ProShot Cordless Family Tree Todd and Scott have been testing, reviewing and downright using/abusing Graco handheld sprayers since their inception in 2010, when the original, first generation ProShot came out. What has been interesting to us about this family of handheld sprayers is that they challenge the user to modify his or her spray technique, [...]
A Primer on Repairs Yes, there are such things as “paint emergencies”. They can be time based emergencies, such as: “our daughter is getting married in the dining room next month and we need to get it painted, decorated and refurnished.” Or, they can be the uglier flavor of water damage to ceilings, walls and [...]
Festool RO90 Review The Festool RO90 DX Rotex sander was one of the most innovative tool releases of 2012. It is described as a “multi-mode” sander, suggesting that it is capable of doing the jobs of more than one sander. In tools, we all want the Holiest Grail – “the one that can do it [...]
Not included in our review, here’s why: Ever put exterior stain on gray weathered wood and watch it turn to black cloudy ugliness? That’s what oil stain always did. Here’s what Benjamin Moore Arborcoat waterborne alkyd/acrylic transparent stain did on some tired outdoor furniture. If you look carefully, there are three boards that comprise the [...]
On January 27, we announced our Primer Roundup series that would be ongoing throughout 2012. Today’s installment features KILZ MAX. Thanks to Masterchem for participating in the Roundup, and submitting the product for evaluation and inclusion. On Primer: Paint contractors who have committed to the shift from oil based primers and paints to waterborne primers [...]
For a few years now, we have been sharing our tips on ipe deck oil finishing. Rule number 4 discusses the importance of maintaining the ipe deck annually. This picture show’s one of our annual ipe deck oil finish masterpieces, which Todd insists on personally servicing. This one gets inspected and worked as needed in the [...]
Erecta-Rack…because space matters… The Erecta-Rack system has been a solid solution for us both in the shop and in the field when it comes to racking small, medium or large quantities of stock for drying and curing. We have pushed the system beyond the manufacturers recommended load capacities, and there are a few techniques that [...]
Festool Systems for Organization One of the most stressful aspects of managing multiple paint projects simultaneously is that empty feeling when you arrive on a job and realize that you have forgotten something. There is always something. But we are gaining on it. Giving every system a little scrubdown, or in some cases a major [...]
Prep to Finish training… Like most paint contractors who are still paint contractors, we have been paint contractors in three different decades now. It is no secret that one of the biggest flaws our industry has allowed is the continued decline in young people entering the paint trade. Too many paint contractors sitting behind computers, complaining [...]
It is an ego thing…the discussion of size. How many guys you got? It really means nothing. In the corner to my left, you have superheroes who can do the work of 15 men by themselves. And in the corner to my right, you have the fat businesses with 25 employees, whose workload could likely [...]
The answer to this question may not have as much to do with the price you pay for the tool as it does with how quickly you can get the tool to pay for itself and become a profitable company asset for the remainder of its lifespan. Notice I do not say “whether” you can [...]
I love percentages. Mostly because I am a baseball fan. A successful manager plays the percentages and makes well informed decisions based on history as expressed in data. The data informs the manager on how to build his lineup for each game, when to have a runner steal a base, which outfielders to challenge on [...]
The Festool Surfix oil finishing kit has now become available in North America. The purpose of this write up is to allow readers to see this kit through the eyes of professional finishers who have used it in some depth. The written aspect of this review serves as an overview of the Surfix system [...]
When the onsite elements conspire against, it is the craft of the finisher to use all weapons in the product arsenal to overcome. Problems: 1. Window inside panelization creates funky natural light tunnel effect 2. Unit is a mix of maple, poplar, mdf and cabinet grade sheet goods 3. Work to be done in closer [...]
Ever think about the impact of your products and processes on your employees and customers? Many of us in paint contracting are 30 somethings (read age 40-60), with pretty stout beliefs in how things should be done. We fall into opinion “camps” when it comes to certain questions about product and process, which are critical [...]
This one goes out to all the Benjamin Moore loyalists. If you are having a hard time building the ultra-premium lines like Aura or Natura into your project pricing, I can tell you from first hand experience that the new low voc Ben eggshell is actually impressive. We used Ben on a project that was [...]
Not included in our review, here’s why: Ever put exterior stain on gray weathered wood and watch it turn to black cloudy ugliness? That’s what oil stain always did. Here’s what Benjamin Moore Arborcoat waterborne alkyd/acrylic transparent stain did on some tired outdoor furniture. If you look carefully, there are three boards that comprise the [...]
Providing a clean workspace is a matter of procedure at Topcoat Finishes, and as a homeowner, husband and father, I try hard to hold myself to the same habits and standards at home when we are in project mode, which has been often over the years. So, I have come to think of protecting noses, [...]
Just over a year ago, my paint contracting company prepped and finished a 4500 sf concrete floor in a warehouse for a bread distribution company. Recently, at the one year mark, I went back to inspect the floor to see how it was holding up to fork lift, hand trucks, foot traffic and the hundreds [...]
