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diff --git a/57562-0.txt b/57562-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..94ef7f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/57562-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8658 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 57562 *** + + + + + + + + + + + + +_ADVERTISEMENTS._ + + + Mander Brothers, + + Wolverhampton, + + ARE + + EXPERTS + + IN + + DIPPING AND + + SPRAYING PAINTS. + + + + + _Industrial + Paints and + Varnishes_ + + BRUSHING + + DIPPING + + SPRAYING + + FLOWING + + TUMBLING + + DRYING + + We specialise in all Paints, Enamels, + Japans, Lacquers, Varnishes and + other materials for the protection + and decoration of Industrial Products + of all kinds. + + Our clients comprise of the principal + Manufacturers in all Trades, + and the service we are rendering to + them is ready, willing and capable + of caring for your requirements. + + Experimental and Research Laboratories + are maintained to assist the + solution of any problem, whilst + there is a wealth of practical + experience to draw upon when + you consult + + PINCHIN, JOHNSON & Co., Ltd. + + _Paint, Varnish, Color & Enamel Manufacturers_ + + Minerva House, Bevis Marks, London, E.C. + + + _TELEGRAMS + PINCHIN, ALD, LONDON._" + + _TELEPHONE + AVENUE 910_ (_3 lines_) + + ESTABLISHED 1834 + + + + +PAINTING BY IMMERSION AND BY COMPRESSED AIR. + +[Illustration: AUTOMATIC FINISHING OF PIANOS. + +LOWERING THE LOADED CARRIER INTO THE VARNISH TANK.] + +_Frontispiece._ + + + + + Painting by Immersion + and by Compressed Air. + + + _A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK_ + + BY + + ARTHUR SEYMOUR JENNINGS, F.I.B.D., + + Editor of "The Decorator" and the "The Decorator Series of Practical + Handbooks," Author of "Commercial Paints and Painting," "Paint and + Colour Mixing," "The Painters' Pocket Book," "House Painting and + Decorating," etc., etc. Member of the Paint and Varnish Society, + The International Society for Testing Materials, etc. Examiner in + Painters' and Decorators' Work to the City and Guilds of + London Institute. + + _With 150 Illustrations._ + + + London: + + OFFICES OF "THE MANAGING ENGINEER," + 93 & 94, CHANCERY LANE, W.C. + + E. & F. N. SPON, LTD., + 57, HAYMARKET, LONDON, S.W. + + New York: + + SPON & CHAMBERLAIN. + 123, LIBERTY STREET + 1915 + + + + +PREFACE. + + +In many industries the application of paint for preservative or +ornamental purposes is imperative and the item of expenditure is an +important one. + +There is abundant evidence to prove that the application of paint, +either by means of dipping, spraying or other mechanical means, effects +an enormous saving of time over the old method of using brushes, while +the coats of paint are more durable and thorough. + +This saving of time not only lowers the cost of production to a very +considerable extent, but it permits of a large increase in the output. + +The process of "flowing-on" enamels and varnishes described in the +following pages effects an even greater saving of time in those cases +where it is applicable. The extent of this saving can be judged by +the fact that a complete coat of enamel can be given to the body of +a four-seated touring car in the almost incredibly short time of two +minutes! + +These processes are used to a very large extent in many industries, +particularly those connected with metal work and engineering. In the +United States of America and in many parts of the Continent they have +reached a high degree of perfection. In Great Britain the adoption of +the methods is rapidly increasing. + +It is hoped that this book will be found of service to manufacturers +who desire to ascertain whether the processes can be economically +employed in their particular industry or to those who contemplate +putting in a plant for the purpose. + +It should also be helpful to those who have not been very successful +with a trial plant or who desire to bring an existing plant fully +up-to-date in its equipment. And it should be said at once that the few +cases of failure which have come to the notice of the author have been +found on investigation to be due either to the use of paint unsuitable +for the purpose or the adoption of a plant which is unfitted for the +object aimed at. Three examples may be given. In one small castings +were dipped in black paint, but it was found that "tears," or runs of +paint which did not dry properly, often occurred. Here, clearly, the +paint was at fault. It was too thick for the purpose and did not dry +hard quickly enough. The remedy was obvious. + +In another case iron casements were dipped horizontally in a shallow +paint tank and the time involved in lowering them to obtain a complete +immersion was considerable. In this case the shape and size of the tank +were not suitable. It should have been deep and narrow, so that the +casements could be dipped vertically. The idea that the paint would +"settle out" if a deep tank were used was shown to be erroneous. + +In a third case spraying had been tried for coating metal casements, +when it was found that the saving effected in time was more than +counter-balanced by the waste of paint. Of course, spraying was not +suitable for a job of this kind, the surface to be covered being so +very narrow. Such work is done most successfully by dipping. + +The degree of perfection to which the process of dipping has been +carried in America is indicated by the fact that it is largely employed +for piano cases and many other articles requiring a perfect varnish +finish. This process is fully described in these pages and has been +successfully carried on for some years. This fact demonstrates very +clearly the possibilities of painting and varnishing by immersion. + +All the principal appliances used for spraying paint, lacquer, enamel, +varnish and similar liquids have been described at length, but no +attempt has been made to prove that any one appliance is superior +to another. The details of each apparatus are given, and for the +convenience of the reader, the manufacturer's name and address. It is +suggested that those who contemplate the adoption of paint dipping, or +spraying, should get into touch with all these firms, and carefully +investigate their respective merits before coming to a decision. + +The services of an expert will usually be found desirable, for, +although in engineering works much of the necessary apparatus and +accessories may be made on the premises, the exact details, such as the +kind of paint and the exact design suitable for the particular purpose, +are largely matters to be decided upon in the light of experience. + + ARTHUR S. JENNINGS. + + 365, Birkbeck Bank Chambers, + High Holborn, W.C. + + August, 1915. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + CHAPTER I. PAGE + + INTRODUCTION. + + Increase in the Use of Painting by Dipping and Spraying--The + Remarkable Saving of Time Effected--The Durability Equal + to Brush Painting--Scope of the Subject--Whitewashing + Machines--Cost of Spraying Plant--Dipping Plant may be + very Simple--List of the Principal Products to which Paint + Spraying is Applied 1 + + + CHAPTER II. + + PAINTING BY IMMERSION. + + An old Idea largely Developed in Recent Years--Simple Forms of + Paint Dipping--Painting Varnish Cans--Larger Plants--The + Tank--The Agitators--McLennan Patent--Paint Proof + Gear Box--Three Tank Plant for Different Colours--The + Rails and Hanging Apparatus--Hanging Articles after they + are Painted--Hoists--Simple Crabs and Lifting Gear--Pneumatic + Hoist--Electrical Hoist--Trolley Hoist--The + Number of Coats of Paint--Advantages of the Dipping + Process--Protecting Parts not to be Painted--Preparing + Woodwork before Painting--Filler for Iron--Stopping Holes in + Woodwork--Rubbing Down 7 + + + CHAPTER III. + + REQUIREMENTS OF DIFFERENT TRADES. + + Bedsteads--Collapsible Gates--Dipping Sewing Machine Parts--Iron + Rods--Iron Window Frames or Casements--Metal + Furniture--Motor Parts (Metal)--Automatic Finishing of + Pianos--The Standard Hydraulic Immersion System--Wheels--Some + Typical Plants--Carriage Department, Woolwich + Arsenal--James Gibbons--Harrison, McGregor & Co.--Phillips + & Son--The Ford Motor Company--Marshall, Sons & + Co., Ltd.--Hayward Bros. & Eckstein, Ltd.--The Crittall + Manufacturing Co.--Excluding Dust--Heating and Ventilation + of Drying Room--A Model Drying Room 33 + + + CHAPTER IV. + + PAINT FOR DIPPING. + + The Requirements of a Good Dipping Paint--Specific Gravity of + Pigments--White Dipping Paint--Gloss Paint--W. G. Scott + on Dipping Paints--Proportion of Paste and Thinners--Asbestine + --China Clay--Whiting--Zinc Oxide--Inert + Materials--Primers for Metal--Primers for Hard and Soft + Woods--Second Coat Dipping Paints--White Paste Primer--White + Dip for Metals--White Dip for Hard Wood--White + Dip for Soft Wood--White Spirit--Quantity of Paint + Required for Dipping and Spraying--Spreading Capacity + of Paints 70 + + + CHAPTER V. + + PAINTING BY COMPRESSED AIR. + + The Evolution of the Apparatus Employed--Early Attempts--The + Concentric Form of Spray--Its Advantages--The Flow of + Paint--Practice Necessary--Cost of Plant--Pressure and + Volume of Air Required 78 + + + CHAPTER VI. + + TYPES OF SPRAYING APPARATUS. + + The Aerograph--Electric Motor Outfit--Painting a Gasometer--Small + Aerograph--The Aeron--Uniformity of Coats--Cup + Aeron--Air Transformer--The Airostyle--Construction--"Ultra" + type--Pistol "M"--The Eureka Spraying Machine--The + Crane Eureka--The Crane "Record"--The "Invincible"--Type + "E"--Artists' Type--The Midland + Sprayer--The "Paasche" Sprayer--Larger Size--Oil and + Water Separator--Automatic Electric Controller 81 + + + CHAPTER VII. + + SUPPLY OF COMPRESSED AIR--PAINT SUPPLY--EXHAUST. + + Type of Compressor--Air Main--Air Valves--Purifying Air--Small + Compressors--Water Cooling--Air Pump and Tank + Combined--General Arrangement of Accessories--The Supply + of Paint--The Exhaust Installation--Central Draught Fan--Location + of Work Cabinets--The Fumexer Spraying Cabinet--Accessories + --Turn-tables, Auto--Electric Air Heater 113 + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + STENCILS AND MASKS--THE REQUIREMENTS OF DIFFERENT + TRADES IN SPRAYING. + + Protecting parts not to be Sprayed--Masks for Gas Meters--The + Hart Patent Mask--Making Stencils--Stencil Paper--Four-ounce + Stencil Metal--Zinc Stencils--Requirements of Special + Trades--Piece Work--Bookbinding--Carriages--Cycle Parts--Electrical + Work--Fancy Baskets--Gas Meters--Gas Stoves + and Ranges--Picture Frames, Picture Mouldings, etc.--Celluloid + Varnish--Spraying Ships' Hulls--Slate Enamelling--Spraying + Colour Specimens--Tramcars 141 + + + CHAPTER IX. + + SOME TYPICAL PLANTS. + + Plant for Twelve Operators--The Birmingham Small Arms Co.--Airostyle + Plant for Sixteen Operators--The Davis Gas Stove + Co., Ltd.--Fletcher, Russell & Co., Ltd.--Special Machines + --Gittings, Hills and Boothby, Ltd.--The Kingsbury Manufacturing + Co., Ltd.--J. Lucas, Ltd.--The Gas Light and Coke + Co., Ltd.--The Gas Meter Co., Ltd 158 + + + CHAPTER X. + + PAINTS, LACQUERS, VARNISHES, ETC., USED IN SPRAYING. + + Temperature of Spraying Room--Fine Paint must be used--Firms + who Specialize on Dipping and Spraying Paints, etc.--Stoving + Enamels--Enamels--Hints on Stoving or Baking--Black + Japan Finishes--Steel Furniture Enamels--Imitation Wood + Effects--White Work--Bedsteads, etc.