains to me what’s in the product what can cause me problems because you’ve got to remember that an airless pump here is about to atomized something. So, that means it’s going to put it in the atmosphere as well as put it on the surface.
So, there’s two fundamental aspects. One is the paint itself and two, is what can it do to me. So, primarily we have to sort out where we are in relation to how am I going to mix it.
What’s the equipment required? Does it all work and can I put it on the surface? The other point that you need to refer to, there will be something else that accommodates this particular piece of information, is a specification.
So, ultimately if you’re on site and you have to do a job the job will be indicated. The requirement will be outlined in specification which reverts back to the datasheet, which we revert back to the safety data sheet, so all of that information I need before I even think about using an airless pump.