Its a never ending battle to get the shop organized. After years of failure, we are constructing an ergonomical and modular system consisting of base units on casters which will be loaded as mobile prep/work stations, then parked and organized when not in use. Upper units will be mounted to the walls, with adjustable shelving, [...]
Scott, I thoroughly enjoy all your articles in APC. I finally decided to see if you would be willing to provide some advice and came to this site to contact you. Lo and behold another treasure trove for information which is now favorite placed. My question. Does HVLP do a good job spraying our interior semi gloss? Ben Moore [...]
Mark from CT asks: I am going to install an Ipe porch. I live in CT, two thirds of the porch will be open and one third will be under roof but exposed to the open air. I would like your recommendation on the type of oil to use. After the initial application, what prep [...]
Hey Scott I am a Paint Contractor down In Beverly Ma just N of Boston. I have emailed you before. Again I want to tell you I enjoy your site very much. Having been painting homes for over 20 years it is nice to see like minded tradesman who take what they do seriously. I am a big Festool [...]
Jim asks: I’m a mostly woodworker that is moving into spraying finishes fromthe brushing/wiping world. Enjoy your reviews, but I’m confused about what, as a non-contractor, types of sprayers I need. I wouldn’t mind being able to spray latex or oil, and other family members could borrow the sprayer when they needed to paint. But a lot my wood projects [...]
Reducing Labor with a Festool DTS400 Sander and Extraction System For much of my painting career I struggled with the antiquated mind set that performing a task in an environmentally friendly manner meant doing it by hand. Traditional painting tasks seemed to have always been done manually – on a planet historically flush with resources, [...]
Jobsite Lighting on the Move… Jobsite lighting is an unfortunate necessity and a real pain in the neck for professionals in all trades, whether you work in residential, commercial, new construction or remodeling scenarios. Frequent power problems, general lack of outlets, and insufficient natural light leave us craving more light at work. Or, should we [...]
Meeting budgets and schedules is a timeless problem for painters, which keeps us all accumulating fine finish tips. In new construction or commercial work, we often enter critical project areas just as all the sub trades are scrambling to finish. Sometimes the living spaces sequence near the back end of the project, and they often [...]
The 5 in 1 is one of the most common tools that painters carry from day to day. We all know that it has always done more than just 5 things for painters. It pops open the first can of paint in the morning, pounds the lid into the rim on the last one at [...]
It’s not the elephants that will kill you, it’s the mosquitoes. This old adage holds particularly true for paint contractors. It is the smallest, most tedious tasks that bog down production. And often the small projects show the most profit evaporation. Finding the areas that are hurting the most and correcting them is key. But sometimes, [...]
Benjamin Moore Arborcoat Stain Review Is finally out…our Benjamin Moore Arborcoat Stain Review – in the July 2012 issue of American Painting Contractor magazine. Please check it out. We put almost a year of observation into this product prior to submitting the review for publication, and since the review was published, we have continued to [...]
Kremlin Rexson and Apollo Sprayers have formed a relationship: Kremlin (Exel) is perhaps most famous in the paint industry and residential finishing sector for their classic 10.14 pump and the gold Xcite Airmix gun. Their recently launched EOS pump, which we are in the process of testing for future review, is expected by some in [...]
Factory Primed…Primer? What Primer? Our basic rule for painting mdf doors that were primed at the factory is to pretend that they were not primed at all. Do whatever cosmetic tweaking is needed, and then start building your finish as if you were working over raw substrate. The factory primer is really intended to do [...]
Festool Syslite Long Term Assessment
Jobsite Lighting on the Move… Jobsite lighting is an unfortunate necessity and a real pain in the neck for professionals in all trades, whether you work in residential, commercial, new construction or remodeling scenarios. Frequent power problems, general lack of outlets, and insufficient natural light leave us craving more light at work. Or, should we [...]
Tool of the Week: Task/Inspection Lighting from Festool
[Update Jan '13: Syslite Review Published] If you follow this site at all, you will already know that a current pet peeve, and it is related to the season and recent time change, is task lighting on projects. It’s a seasonal disorder, but its a thing. The Festool Syslite is a former Product of Interest [...]
A Revolution in Work Lighting for Painters…
…Is BADLY needed…Hello Festool Syslite!!! [Update Jan '13: Festool Syslite Review Published] We have switched the majority of our jobsite and shop lighting needs to the Festool Syslite. Previously, fluorescent and halogen was is about as good as we could get. It wasn’t good enough. Call it the three year itch in the relationship with [...]
Ipe Deck Finish: 5 things not to do : In my little corner of the northeast, ipe has built qui...151 comment(s)
Waterborne Trim Paints and One Trick Ponies :
Ever think about the impact of your products and pr...70 comment(s)
Graco 395 Finish Pro Air Assisted Airless Review : Our take on the Graco 395...exclusively on the Cutting ...44 comment(s)
Kilz Max: A Prime Mover : On January 27, we announced our Primer Roundup series t...34 comment(s)
Tis the Season for Ipe Finishing : It comes every year...
Exterior wood finishing season ...31 comment(s)
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