--Transparent Colour + Varnishes--Safe Baking Heats of Pigment Colours--Dipping + and Spraying Compared 177 + + + CHAPTER XI. + + SPRAYING VERSUS BRUSHING. + + Comparison with Brush Painting--Bronzing with Celluloid + Medium--Objections Sometimes Urged Against Spraying---Mottled + Appearance of Paint and how Avoided--Spraying + Fillers and Primers--Spraying and Dipping Compared--The + Great Saving Effected 193 + + + CHAPTER XII. + + THE ARTISTIC APPLICATION OF PAINT SPRAYING. + + Artistic Work--Lining on Motors and Carriages--Relief Work + --Scumbling and Colour Glazing--Glazing--Designs for Lamp + Shades--Reds--Blues--Yellows--Greens--Browns--Greys--Scumbling + and Graining--Brush Graining--Marble Grounds--Graining + Grounds 201 + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + THE "FLOWING-ON" SYSTEM. + + The Latest Method of Finishing Automobiles--Remarkable Speed + of the Method--The Apparatus--Trough Tank used in the + Process--The Kind of Paint or Japan Used--The Floco Process + --Painting Motor Bodies--Description of Modern Enamelling + Ovens for Motor Bodies--Notes on the Construction of Stoves--The + Perkins' Stove--Typical Goodyear Stove--Dipping + Trough 216 + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + LIME AND WHITEWASH SPRAYERS. + + Periodical Whitewashing in Workshops Compulsory--The Wells + Sprayer--Limewhiting by Machine with 8-foot Bamboo Pole--The + Brown Sprayer--The Merryweather Sprayer--The + Tumbling Barrel Process 243 + + + CHAPTER XV. + + A PORTABLE PAINT SPRAYER FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER WORK. + + The Pennsylvania Railroad System--fainting Freight Cars--Description + of Apparatus--Plan and Elevation--Detail + Drawings 250 + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + METAL SPRAYING. + + Description of the Process--The Immense Field for it--The + Metal Spraying "Pistol"--Detail Drawings of Pistol--Sectional + Drawing--Diagrammatic Representation of Melting + and Spraying Jets in Action--Spraying Alloys--Cost of the + Process 255 + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + PAGE + + FRONTISPIECE Automatic Finishing of Pianos + + Fig. 1. Section through Paint Tank 8 + + " 2. Stirrers and Blinds for Paint Dipping Tank 10 + + " 3. Longitudinal Vertical Section 10 + + " 4. Tank for Painting Steel Sheets 12 + + " 5. Paint-Proof Bearings and Gear Box 13 + + " 6. Shafting and Driving Gear Designed for Implements 14 + + " 7. Triple-tank plant 15 + + " 8. Joist and Wheels supporting Hanger 16 + + " 9. Hook for Hanging 17 + + " 10 to 14. Hoists and Crabs 18 + + " 15. Typical Hoist for Painting by Immersion 19 + + " 16. Morris Standard Electric Trolley Hoist 23 + + " 17. Electric Hoist Suitable for Heavy Goods 27 + + " 18. Sprayed Show Card 30 + + " 19. Dipping and Stoving Bedsteads 31 + + " 20. Immersing Mangle Frames 35 + + " 21. Iron Hanger 38 + + " 22. Carrier filled with Six Complete Pianos 39 + + " 23. Introductory Carrier for Piano Frame 43 + + " 24. Lowering Piano Cases into the Varnish Tank 47 + + " 25. Piano Cases nearly Immersed 49 + + " 26. Piano Cases wholly Immersed 51 + + " 27. Piano Cases about to be Dipped 53 + + " 28. Coach Body ready to be Dipped 55 + + " 29. Paint Dipping Room at Woolwich 55 + + " 30. Store Room, Woolwich 61 + + " 31. Dipping Casements at the Crittall Manufacturing Co. 61 + + " 32. Hook for Suspending Boxes 64 + + " 33. Dipping Casements at Braintree 65 + + " 34. Design for Show Card done by Spraying 69 + + " 35. The Aerograph Spraying Instrument 81 + + " 36. Another form of Aerograph 82 + + " 37. Aerograph Electric Motor Outfit 83 + + " 38. Painting a Gasometer 83 + + " 39. Aerograph for Delicate Work 85 + + " 40. The Aeron Sprayer 89 + + " 41. " " (angle barrel) 89 + + " 42. " " with agitator 89 + + " 43. " " with double nozzle head 89 + + " 44. The G Aeron Sprayer, with double nozzle head 89 + + " 45. The G Aeron Sprayer, with attachments 91 + + " 46. The G Aeron Sprayer, with parts disassembled 91 + + " 47. The G Aeron Sprayer 91 + + " 48. The M Aeron Sprayer 95 + + " 49. The M Aeron Sprayer, with Types L & M 95 + + " 50. Block and Tackle 95 + + " 51. Standard Tackle 95 + + " 52. Air Transformer Set 95 + + " 53. Air Transformer 95 + + " 54. Section showing Construction of Airostyle 98 + + " 55. Airostyle Type "Record" with union for continuous supply 99 + + " 56. Airostyle Type "Ultra" 101 + + " 57. " Pistol "M" 102 + + " 58. The Crane "Eureka" 103 + + " 59. " " "Record" 104 + + " 60. The "Invincible" Sprayer 105 + + " 61. " " with adjustable cup 105 + + " 65. The Midland Sprayer 108 + + " 66. The "Paasche" Sprayer 109 + + " 67. Larger "Paasche" Sprayer 110 + + " 68. General form of "Paasche" Sprayer 111 + + " 69. "Paasche" Oil and Water Separator 111 + + " 70. "Paasche" Automatic Electric Controller 111 + + " 71. Airostyle Air Compressor 115 + + " 72. DeVilbiss Air Compressors 115 + + " 73. " " " 115 + + " 74. " " " 115 + + " 75. Aerograph Air Pumps and Tank Combined 118 + + " 76. Aerograph Type of Air Pumps for Larger Installations 119 + + " 77. Airostyle Plant General Arrangement 121 + + " 78. "Paasche" Motor Dryer Fan 124 + + " 79. Airostyle Central Draught Steel Plate Fan 125 + + " 80. DeVilbiss Auto Cool Electric Exhaust Fan closed and + opened for cleaning 125 + + " 81. Sketch of Spraying Cabinets 127 + + " 82. Aerograph Spraying Cabinets 128 + + " 83. "DeVilbiss Fumexer" or Spraying Cabinet 131 + + " 84. " " " " 131 + + " 85. " " " " 131 + + " 86. " " " " 131 + + " 87. Aerograph Turntable 134 + + " 88. Two forms of Fumexer 135 + + " 89. The Fumexer in use 135 + + " 90. A Paasche Turntable 135 + + " 91. Auto Electric Air Heater 139 + + " 92. Masks for Gas Meter 142 + + " 93. The Hart Patent Mask 143 + + " 94. Bin for Spraying Light Articles 148 + + " 95. Aerostyle Plant for sixteen operators 155 + + " 96. Airostyle Plant showing Ventilator 155 + + " 97. Side Elevation of Plant for 12 operators 158 + + " 98. End Elevation of Plant for 12 operators 159 + + " 99. Plan of Figs. 84 and 85 160 + + " 100. Airostyle Plant installed for The Davis Gas Stove Co., + Ltd. 161 + + " 101. Compressor, etc., for Airostyle Plant 165 + + " 102. Airostyle Plant installed for Gas Fire and Radiator + Work 165 + + " 103. View from one end of Messrs. Lucas, Ltd., Airostyle + Plants 169 + + " 104 & 105. Airostyle Plant at Messrs J. Lucas, Ltd. 173 + + " 106. " " View of Racks and Fan 175 + + " 107. " " Two Bays of one Unit 181 + + " 108. Airostyle Plant installed for The Gas Light and Coke + Co., Ltd. 181 + + " 109. Airostyle Plant installed for The Gas Light and Coke + Co., Ltd. 185 + + " 110. Operator at Work 193 + + " 111. Airostyle Plant showing Ventilator 199 + + " 112. Elevation of Spraying Plant 199 + + " 113. Elevation of Spraying Plant 200 + + " 114. Plans of Figs. 112 and 113 200 + + " 115. Designs for Lamp Shades 203 + + " 116. Show Card done by Spraying 209 + + " 117. Another Example 209 + + " 118. Shaded Effects 213 + + " 119. Fruit Dish decorated by Spraying 217 + + " 120. Table Cover 219 + + " 121. Trough Tank 222 + + " 122. Floco System of Painting Motor Bodies 224 + + " 123 & 124. Show Card done by Spraying 225 & 229 + + " 125. Design for Show Card 233 + + " 126. The Perkins' Stove 236 + + " 127. Typical Goodyear Stove 237 + + " 128. Dipping Trough 238 + + " 129. Show or Menu Card 239 + + " 130. Example of Metal Decoration 241 + + " 131 & 132. Whitewash Sprayer 244 + + " 133 & 134. Limewashing with Bamboo Pole 245 + + " 135. The Brown Extension Sprayer 246 + + " 136. The Merryweather Limewhite Sprayer 247 + + " 137. A Tumbling Barrel 248 + + " 138. Another Form 248 + + " 139. Paint Sprayer for Freight Cars 252 + + " 140. Elevation of above 253 + + " 141. Details of above 254 + + " 142. The Metal Spraying "Pistol" 256 + + " 143. The Metal Sprayer 257 + + " 144. Sectional Drawing of Metal Sprayer 258 + + " 145. Diagrammatric Representation of Melting and + Spraying Jets in Action 259 + + " 146. Sprayed Decorative Work 261 + + " 147. Shaded Work by the Aerograph 263 + + " 148. Show Card, Sprayed 265 + + " 149. Sprayed Frieze 267 + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Until recent years, it appears to have been generally supposed that +paint used for either the protection or ornamentation of various +surfaces must necessarily be applied by means of painters' brushes +made of hog's bristles. But it has been clearly demonstrated during +the past few years that the application of the paint may be made by +means of either total immersion of the article to be painted in a tank +or by spraying the paint on to the surface with the aid of compressed +air. The rapid increase in the use of both processes is principally +due to the immense saving of time which is effected, and this may be +approximately estimated at from five to nine-tenths. In other words, +one man can do the work of from five to ten men, or even more. To put +it another way, if a piece of work costs 20s. for labour in painting +by the old process, it may be safely assumed that it can be done by +dipping or spraying at a cost of from two to four shillings. + +The question will at once suggest itself: "Is paint applied by dipping +and spraying as durable as that applied by the brush?" As the paint +in the greater part of work of this character is used solely for +protective purposes, the question is clearly one of considerable +importance. The answer to the question is that when properly prepared +paint is used, both methods give an equal, or even better result from +the point of view of durability than that which would be obtained if +a painter's brush was employed, while, in the case of painting by +immersion or by spraying, the paint finds its way into places which a +brush could not reach, such as open joints of a waggon, the intricate +parts of certain agricultural machinery, the inside of small metal +boxes, etc. + +Both methods are successfully employed in practically every branch +of the engineering, metal and many other trades. Heavy steel sheets +may be dipped provided that adequate plant is employed for lowering +and raising them into the tank, or they may be sprayed without much +difficulty. Children's toys (to take the other extreme), costing +less than a penny each, may also be economically painted by dipping. +Speaking generally, anything large or small which can be handled or +moved by lifting machinery or on a turn table, can be painted by either +one process or the other. For example, a hundred or so of very small +iron castings, or wrought iron ware, may be placed in a wire basket and +dipped together in a few seconds, or the body of a motor car, or parts +of a bicycle, can be painted by spraying in a fraction of the time it +would take to do the work by means of brushes. + +Thus far the processes are not much used in house painting, excepting +for the first or priming coat, before the work is fixed in position, +but certain types of the simpler form of spraying machines are employed +with great advantage in applying lime white or whitewash to rough +walls of factories, etc. In this case, a far better job is produced +in one-tenth of the time. The whitewash, when sprayed on, enters and +covers the open joints and inequalities of surface in a complete +manner, which would be impossible were a brush used. + +On the next page is a list of some of the principal purposes for which +these methods are at present used, and these are being constantly added +to. It is not too much to say that in any industry in which paints +are used, one or other of the methods, or both in conjunction, may be +employed with very great advantage in a saving of time. + +An erroneous idea prevails in some quarters that to install a paint +dipping or a paint spraying plant will involve a considerable +expenditure. As a matter of fact, if the work is of a simple character, +and the articles to be dealt with small, an expenditure of something +like £25 will