Clean Run Magazine - March 2010 - 39

Apply the solvent to clean rags and wipe the steel clean, paying attention to the welded areas and all the nooks and crannies. Replace soiled rags and solvent as necessary, or you will just be wiping dirty solvent on what you are trying to clean. If there are any rough areas on the metal or areas where rust is evident, lightly sand these with fine sandpaper before cleaning. Select a high-quality spray paint and primer of the same brand and type. Don’t mix paint brands or types, or you could have disastrous results. Most manufacturers formulate their paints differently from others and paints are often incompatible with one another. Of the many types of spray paint, one of the best for overall longevity is Rust-Oleum Professional. Like anything else, you get what you pay for; so if you select a very cheap spray paint, you will get a cheap finish that probably won’t last very long. Spending the money up front for quality paint saves you money in the long run because it will last many times longer than cheap paint. Spray a good coat of primer on all the exposed metal, taking care to coat all the nooks and crannies, and allow it to dry according to the instructions on the can before turning the equipment over to paint the other side or applying the color coat. Again, be sure that the spray paint you use for the color coat is the same brand and type as the primer. Spray the color coat within the time recommended on the primer, not before or after. When spraying the color coat, it is better to cover the primer in multiple light coats of paint rather than one thick coat. Allow the paint to dry between coats as recommended on the can and let the paint cure for the time recommended before using the equipment, usually 24-48 hours. wood Primer and Paint Standard exterior house paint and primer that are available at your local home improvement store can provide a tough, long-lasting coating for wood if it is properly prepared and the paint applied correctly. Choose paint and primer that are in the moderate to more expensive range for a longer life. Like spray paint, choosing the cheapest paint in the store saves you money now, but will cost you later because it requires more maintenance and recoating than a better paint. Make sure that the paint and primer are for exterior use, and the final color coat should be flat and not glossy. Before applying any paint, be sure to remove all dust, dirt, and sanding dust by sweeping and/or vacuuming the wood. Any dust or dirt left on the surface will result in poor adhesion of the paint, and over time the paint may completely peel off the wood. I prefer to apply two coats of primer to assure that the wood is adequately sealed. Apply the primer to the prepared wood according the manufacturers’ instructions on the can. Let the primer dry between coats as recommended. After both sides of the wood and all the edges have been primed with two coats of primer and it has dried, you can apply the color coat. In most cases there is no reason to apply color paint to the bottom side of the wood unless you just want to, normally two coats of a high-quality exterior primer are adequate to protect the underside of the wood. If you are using sand for non-skid surfacing on contacts, you can apply the sand immediately after the first coat of color paint has been applied and while it is still wet. Contact Surfacing Sand Probably the most common surfacing for contacts is sand because it is the cheapest. Washed play sand works fine and can be applied evenly with a wire mesh strainer or through a screen onto wet paint. Applying the sand with a screen does two things; it allows you to apply the sand evenly across the surface and it sifts out the larger grains of sand so the texture is consistent. You can also mix the sand into the paint and roll it on with a paint roller, but I have found that sifting the sand onto wet paint provides a more evenly applied surface. After the first coat of sanded paint dries, you can apply another coat of color paint, and a third coat if necessary to completely cover the sand. Lovin’ the tunnel since 1997 User-Friendly Handles Heavy-Duty Straps Fully Adjustable Durable Aqualon Fabric © GREAT DANE PHOTOGRAPHY March 10 | Clean Run

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Clean Run Magazine - March 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - March 2010