Teak upkeep

[Kayakeur]

To fine tune your finishing process.

Keep a log each time you paint of your finishing process of:

1. Viscosity, with a #4 ford viscosity cup in seconds
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(This is specified by manufacturer). In the manufacturer's technical data sheet (TDS), also known as a Product Data Sheet (PDS), It is a document that details the composition, physical properties, and proper application of a specific paint product.

2. It's thickness, with a wet film thickness gauge. to achieve a consistency in the desired thickness. Some finishes have a maximum build. You will need to know the percentage of solids by volume of paint after it has dried. 33% solids by volume at 4 mils thick wet, will be 1.33 mils dried. Three coats will be 4 mill after drying.
(Finished thickness as specified by manufacturer)
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3. The humidity as well as room temperature and the paint or finish temperature.

(It would be best to stay with what is specified by manufacturer)

4. Time of day and was it sunny cloudy. UV light helps in the drying process.

5. A photo of the finished product.

6. And your mood for the next three days after finishing.

Your paint respirator mask has no gauge on it to tell you if it is working or not. Your brain does. If you smell paint it is not working and will cause damage to your health.

Thanks for the brain health warning. Millions of people use all kinds of dangerous neurotoxins (pesticides, herbicides, paints, solvents, automotive cleaners) - they don't smell bad or give you an instant skin rash or burn, don't give you an instant headache or dizziness, and so people think they are harmless and can ignore the warnings on the label. BUT these chemicals work slowly, degrading your ability to remember and think, slow enough you dont notice. Its real. If you're going to ignore the warnings, use it outside on a breezy day with your face, nose, mouth, eyes upwind of the poisonous stuff but not 100% upwind because wind curls back into a wind eddy downwind of an object. Hold yourself 30 degrees off of directly behind the wind.some things are a lot worse than varnish and teak oil. Really toxic are pesticides, herbicides, brake cleaner, and mean words from someone you love.