be sufficient for the purpose. For example, a small tank, +with a draining board attached, would cost less than the sum mentioned, +even when the overhanging plant was included. As such work is usually +done in engineering shops, the lifting apparatus and the rails, can +easily be made on the premises. In some cases the lifting plant even +might be dispensed with, and the articles, such as paint cans, could be +dipped by hand. A spraying plant need not be expensive, and £25 to £40 +will cover the expense of spraying apparatus, compressor for air spray, +exhaust and everything else. This, however, refers to a small plant. +More extensive installations would, of course, cost very much more, +but whatever they may cost, it may be accepted as a fact that, within +reasonable limits, the outlay will be fully returned in two or three +years' working at most. + +In the following pages an attempt has been made to cover the whole +subject of painting by mechanical means. Many plants are described and +illustrated, and some lengthy explanation is given of the requirements +of different trades or goods. In many cases these have really nothing +to do with the painting proper, but success depends upon the system +adopted for handling and conveying. + +Take, for example, celluloid buttons, which are usually sprayed. They +are placed in wire trays made specially for the purpose, the bottom +side uppermost. These are first sprayed all over with a spirit paint, +and when sufficiently dry to handle, say, in a quarter of an hour, they +are all turned over and the top sides are sprayed. The wire trays and a +handy cabinet to contain them are the important details in this case. + + LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS TO WHICH PAINT + SPRAYING AND PAINT DIPPING ARE APPLIED. + + Acetylene Machines. + Adding Machines. + Addressing Machines. + Advertising Novelties. + Advertising Signs. + Aeroplane Work. + "Agate" Hollow Ware. + Agricultural Implements. + Air Compressors. + Aluminium Goods. + Antiques, Bric-a-brac. + Architectural Brass Works. + Architectural Iron Works. + Art Glasses and Mirrors. + Artificial Flowers. + Artificial Jewellery. + Artificial Marble. + Artificial Limbs. + Artistic Statuaries. + Automatic Vending Machines. + Automobile Lamps. + Automobile Licences and Number Plates. + Automobile Parts. + Automobile Parts and Motor Bodies. + Automobile Supplies + Automobile Tyres. + Automobile Tops and Canopies. + Axes. + + Baby Carriages. + Badges. + Banners and Flags. + Bar Fixtures. + Barber Equipment. + Barrels. + Barrows. + Basket and Rattan Ware. + Bath Room Sundries. + Baths. + Bed Springs. + Bedsteads (Iron). + Bedsteads (Sheet Metal). + Beer Pumps. + Bells. + Bicycles. + Billiard Tables. + Bird Cages. + Blocks and Falls. + Blowers. + Boats. + Bobbins and Spools. + Boiler Work. + Book Cases. + Boxes, Cigar. + Bowling Alleys. + Boxes, Mail. + Brass Bedsteads. + Brass Goods. + Broom Heads and Handles. + Brushes. + Buckles and Snaps. + Builders' Hardware. + Burial Caskets. + Buttons (metal). + + Cabinet Hardware. + Cabinets. + Cameras. + Candies and Confectionery. + Canners, Vegetables and Fruit. + Canoes. + Cans. + Cars. + Carpets. + Carpet Sweepers. + Carriages. + Carriage Hardware. + Casements (metal). + Cartridges. + Cash Registers. + Cash Carriers. + Celluloid Sheets. + Chairs (metal). + Children's Carriages. + China and Crockery. + Church and Lodge Goods. + Church and School Furniture. + Churns. + Clocks. + Colour Specimens. + Constructional Ironwork. + Corset Steels. + Coffins and Caskets. + Couches. + Cream Separators. + Curtain Poles. + Cutlery. + Cycles. + Cycle parts. + + Desks (metal). + Display Fixtures. + Dolls. + Doors. + Drills. + Dynamos. + + Edge Tools. + Electric Fixtures. + Electrical Apparatus. + Electrical Supplies. + Electro Platers. + Enamelled Metal Goods. + Enamelled Ware. + Engines. + Etching (metal). + + Factory Fittings. + Fancy Baskets. + Fans. + Fenders. + Filing Cabinets. + Firearms. + Fire Extinguishers. + Fishing Rods. + Fixtures, Display. + Foundries. + Fountains, Soda. + Furniture (metal). + + Garden Implements. + Gas Apparatus. + Gas Cookers. + Gas Engines. + Gas Fires. + Gas Fixtures. + Gas Meters. + Gas and Gasolene Stoves + Golf Clubs. + Grates and Mantels. + Gramophones. + Grille Work. + + Hats, Straw. + Hair Pins. + Hames. + Handles. + Harness Trim. + Harrows. + Hardware. + Hollow Ware. + Hooks and Eyes. + Horns. + + Incandescent Lamps. + + Japanned Goods. + Jewellery. + + Kegs and Pails. + Kitchen Cabinets. + Kitchen Utensils. + Knitting Machines. + + Lacing Studs. + Lamps and Lanterns. + Lasts. + Lawn Mowers. + Lead Pencils. + Leather Work. + Letter Files. + Locks. + Lockers (metal). + Looms. + Locomotives. + + Machinery. + Malleable Castings. + Mathematical Instruments. + Meat Safes. + Metal Spinners. + Model Makers. + Motors. + Motor Cycles. + Musical Instruments. + + Novelties. + + Office Furniture. + Optical Instruments. + Ornamental Ironwork. + + Pattern Makers. + Pen Holders. + Phonographs. + Physical Supplies. + Piano Plates. + Pianos and Organs. + Picture Frames. + Pins. + Plated Ware. + Ploughs. + Plumbers' Supplies. + Porcelain Goods. + Projectiles. + Pulleys (metal). + Pumps. + + Radiators (auto). + Railway Carriages. + Rakes. + Refrigerators. + Regalia. + Rubber Goods. + Rules and Levels. + + Saddlery Hardware. + Safes. + Safe Deposit Vaults. + Sashes (metal). + Scales. + Screens (metal). + Sewing Machines. + Shoe Buttons. + Show Cases. + Side Cars. + Signs, Enamelled. + Silverware. + Sleds and Sleighs. + Soda Fountains. + Sporting Goods. + Steel Stampings. + Stoves (gas). + Slate, Enamelled. + Statuary. + Steam Gauges. + Steel Castings. + Street Railway Companies. + Surgical Supplies. + Switchboards. + + Tables. + Tanks. + Telephones. + Telephone Supplies. + Textile Machinery. + Tinwares. + Thermometers. + Tools. + Toys. + Trunk Hardware. + Typewriters. + + Vacuum Cleaners. + Vending Machines. + Veneers. + Ventilators. + + Wagons. + Wall Papers. + Washing Machines. + Watering Cans. + Weighing Machines. + Wheels. + Willow Ware. + Wire Cloth. + Wire Mattresses. + Wire Work. + Wringers. + +In addition to the above, paint is applied by spraying for many +artistic purposes, such as for show cards, photographic work, +lithography, church decoration, etc. These are referred to in another +chapter. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +PAINTING BY IMMERSION. + + +The process of painting various articles by dipping them bodily into +specially prepared paint contained in a tank or other receptacle is a +very old idea. It has, however, developed considerably in late years, +and is now largely employed in many industries, particularly in the +finishing of agricultural implements of various kinds, iron work and +a hundred and one other articles. It is sometimes used in conjunction +with paint spraying; that is to say, the first coat or coats may be put +on by immersing the article to be painted in the paint, or varnish, and +the final coat of enamel or varnish may be put on by means of a spray. +In some cases, the final coat is applied by means of brushes in the +ordinary manner. + +Perhaps the simplest form of paint dipping is that applied to various +articles, such as bolts, rings and small parts, which are placed in a +wire basket and plunged into the paint. The basket is then hung up for +a quarter of an hour or so to drain, and afterwards in another place, +until such time as the paint becomes hard. + +Another familiar example of painting by dipping is that of ordinary +tapered cans, such as those which are used to contain varnish, etc. +In this case, a piece of wood is introduced into the neck, the can is +immersed in the paint up to almost the top of the neck, and is then +placed upside down to drain and to dry. A paint which dries with a +gloss is usually employed for this purpose, and it may be remarked that +a good deal of this work is now done by spraying; in fact, a great deal +of difference of opinion exists as to the respective merits of the two +processes for this particular purpose. + +[Illustration: Fig 1.--CROSS SECTION THROUGH PAINT TANK.] + +Going a step farther, we come to the consideration of articles such +as iron sashes and casements, parts of staircases, etc., which may be +dipped into a tank containing, say, five to ten gallons or so. Such +tanks are usually made to slant at the bottom in order to facilitate +cleaning when necessary. Adjacent to them is provided a platform, +usually lined with sheet iron upon which the paint can drip after the +articles are removed from the tank, and a system of overhead rails for +moving the articles from one part of the works to another. No agitating +apparatus for the paint is required, but after the tank has been used +for some time, say, for example, at the week-end, it is necessary to +stir it up by means of a pole before the work commences. As a matter of +fact, the articles being plunged in the tank, and their withdrawal, in +itself stirs the paint sufficiently for the purpose. + +In dealing with the larger-sized articles which are to be painted, +such as reaping machines, the construction of the tank which may hold +several tons of paint is naturally of a more elaborate character. Such +a plant will consist, first, of the tank itself; next, the system of +overhead railing; third, the apparatus upon which the articles to be +painted are hung; and fourth, the hoists for lowering and raising such +articles into and from the tank. It will be convenient to consider +these parts which go to form a complete installation under their +several heads, taking a more elaborate plant by way of example, it +being understood that the plant may be simpler in form when the size of +the articles to be painted is small, or under other circumstances, such +as will be presently suggested. + + +THE TANK. + +[Illustration: STIRRERS AND BLINDS FOR PAINT DIPPING TANK. Fig +2.--PLAN. Fig. 3.--LONGITUDINAL VERTICAL SECTION.] + +There are two forms of special tanks in general use, one having at the +bottom paddles for agitating purposes, and the other worms provided +with the same object. Fig. 1. shows a cross section of a tank made on +the McLennan patented system. In this two series of paddles revolving +in opposite directions are provided, and above them is an appliance +which may be likened to a horizontal venetian blind, consisting of iron +laths, which are nearly horizontal when closed, forming a platform +upon which the paint can settle, and vertical when open. This blind +is left open when the tank is in use, and is closed when it is at +rest. The illustration gives the dimensions of the parts, although +these, of course, will be varied according to circumstances. Above the +blind is sometimes a grating, which, together with the blind, form a +protection to the agitating gear from articles dropped into the tank by +mistake, the two together preventing the heavy, pigment in the paint +from clogging the paddles when the agitating gear has been stopped +for some time. Figs. 2 and 3 show respectively longitudinal plan and +section, from which the construction will be clear. + +Messrs. Wilkinson, Heywood & Clark, Ltd., of Poplar, who own the +McLennan patents, in a little book, entitled "Painting by Immersion," +state that there were certain disadvantages in the design of this +tank, inasmuch as should it become necessary to remove or repair the +paddles, it would be necessary to empty the tank and bodily remove the +parts. They have, therefore, a new design, which is shown in Fig. 4, +in which this remedy is overcome. The agitating gear, in this case, +is on a sub-frame, separate and independent from the tank itself. The +drive is in the tank, and is taken by means of a claw clutch through +a right angled bevel to the agitating shaft. This design has proved +very satisfactory for small tanks. For very large tanks a gear is +recommended in which the agitating gear is enlarged and the shafting +is supported or stiffened to prevent whipping. This entails a design +of some special bearing, which should be paint proof and oil proof, +for the reason that the bearing is immersed in the paint itself. In +Fig. 5 is shown drawings of this bearing, on which the firm named hold +patents. The perfected plants now consist of a tank with an independent +and removable chassis frame, on which are mounted the Venetian blind +arrangements, already mentioned, together with the agitating gear, +which consists of either one, two, or more parallel shafts, mounted on +parallel gear, as shown in Fig. 6. + +These shafts are held on the sub-frame with the patent bearings already +referred to, and the drive is transmitted through the bevel gear +encased in a special gear box, which is equally oil and paint proof +and self-lubricating. It will readily be seen that with this plant it +is an easy matter to withdraw the driving gear and lift the sub-frame +bodily out, without in any way disturbing the paint in the tank. The +tank, therefore, can be buried nearly flush in the ground, embedded in +concrete, and need never be disturbed. In case of emergency, and when +painting is continuous throughout the year, it is recommended that the +consumer should keep a complete spare chassis for use when occasion +requires. + +[Illustration: Fig. 4.--DESIGN FOR TANK FOR PAINTING STEEL SHEETS.] + + +[Illustration: Fig. 5.--DETAILS OF PAINT-PROOF BEARINGS AND GEAR BOX.] + + +[Illustration: Fig. 6.--DETAILS OF SUB-FRAME, SHAFTING AND DRIVING GEAR +FOR TANK DESIGNED FOR IMPLEMENT MANUFACTURERS.] + +Whatever the construction of the tank itself may be, and whether or not +it is provided with agitating apparatus, it is generally found most +convenient to build it with the top nearly level with the floor. It is +advisable to provide iron doors or covers to close the tank in when +out of use so as to prevent excessive evaporation and also for use +in case of fire. These doors or covers should therefore be actuated +by levers or other suitable appliance which may be put in motion at +a point some distance from the tank itself, for while the paint is +not very liable to catch light, an accident may cause it to do so, +particularly when electricity is used in the works, and the closing of +properly constructed doors will quickly subdue fire as far as the tank +itself is concerned by shutting off access of the air. The usual plan +followed is to provide wide strips of thick felt attached to the doors +in proper position so that when the doors are closed the contact will +be thorough and the tank itself be practically sealed. + +When agitators form part of the apparatus it is not necessary to buy +the paint ready mixed for use, as it may be introduced into the tank +in thin paste form; the necessary thinners such as white spirit can be +added and the agitating apparatus slowly revolving will quickly mix the +parts together and render the paint suitable for use. + +It will be understood that the form of tank above described may be very +considerably modified according to circumstances. In very simple paint +dipping, such as is required for small articles, casements, etc., the +agitating apparatus may be wholly dispensed with, while in other cases, +the shutter-like arrangement above mentioned may be omitted and the +agitator may consist of a worm with a screen above to protect the parts +from pieces which may accidentally fall in. + +[Illustration: Fig. 7.--GENERAL LAY-OUT OF A THREE-TANK PLANT DESIGNED +FOR THE USE OF AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MAKER, USING THREE COLOURS IN +THIS INSTANCE, RED, GREEN AND BLUE.] + + +THE RAILS AND HANGING APPARATUS. + +[Illustration: CROSS SECTION. SIDE ELEVATION. Fig. 8.--JOIST AND WHEELS +SUPPORTING HANGER.] + +These two details may be conveniently considered together, and it +should be stated at once here again a great deal of difference of +opinion exists as to what system is the best. It should, however, be +clearly understood that upon the system of railing a great deal of +the success depends. The object, of course, to be attained is that of +handling a large number of parts with as little labour as possible. +With this object, a complete system of overhead rails, commencing +with the finishing shops, leading to the paint tank, and thence to +storage or delivery departments, should be carefully thought out, +always remembering that the growth of a business may necessitate the +erection of additional buildings from time to time and provision made +accordingly. One of the simplest and best forms of rails is an H +section joist with two wheels on either side as shown in Fig. 8. In +other cases an =L= rolled joist is used, the railing part being on the +vertical flange while the horizontal flange is connected with rods +fixed to the upper part of the building. One method which is used quite +successfully is to employ hooks as shown in Fig. 9. These run over +rails which are lubricated with vaseline, and in this case the rails +are usually slightly inclined. In very large works, however, where +a considerable length of rail is employed this inclination might be +inconvenient, as the rails would go too near the ground. In all cases +horizontal rails are found in practice to be the most convenient, but +an installation requires careful consideration from all points of view +and no general rules can be laid down. + + +HANGING AFTER DIPPING OR SPRAYING. + +A practical point of more importance than might be supposed, at first +sight, is to avoid hanging articles very close together after they have +been painted or enamelled, either by dipping or spraying. The reason is +that if they are hung quite close together the turpentine or volatile +thinner used in the paint may affect part of the adjacent surface, and +cause a diminished gloss. + +[Illustration: Fig. 9.--HOOK FOR HANGING.] + +This point was brought to light in the case of one manufacturer who was +painting varnish cans by dipping. They were hung up to dry quite close +together--in fact, almost touching. When dry, it was noticed that, +instead of being nice and glossy all over, one side was somewhat dull. +The explanation appeared to be that the turpentine fumes affected the +paint in drying, and this was proved to be true, as when the cans were +placed farther apart the trouble ceased. + + +HOISTS. + +The hoists used will depend upon the size and weight of the objects +that are to be dipped. In some cases they may be dispensed with +altogether and the dipping can be done by hand. + +[Illustration: Fig. 10.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 11.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 12.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 13.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 14.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 15.--A TYPICAL HOIST FOR USE IN PAINTING BY +IMMERSION.] + +In cases where the space is confined, it is sometimes desirable to use +hoists in the form of wall crabs, and a few of these made by the London +Hoist Machinery Co., Ltd., 103, Worship Street, E.C., are illustrated +in Figs. 10 to 14. The hoist shown in Fig. 10 will lift 10 cwt. with +slow speed on the left-hand side, and 3 cwt. on the right-hand side +with a quick speed of 13 feet per minute. This form can be made +lower by brake if desired. The little crab shown in Fig. 11 deals with +weights of 1 cwt. at a speed of 60 feet per minute, while that shown in +Fig. 12 is also a quick gear, lifting 3 cwt. at 13 feet per minute. The +other illustrations are self-explanatory. + +Fig. 15 shows a typical hoist which may be regarded as an ideal +installation for the work, and the idea can be adapted to either +large or small works as required. The installation consists of an +overhead track with a movable portion over the dipping tank. The goods +to be dipped are hung on the trolleys and run one by one on to the +movable portion of the track over the tank. There is a stop on this +portion to prevent the trolley running right over the tank, and the +movable portion with the article to be dipped is lowered into the +tank, and afterwards raised by means of a hoist. The hoist in this +case was driven by pneumatic power. It could, however, in very small +installations be a hand hoist worked by the rotary movement of a +handle, or in other large installations a quick moving electric hoist. + +After the article is dipped and the movable portion raised by the hoist +to its correct position in the track of the runway, the trolley is run +off the movable portion on to the track beyond the tank, and left there +to dry. + +These overhead runways can be made to suit loads from 2½ cwts. up +to 10 tons, so that the system covers all classes of work, since it is +seldom that it would be necessary to dip articles weighing more than 10 +tons. + +Fig. 16 shows a Morris standard electric trolley hoist suitable for +lifting up to, say, 5 or 6 tons. Both of the foregoing hoists are made +by Messrs. Herbert Morris, Ltd., of Loughborough, to whom the author is +indebted for these illustrations. + +In Fig. 17 is shown another type of trolley hoist suitable for lifting +heavy weights. + + +THE NUMBER OF COATS OF PAINT TO BE GIVEN. + +An important consideration both in paint immersion and paint spraying +is the number of coats of paint which should be given in order to +produce the required appearance and ensure durability. This must +necessarily depend upon the use to which the article to be painted +is to be put, and it will also depend upon the appearance. In paint +spraying it is clear that any thickness of paint required could be +obtained by continuing the operation of spraying, but it has been found +in practice that it is not desirable to continue the application of +the paint beyond the point when every part of the surface is completely +covered. It is a well-known fact that three thin coats of paint applied +separately will prove more durable than two thick coats, even if the +quantity of paint used in the two cases is identical. The same is true +to a great extent when the paint is sprayed on. When it is applied by +dipping another important element enters into consideration, and that +is, thin coats are a practical necessity, because if an attempt was +made to make the coat thick it would inevitably result in unsightly +runs, fat edges, etc., which would wholly spoil the work. Where the +object is only that of a temporary protection, as in the case of iron +castings, a single coat will usually suffice, because the castings when +fixed in position will be painted with the building in the ordinary way. + +Sometimes a priming or first coat of paint is given by dipping, and the +following coats are applied by brushes or by spraying. There appears +to be some idea that when paint is applied by brushes it is forced +into the pores of the wood and therefore holds better; as a matter of +fact, in a well-designed paint the thinners will penetrate the wood +and no particular force is necessary; but if it should be, it will be +certainly supplied by the spraying process. + + +ADVANTAGES OF THE DIPPING PROCESS. + +The advantages of applying paint, japan, enamel, or varnish by the +process of immersion are obvious. The saving of time is the chief +advantage, and this will be in most cases very considerable. For +instance, a complete wagon can be painted by dipping in a very few +minutes, while large and intricate agricultural machines may be painted +in the same way in a fifth part of the time it would take to spray +them, and probably a twentieth part of the time it would take to do the +work by hand. + +There is another advantage which should be mentioned when paint dipping +is compared with spraying. In the latter, an outfit consisting of +sprayer, air compressor, exhaust, cabinet, etc., are all necessary. In +dipping, however, the apparatus may in many cases be of the simplest +character. For example, in painting bedsteads all that is necessary is +a narrow but deep tank containing the paint, into which the bedstead +may be plunged by hand and then hung up to drip over a metal-lined +floor. + +[Illustration: Fig. 16.--A MORRIS STANDARD ELECTRIC TROLLEY HOIST.] + +In Birmingham, hundreds of iron bedsteads are dipped in this way every +day. The head or foot of the bedstead is taken in the two hands of the +operator, dipped into a tank of black japan, and immediately hung up +on a travelling chair, which slowly carries it across the room to the +oven, the superfluous paint dripping off during the process. + +In another chapter will be found the advantages which the process of +spraying has over dipping. A decision as to which is the best system +to adopt for any particular purpose can only be determined after due +consideration has been given to all the circumstances bearing upon the +work to be done. + +It may be pointed out in this connection that the process of painting +called "flowing on," which is fully described on another page, is in +effect only a modification of dipping. As a motor body, for instance, +cannot be plunged into a paint tank because the inside is not to be +painted, the paint is literally poured over the surface, and the effect +is exactly the same. + + +PROTECTING PARTS NOT TO BE PAINTED. + +It frequently happens in paint dipping that certain parts of a machine +or other article that is desired to be coated with paint is to be left +unpainted, and the problem is how to effect this most economically. The +method usually employed is to cover the parts, such as name plates, +bright portions of a machine, etc. with vaseline. When the article is +dipped the paint covers this as well as the other parts, and after the +paint is dry the vaseline and the paint on it can be easily wiped off +and the surface beneath it will be found to be quite clean. + + +PREPARING WOODWORK BEFORE PAINTING. + +Previous to the priming coat of paint being applied to any article made +of pine or other wood containing knots it is necessary to protect such +knots by applying one or two coats of a liquid known in the trade as +"knotting." If this were not done the rosin which exudes more or less +from the knots would penetrate the paint, discolour it and give a very +unsightly appearance. + +The best knotting consists of shellac dissolved in alcohol, usually in +the form of methylated spirits; in other words, it is shellac spirit +varnish. Many inferior grades, however, are sold in which the shellac +is adulterated with rosin or other substances, while the alcohol is +sometimes replaced wholly or in part with naphtha. These inferior +qualities of knotting should never be used, as they are very likely +indeed to cause trouble and spoil the whole job. + +Although the parts of machines such as agricultural implements are +usually made of selected and well-seasoned timber, it sometimes happens +that portions of the work are found to be more or less sappy. This +should also be coated with knotting, as otherwise they will absorb the +paint to too great an extent and the priming coat will not be uniform. + +In passing, it may be observed that a coat of shellac varnish--a term, +as already explained, which is synonymous with knotting--is very useful +as an undercoat whenever there is an excess of rosin as in pitch pine. +It is also used to stop suction on plaster ornaments which are finished +in imitation bronze, and which may successfully be used over tar or tar +spots which it is desired to paint. + +It is very important that knotting be applied in quite thin coats, and +it is for this reason that usually two coats are given. If it is too +thick it fails to dry properly. Thick knotting may be used if it be +well brushed out, but this is almost impossible in applying it to the +knots of ordinary woodwork which are merely "dabbed" with the end of +the brush; moreover, such work is usually done by piece work, hence two +coats are much safer to use. + + +FILLER FOR IRON. + +It is sometimes necessary before dipping or spraying cast iron work to +fill up sand flaws and inequalities. This may be effectually done by +using a filler prepared as follows: Mix together equal parts of genuine +red lead and gilders' whiting and add two parts of boiled linseed oil +and one part of goldsize. It will be found most effective to mix the +two liquids last mentioned before adding them to the dry lead and +whiting. Thoroughly mix all together, or, preferably, grind through a +mill until the putty-like consistency is obtained. This stopping will +dry very hard. It is important to remember that this filler must be +mixed in small quantities as required as it rapidly becomes hard, so +that if a considerable quantity were made at one time any unused would +become spoiled. + +[Illustration: Fig. 17.--ELECTRIC HOIST SUITABLE FOR HEAVY GOODS.] + +Another recipe of an entirely different character for a cement or +putty for the same purpose is made by mixing one parts of flowers of +sulphur, two parts of sal-ammoniac and 80 parts of iron filings and +making them into a paste with water. By increasing the proportion of +sal-ammoniac the setting is also increased. + + +STOPPING HOLES IN WOODWORK. + +However carefully a piece of woodwork may be prepared, there are +usually more or less depressions or holes such as those which occur +over countersunk nails, and in other places which require to be filled +up. The usual stopping for this purpose employed by house painters is +a mixture of equal parts of dry whiting and dry white lead, made in +the form of putty, with raw linseed oil to which, say, 10 per cent. of +boiled oil has been added. A cheaper and quite as effective a stopping, +however, can be made by using a material known as "Alabastine," which +possesses the advantage of being easily cut down. This material may be +also used when mixed to a thinner consistency for priming, but it is +not suitable for being applied by dipping, although it may be sprayed. +The very best stopping is one such as is used by carriage painters, +and is strongly recommended for high-class work. It is supplied both +in powder and paste form by all first-class varnish manufacturers, +and although the cost is a little higher than that of stopping putty +made of whiting and linseed oil, as described, it is well worth the +difference. + +An excellent filling composition for coach and motor body builders, +railway and tramway carriage manufacturers, etc., is that made by the +well-known varnish house of Messrs. Wm. Harland & Son, Merton, S.W. + +It is especially suitable, obtaining a perfectly level and unyielding +groundwork where a fine finish is to be given, either in paint, varnish +or enamel. It is made in two colours, grey for dark work and cream for +light colours or white, and costs sixpence a pound, or less when bought +in quantities. + +It effects a great saving of time and labour, being already finely +ground into a stiff paste, which only needs the addition of specially +prepared thinners to bring it to a proper consistency for use with the +brush. + +It is most successful and expeditious as well as the most economical +process for giving a smooth surface to rough castings--a condition +which is, of course, indispensable when these have to be painted and +varnished. + +For ordinary surfaces of woodwork of a slightly rough or uneven +character, two or three coats of the filling composition will suffice +to produce, when carefully rubbed down, a perfectly smooth surface of +a hard metallic nature, combined with great tenacity and durability. + +"Philorite" is another speciality which may be mentioned in this +connection. It is manufactured by Messrs. Wilkinson, Heywood and Clark, +Ltd., and is a filler made in white and seven colours. This is a great +advantage when the finish is to be coloured, as it may save a coat of +paint. It can be rubbed smooth without difficulty, and will serve as a +perfect ground for enamels and japans, as well as for paint. For use it +is thinned out with American turpentine to the required consistency, +say, that of a ready mixed paint. It is brushed on with a stiff bristle +brush, and two coats may be safely applied on one day. The last coat +can be rubbed down smooth with pumice and water or sandpaper. It may +also be used as a knifing paste for defective surfaces. + + +RUBBING DOWN. + +In many cases the coats of paint, japan or enamel have to be rubbed +down between coats in order to produce a perfectly level surface. +This is usually done by means of finely powdered pumice stone and +water, and it is important to remember that the operation must be done +with care so that the rubbing is quite uniform. If a slight gloss is +given to the paint the portions which are rubbed down can readily be +discerned, as they will have a gloss, and in this way uniformity can +be ensured. It is of the utmost importance that all of the powder be +washed away before the next coat is applied; if any is left it will +mar the job. It may be noted that the work of rubbing down may be done +more expeditiously by means of the finest grade of steel wool. On the +Continent this is now used exclusively, and it is rapidly gaining +favour in Great Britain. + +[Illustration: Fig. 18.--SPRAYED SHOW CARD.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 19.--DIPPING AND STOVING BEDSTEADS.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +REQUIREMENTS OF DIFFERENT TRADES. + + +The following are a few of the special requirements of different +trades as to paint dipping. The details might be lengthened almost +indefinitely. + + +BEDSTEADS. + +The methods adopted for the class of work will, of course, depend upon +the quality of the finish required. Cheap bedsteads may be done by +dipping in one coat of black japan and stoving at 350° F. In better +class work several coats may be applied either by dipping or spraying, +and each may be rubbed down after stoving. If a good enamel is used +this is unnecessary. + +When the work is white several coats--say, at least three--are +necessary, for white japans cannot be made which will cover +sufficiently in one coat. White lead should not be used in this class +of work for the reason that a good deal of handling of parts is +necessary, while the rubbing down is sometimes done with glass paper +and cause dust, both of which may give rise to lead poisoning. All of +the best white japans or enamels are made on a base of zinc oxide or +lithopone (zinc sulphide), or a mixture of them. + + +COLLAPSIBLE GATES. + +This work is usually done by dipping in paint which dries "flat," +i.e., without gloss. The colour is, as a rule, black. In fitting and +adjusting the work in order that the parts will collapse readily it +is necessary to apply a lubricating oil where the rods meet. This +lubricating oil is difficult to remove after the adjustment has been +completed, and therefore the last coat of paint is usually put on by +hand. It is suggested, however, that raw linseed oil might be used +instead of lubricating oil, and that this could be wiped off as soon +as possible after the adjustment. In such a case the paint could be +applied by dipping, as if even a little of the raw linseed oil were +not removed it would not interfere with the drying of the paint to any +material extent. + + +DIPPING SEWING MACHINE PARTS. + +The process employed by a very large firm of American manufacturers is +as follows:-- + +When the castings come from the machine shop they are boiled for 20 +minutes in ammonia water to kill the grease (1 of strong ammonia to 20 +of water), and are then rinsed in hot water. Any holes or inequalities +in the castings are then stopped with a filler made from dry white +lead, mixed into a stiff paste with some varnish, brown japan dryers +and dry lampblack made quite stiff. When the stopping is hard the +castings are dipped into a black metallic coating thinned with 62% +benzine to a specific gravity 850. They are then dipped with two coats +of finishing japan (sp. gr. 830) flatted with powdered pumice after +each coat and leathered off. The parts which are not plated or flatted +are given 5 hours stoving at 325° F., and are then rubbed with pumice +and carpet pad until flat. Cut out gold transfers are then fixed with +transfer varnish and the work is stoved at 185° F. The parts are then +sponged and dusted, and are given a good coat of polishing varnish (sp. +gr. 950) Finally the work is rubbed down fine with glass paper and +pumice powder and then polished with machine oil and rottenstone powder +for the iron, or rottenstone and benzine for the tables. The latter, as +well as the covers for these, are not usually dipped but brush finished. + + +IRON RODS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 20.--IMMERSING MANGLE FRAMES.] + +In most cases, iron and steel rods are best painted by immersion, as +the small surface presented would cause too much waste if spraying +were attempted. As in most cases of dipping, success depends largely +upon the means adopted for handling and dipping a number of rods at +one time. Frequently, stoving is required to harden the japan, because +a rod is often subjected to considerable wear. Perhaps the best plan +to adopt, where the number of rods to be treated warrants the outlay, +is to provide mechanism by which the rods are dipped and are at +once automatically carried into a stove, and by means of slowly +travelling chains, carried out at the other end. + +An excellent contrivance for the purpose is in use at the Ford Motor +Works, at Manchester. This consists of a vertical oven, heated by gas, +and having slowly-moving endless chains running from bottom to top and +down again to a point where the rods are discharged on to inclined +runners. These rods are passed through a bath of japan, are then taken +up by the chain, and, during their progress, are baked. A gear is +provided by which the time between the entry of a rod to its discharge +may be varied from twenty to ninety minutes, or any period between, +according to the purpose for which the rod is to be used and the degree +of hardness of the japan required. + + +IRON WINDOW FRAMES OR CASEMENTS. + +A long narrow tank, say, from 1 foot 6 inches to 2 feet wide and 15 +feet long, is suitable for this class of work, which is usually done in +one coat only, and this is quite sufficient to protect the iron until +the casement is fixed in position, when it will, of course, receive +additional coats by means of a brush in the ordinary way. + +It is important that the iron be dipped just as soon as it leaves the +finishing shop, and it is necessary that the surface be thoroughly +cleaned before the paint is applied, and particularly after all scale +is removed. Sometimes the application of the sand blast is necessary +for this work, but, as a rule, a vigorous application of suitable wire +brushes will suffice. + +Another very important provision is a system of overhanging rails on +which the sashes or other articles can be run direct from the finishing +shop to the paint tank, and thence to any part of the building, from +which they may be taken as required for shipment. + +The paint used for casements is usually grey, being as a rule made of +zinc oxide and lampblack. These pigments, when mixed with a suitable +vehicle, are very durable, while, the colour being neutral, it is +suitable as an undercoat for green, as well as nearly any other colour +which it may be desired to use as a finish. The weight of the paint +should be 13 lbs. to the gallon, and it should dry with a semi-gloss. +The elevating apparatus need only be of a simple character, and several +casements can be suspended and dipped at one time. For this purpose +a "hanger" is used, having perforations through which one end of the +hooks pass. One form is shown in Fig. 21. By the side of the tank +should be a large metal lined floor, say, 20 feet by 15 feet, or even +larger, inclined toward the tank. The frames having been plunged into +the paint, are at once withdrawn and hung in rows to dry over this +floor. The superfluous paint drips on to it and runs back through a +screen or sieve into the tank. The latter should be provided with a +cover, to be closed in when the work is not being proceeded with. + +[Illustration: Fig. 21.--IRON HANGER FOR SUSPENDING SEVERAL ARTICLES TO +BE DIPPED TOGETHER.] + +In this class of work it is unnecessary to employ a stirring apparatus +provided that the paint is of the right consistency, and an occasional +stirring up with a pole after the work has been suspended, say, for +example, from Saturday to Monday, will usually be all that is required. +As a matter of fact, the lowering and raising of the casements into the +paint effectually stirs it up. + + +METAL FURNITURE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 22.--THE AUTOMATIC FINISHING OF PIANOS. CARRIER +FILLED WITH SIX COMPLETE PIANOS.] + +Under this head it is intended to include such articles as deed boxes, +lockers, files and other metal goods which are required to be painted +both inside and out. An enamel stoving or baking paint is usually +employed for the purpose, while the tank must be of sufficient size to +accommodate the various articles that are to go into it. Taking a deed +box by way of example, a large iron hook, such as is shown in Fig. 32 +is placed inside the box so that it is suspended at an angle; the box +or boxes are then lowered into the tank and immediately withdrawn after +all the superfluous paint runs away, care being taken that the box +hangs at a proper angle to permit of this being done. Great care must +be taken in this room to exclude all dust, which would considerably +mar the work. For this purpose wire netting of the finest mesh should +be placed over the windows so as to screen off any dust which might +otherwise enter. A system of overhead rails are made, consisting +of an L-iron on the top side of which run two rollers to which are +attached hanging gears, and is sufficient for the purpose. At +least ten minutes should be allowed for these articles to drip over +the inclined floor adjacent to the tank, and for safety's sake it is +as well to employ a workman with a brush in his hand to go over each +piece and remove any tears or runs which may possibly occur. Metal +work of the description named is then placed in a stove and baked for +three hours at a temperature of 400° F. The paint is frequently green, +which is found to be a good serviceable colour and which is attractive +in appearance. After the baking the paint is quite hard, and will +withstand more or less rough usage. If any ornamental work is required, +this is done afterwards, as explained under the head of "Stencilling." +The paint employed weighs 13 lbs. to the gallon, and a fine mesh +paint strainer must be provided, through which the superfluous paint +passes as it drips from the articles on their way to the tank. In +this case, as in others, no special stirring apparatus is required, +as the comparatively heavy vehicle and the relatively light specific +gravity of the pigment employed gives little or no opportunity for any +"settling out." + + +MOTOR PARTS (METAL). + +The various parts which go to make up a complete motor car are +differently treated according to their shape and size. In most cases, +stoving is resorted to, because the enamel or japan is thereby +much increased in durability by the hardening which takes place in +consequence of the high temperature. + +The steel rims of wheels are dipped by hand into a black japan made +especially for the purpose. They are hung on hooks and allowed to drain +for some minutes, and are then transferred to the stove, where they +are subjected to a heat of 320° F. Such parts as ribs, front and rear +wings, running boards, shields, etc., are dealt with in the same way. + +Previous to dipping, these parts undergo the process known as +"pickling," by which scale, grease, etc., is removed so that a +perfectly clean surface is presented to receive the japan. + +Troughs to catch the drips must be provided, and it is essential that +these be kept quite clean, so that the superfluous japan may run +through gauze and be pumped back again into the tank to be used again. + + +AUTOMATIC FINISHING OF PIANOS. + + +THE STANDARD HYDRAULIC IMMERSION SYSTEM. + +Any doubt as to the perfection of finish which may be produced by a +carefully thought out system of immersion or dipping must be removed by +the fact that such a system has been in successful use for some years +for the finish of pianos. It need hardly be pointed out that such a +finish must necessarily be so well done as to approach perfection. + +One firm has made a special study of this subject, viz., the Standard +Varnish Co., of London and New York, and their efforts have been most +successful. + +By this method an absolutely even distribution of varnish is always +secured; no part of the piano case is neglected and an enormous +reduction in the cost of varnishing is effected. The factory output can +be readily increased as desired, as the varnish working force of the +factory can do as much or as little work as trade conditions may demand. + +The mechanical details have been so perfected that every kind of +instrument can be handled satisfactorily. + +The excellence of the finishing done in accordance with this system +is attributable to a large extent to its mechanical construction. +The apparatus used in connection with the Standard method of piano +finishing consists, in the first place, of a steel tank for the varnish +with an adjustable cover which can be locked when the apparatus is +not in operation, a hydraulic lift for raising the work slowly out +of the varnish, a small horse-power pump which is operated either by +steam pressure or compressed air, and in extreme emergencies where the +pressure is not adequate for heavy work, a small motor for operating +the pump. + +There is also installed an apparatus similar to the automatic sprinkler +system. A fusible link or another mechanical device makes it possible +to draw off the varnish into a tank outside the main buildings at will, +and for protection in case a fire should take place in any other part +of the building. + +The principal investment for the piano manufacturer is the carriers or +racks for holding the separate pieces. The cases are held firmly in the +carriers by means of springs which are adjusted for the introductory +carrier, or secured by screws in the permanent carrier which is +designed for keeping the cases in the carrier until they are ready for +rubbing. This latter method saves the labour of handling. + +[Illustration: Fig. 23.--AUTOMATIC FINISHING OF PIANOS. INTRODUCTORY +CARRIER READY FOR PARTS TO BE VARNISHED.] + +Carriers filled with work to be varnished are raised from the floor, +swung directly over the tank, and lowered into the varnish by means of +an hydraulic lift. The speed with which the work is raised from the +varnish is controlled by a lever conveniently located for the operator. + +Once the speed has been determined and the lever set the apparatus +requires merely the supervision of an operator, who may devote +considerable time to helping his assistants reload another carrier +while the one in the tank is emerging. Generally only a limited number +of carriers are required. + +When the work is to be removed between coats a large percentage can be +handled without tack in a short time after it is taken from the varnish. + +In the introductory carrier, parts like piano tops, which are finished +on all sides, require a little additional care because of the +difficulty of handling. This contingency is provided for by the use of +special head pieces. + +In emergencies, for rushing out an extra quantity of work, carriers +holding falls, frames and small parts may be immersed in one-half the +interval usually required. + +For example, these carriers can be withdrawn in from fifteen to twenty +minutes, whereas for carriers including sides from twenty-five to +thirty minutes are required. The carriers are equipped with head pieces +adjustable to meet all peculiar local factory requirements. In fact, +these carriers can be constructed by the manufacturer to meet all his +demands. + +The number of carriers necessary depends entirely upon the volume of +work to be handled. But it is desirable, when possible, to have a +sufficient number of carriers to hold all the work until the varnish is +sufficiently dry for rubbing. In this way a tremendous amount of labour +and time is saved. + +Permanent carriers, in which the work has been secured by ordinary +screws, have been constructed by some manufacturers at an unusually low +cost by their own machinists in their own factories. + +The work in the carriers can be easily dusted by means of air-bellows +or a compressed air-blower. Work finished in this manner is so clean +that the usual sanding is not necessary and a considerable amount of +labour thereby saved. + +That the Standard hydraulic immersion system of automatic finishing +of pianos has distinct advantages over the ordinary hand process is +obvious even to the casual observer. Among the numerous advantages +which have been effected the following seem to be worthy of special +consideration: + + It constitutes practically the factory's entire varnishing force. + + Its use insures an even coat, free from imperfections. + + Coating both sides of the work preserves the cases considerably from + shrinking and warping. A great deal of labour is saved by varnishing + both sides at once. + + It requires very little more varnish than the old, slow, hand method + as there is no waste from brushes and pots and absolutely no dripping + outside the tank. + +The elasticity of the Standard system of piano varnishing eliminates +the necessity of additions and reductions to the working force. + +The cleanness and evenness of the finish virtually makes every coat a +flowing coat. The amount of time and effort saved in the rubbing and +polishing is tremendous, and the finish obtained is much finer, due to +the absence of uneven coating and the blemishes of pinholing and dust. + +Carriers containing six complete pianos each, at an average interval of +one half-hour, will enable the factory to turn out 108 pianos with one +coating during a nine-hour working day. + +Carriers containing eight complete pianos would handle 144 pianos a +day. A lift sufficiently strong to accomplish any demand placed upon +it can be installed to immerse as many carriers at once as will be +necessary. + +A smaller carrier containing four pianos can be installed for the +manufacturer with a small output of pianos, which by the very nature of +its construction is handled more readily than the larger carrier. + +In coating both sides of the work a decided protection against +shrinking and warping has been provided. In fact many manufacturers +are taking this precaution by brushing both sides of the work. By the +Standard method the work is automatically coated on both sides at the +same time. + +Very little more varnish (not more than 5%) is required by the Standard +system than by the hand method. The inventors' own experiments, as +well as the daily use of the system by manufacturers, shows that more +varnish is wasted about the varnishing room than is required by the +immersion system to coat the unfinished side of the work. With this +method, all of the small amount of varnish that drips off falls back +into the tank. + +[Illustration: Fig. 24.--LOWERING PIANO CASES INTO THE VARNISH TANK.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 25.--PIANO CASES NEARLY IMMERSED.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 26.--PIANO CASES WHOLLY IMMERSED.] + +One of the most difficult tasks of the finishing room foreman is to +be certain that the proper reduction is made for the first and other +undercoats. This is entirely eliminated with the use of the Standard +system of piano finishing. This process alone makes it possible to +apply a minimum quantity of varnish sufficient to withstand the strain +of rubbing and polishing. This lessens the possibility of shrinking and +cracking which excessive varnish coats applied by brush involves. The +slower the speed of the lift, the less varnish is applied to the work, +consequently there is a gradual regulation of the amount of varnish for +the separate coats. + +[Illustration: Fig. 27.--PIANO CASES ABOUT TO BE DIPPED.] + +The foregoing description, together with the accompanying +illustrations, will enable the reader to understand the general method +adopted. It should be added that it is applicable to many other +articles besides piano cases. + +The system described was invented and is controlled by the Standard +Varnish Company of London and New York. + + +WHEELS. + +An extremely ingenious but effective machine for coating hickory wheels +with paint or japan is in use at the works of the Ford Motor Company, +Trafford Park, Manchester. It consists of a stationary cylindrical +vessel of exactly the right size to receive a wheel, which, being +placed in position, is at once lowered into a tank containing the +japan. Here it is made to revolve very rapidly, by which means the +japan is thoroughly distributed over every part. Hickory, being a hard +and comparatively non-absorbent wood, the japan might give too thick +a coating if dipped and left to dry in the ordinary way. To prevent +this, the wheel, while still revolving very rapidly, is mechanically +lifted out of the japan, and is held just above it, where it continues +to spin. This has the effect of throwing off the superfluous japan by +centrifugal force. The cylindrical sides of the apparatus catch the +japan, and it runs down into the tank below. The wheels are then taken +out by a man, who wears gloves, are stacked on edge in rows to dry, +and, after an hour or so, they receive a second coat. After twenty-four +hours, or less, they are ready for use. + +The advantage of rapidly revolving the wheels is that anything in the +nature of a drip is entirely eliminated. This machine can deal with 300 +wheels an hour, so rapid is the process. At the present time the Ford +Works are using 2,000 wheels a week. + + +SOME TYPICAL PLANTS. + +In gathering information of up-to-date character to include in this +book the author has visited various parts of the country, and through +the courtesy of the firms mentioned below has examined the plants used +successfully for the treatment of many different goods. The following +is a brief description of some of the plants inspected, although it by +no means exhausts the list:-- + + +CARRIAGE DEPARTMENT, WOOLWICH ARSENAL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 28.--DIPPING A COACH BODY AT WOOLWICH ARSENAL.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 29.--GENERAL VIEW OF PAINT DIPPING ROOM AT WOOLWICH +ARSENAL.] + +The plant for painting wagons, etc., has been in use for about 12 years +and has been eminently successful, it being found by experience that +a paint applied by dipping proves equally durable to that formerly +applied by means of brushes. Indeed, the durability is increased for +the reason, which has been pointed out elsewhere, that the paint finds +it way into open joints and crevices which could not be reached by +a brush. In some cases a wagon is dipped bodily, while in others it is +dismantled and the different parts are dipped separately; again, the +smaller portions are placed in an open wire basket which is plunged +into the paint. The building in which this painting is done is of +considerable extent and a large paint tank is located at each end. A +wagon on being completed, or in the case of an old wagon, after having +been prepared, is brought to the first tank and is raised from the +ground and lowered into the paint, where it remains for about half a +minute. It is then immediately raised, allowed to drain over a tank for +a few minutes, and then over an inclined floor for a further period. +At the end of about half an hour a workman inspects the wagon or +other article and removes any tears or runs which may have occurred. +The paint being specially prepared this is not usually an arduous +undertaking. + +The illustrations show very clearly a coach body in process of dipping. +Overhead rails run throughout the length of the building and upon these +are suspended the painted wagons, which are gradually moved along +with a very little exertion, such rails being slightly inclined to +facilitate this. By the time the series of wagons reach the further end +of the building they are ready to receive a second coat of paint, by +being dipped in the second tank. This being done they are then moved +back, being at once suspended on the rails until quite dry, when they +are hoisted to the upper part of the building, where they are left +suspended until they are required for use. The paint is, of course, +a special one which is supplied in paste form having the necessary +binding ingredients. The colour used is khaki, which is very durable, +being composed of earth colours. The thinning is done on the premises +and white spirit is employed for the purpose, not turpentine, which +would be far too expensive. Formerly benzine was employed, but this +necessitated the use of a fan to take away the fumes which came from +the spirit. Such a fan is not now found to be necessary. + +The tanks are fitted with iron covers bearing upon thick felt and are +operated by means of levers placed at a distance, so that should a fire +occur they can be closed at a moment's notice. The hoist is worked +from the ground by electricity. Formerly the operator of the hoist was +located in a cab near the roof, but it was felt that this would be a +dangerous position in case of fire, and he now, as stated, does the +work from the ground. The work done at Woolwich gives an excellent +example of the actual saving which may be effected by using the paint +dipping process. Before the painting plant was put in no fewer than 200 +painters were constantly employed; now about 40 are fully able to turn +out the same or even a larger number of wagons in a given time. + + +JAMES GIBBONS. + +Most of the metal sheets as well as finished metal work of various +kinds made at these extensive works at Wolverhampton are finished by +dipping into special enamels or japans made by Messrs. Mander Bros. The +dipping is done by hand and the pieces are placed at the side of the +tank to drain. In some cases it is found necessary to go over the work +slightly with a brush to remove tears, but such work takes only a few +minutes and is used mostly as a precautionary measure. + +One coat is usually found sufficient, and at the proper time the iron +sheet or metal article is stoved at 250° F. to 300° F. for two hours. +Many other articles are also dipped successfully. + + +HARRISON, MCGREGOR & CO. + +In the extensive factories of this firm at Leigh, Lancashire, dipping +by immersion has been successfully carried on for some years past. +Various agricultural implements are dipped bodily in a tank of paint +which is fitted with a worm agitator, and is of simple construction. +The iron parts are dipped separately, being supported on suitable +hangers, while the very small parts are placed in wire baskets for +immersion. + + +PHILLIPS AND SON. + +The paint dipping plant at these works, which are situated at +Sherbourne Street, Birmingham, has been in successful operation for +some years past and is applied principally to bedsteads. + +The tank holding black japan measures about 5 feet by 18 inches and is +some 9 feet deep. The bedstead head and foot are separately dipped by +hand into the tank which contains black japan, and are immediately hung +on a hook attached to a slowly travelling chain. This chain runs around +a rectangular space, and beneath is a metal lined dripping floor. The +stove is located diagonally from the tank, so that by the time the +bedstead parts reach it the dripping has ceased and they are ready to +be baked. The stoving is done at 320° F., and is continued all night. +One coat is found to be ample. + +A very ingenious arrangement is in use for the application of coloured +enamels. Three shallow tanks are mounted on rollers running in angle +irons one above the other in such a manner that any one tank may be +pulled out when required for use free from the others. + +As a rule three coats are given for white work and two for green, blue +and most other colours. No white lead is used, but only non-poisonous +colours. The stoving is done mostly overnight at a temperature of 250° +F. A little rubbing down between coats is done with very fine glass or +emery paper. The japans are made by Messrs. Thornley & Knight. + +In these works safes are painted, but the work is all done by hand. + + +THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. + +The extensive works of this company, at Trafford Park, Manchester, +contain as complete a plant for painting, japanning, enamelling and +varnishing, as it has been the pleasure of the author to inspect. + +With characteristic thoroughness every detail which will ensure a +first class finish with a minimum of time and labour has been thought +out and applied. The result is that not only is every part dealt with +most expeditiously but one coat of paint is applied to the whole outer +surface of a motor body in the almost incredibly short time of two +minutes. Further details will be found in this book under the heads of +"Flowing-on," "Motor Parts," and "Iron Rods." + + +MARSHALL, SONS & CO., LTD. + +This well-known firm of agricultural implement manufacturers have a +large dipping plant at their Gainsborough works, which they employ +for painting various agricultural machines made principally of red +wood. Some idea of the extent to which this process is applied may be +obtained when it is said that on an average nearly 5,000 pieces pass +through the dipping plant every month. The process is particularly +well adapted for threshing machines and for appliances of the kind +which consist of thousands of holes bored in the wood. If the painting +were done by hand it would take many hours to paint such a machine, +while by dipping it is done even more effectually in a few minutes. +The priming coat only is dipped after knots, etc., have been treated +with shellac. The tank measures 21ft. long by 7ft. deep and 2ft. 3in. +in width. An agitating apparatus is used and the lifting is done by +pneumatic appliances. + + +HAYWARD BROTHERS AND ECKSTEIN, LIMITED. + +The paint dipping plant in use at the works of this firm, at Union +Street, Borough, S.E., is of a comparatively simple type, and consists +of a shallow tank in which various cast iron and steel goods are dipped +in horizontal position. As a rule, one coat of paint is given, but in +certain cases two are required. The bottom of the tank is slanted, +and the contents are stirred up from time to time, but no agitating +apparatus is used. The principal goods painted by dipping are the +frames of Hayward's lights, which are of cast iron and are dipped on +one side only, the other side, after the glass is fitted, being done +by hand. Metal casements are also dipped in considerable numbers, as +well as treads and rises of circular staircases, straight staircases, +balconies, etc. These, being made of ornamental open ironwork, contain +a large number of small shaped holes, and the dipping process is found +to be by far the most effective. + +Another speciality of this firm are Hayward's patent steel collapsible +gates. The first coat of paint is applied by dipping; this paint, being +black, dries flat, i.e., without gloss. + + +THE CRITTALL MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. + +These works are at Braintree, Essex, where a large amount of structural +steelwork is produced, the chief manufactures being metal windows +of all kinds, from the well-known steel casement and sash to metal +windows for use in industrial dwellings and specially designed windows +for various climates, steel fireproof doors, skylights, steel office +and works partitions, shop fronts; frictionless ball race runners for +sliding doors, etc. + +[Illustration: Fig. 30.--WAGON STORE ROOM, WOOLWICH ARSENAL.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 31.--DIPPING CASEMENTS AT THE CRITTALL +MANUFACTURING CO.'S FACTORY, BRAINTREE.] + +Perhaps the most noticeable feature of these works as far as our +subject is concerned, is the very complete system of overhead rails, +by means of which the various metal goods produced in the different +finishing shops are conveyed to one or other of the paint tanks and +then, having been left to dry, are taken to store rooms ready for +instant shipment. These rails facilitate handling of the various +goods, and reduce the actual expenditure under this particular item to +a minimum. The rails are L-shaped, the hanger used for each article +or series of articles being of a simple character, consisting of two +wheels bearing on the top of the upright flange, while rods secured by +bolts pass through the horizontal flange and hold it in position. + +We will first describe the tank used for dipping metal windows. This is +15ft. long by 12ft. deep and only 1ft. 6in. wide. Attached to the tank +is a large dripping floor measuring some 15ft. by 21ft. covered with +sheet iron and inclined toward the tank, so that the paint which drips +on to it finds its way back into the tank through a grating provided +for the purpose to take off any dried particles. The paint used in +this work is made by Messrs. Docker Brothers, and weighs 13 lbs. to +the gallon; one coat is found sufficient for the purpose. The sashes +or casements being brought in from the finishing room on the overhead +rail, they are lowered into the tank by means of a special lowering +apparatus designed on the premises. Some idea of this may be had from +Fig. 31. In order to keep the load steady during the time it is being +dipped, a slight depression or dip in the rail is made immediately over +the tank. The sashes are only left in the paint for a few seconds, and +are then raised, allowed to drip over the tank for perhaps a minute +or two, and then allowed to drip over the adjacent floor for perhaps +a quarter of an hour or less. They are then taken farther along and +the paint dries in about three hours. Sometimes two, four, six, or +even eight casements may be dipped at the same time. Attached to the +elevating and lowering apparatus are hooks which pass through one +corner of the casements. This causes the parts to hang at an angle +which facilitates running off of the paint. + +We come now to the department in which the baking or stoving enamel is +used as applied to metal furniture in general, as mentioned. In this +case the articles are dipped in a manner very similar to that already +described, excepting that a large hook, similar in shape to that shown +in Fig. 32, is used to support the article to be dipped; the wide +opening goes inside the box or file and holds it at an angle so that +when it is lowered into the paint all parts are covered inside and +out. A few minutes are allowed for dripping, and after two or three +hours the articles are ready to be stoved. In this case, Messrs. Docker +Brothers' standard colour, a very pleasing dark green, is used. The +stoving takes three hours at a temperature of 240° F., or higher in +some cases. The tank mentioned is, of course, considerably wider than +that used for casements. The dripping floor is in this case inclined +toward the centre, which in turn is inclined toward the grating just +outside the tank itself. If necessary, special thinners are added +to bring up the gloss, but, as a rule, this is unnecessary. It is +desirable after the article is dipped to go over it once with a small +brush to remove any drips or runs which may possibly appear. + +[Illustration: Fig. 32.--HOOK USED FOR SUSPENDING METAL BOXES WHILE +DIPPING.] + +Another very important point to be attended to is to exclude all dust, +and for this purpose the Crittall Manufacturing Co. have erected in +this department screens of wire of the finest mesh over windows, so +that no air can pass into the room without the dust being screened off. + + +EXCLUDING DUST. + +A matter of very great importance, yet one which is frequently +overlooked in painting iron and other goods which are to have a glossy +finish, either air dried or stoved, is to exclude dust from the +apartment in which the work is done. In many engineering shops the +nature of the business gives rise to a considerable amount of dust, +and if this is allowed to enter the paint shop it will be fatal to the +appearance of the painted work, as many specks will inevitably settle +on the work and mar its appearance. + +[Illustration: Fig. 33--DIPPING CASEMENTS AT BRAINTREE. NOTE THE NARROW +TANK USED FOR THIS CLASS OF WORK.] + +A paint shop is best provided with a concrete floor, and this should be +frequently cleaned. The workmen should wear clean overalls, frequently +renewed, and even so small a matter as keeping the hair, beard, etc., +clean and free from dandruff should be attended to. The doors are +best if double, and thick felt may be used with advantage in the joints +so as to practically seal the opening when the doors are closed. Air +which is admitted, either through ventilators or windows, should be +strained before entering the building, and for this purpose silk gauze +of the finest mesh is usually employed. In some cases, cotton wool in +addition is placed in such a position that the air must pass through +it before entering the room. If these precautions are taken it will be +found that the quality of the work is greatly enhanced. + +It may be observed in this connection that it is important also to +provide means of adequate ventilation of the apartment. Moisture +charged air has a bad effect upon paint work. Extreme heat is +unnecessary, but it is very important that the temperature be +maintained at a uniform rate, say 60° F. If the room in which the +painting is done is very hot, the paint will be affected and be likely +to become too thin for its purpose; while, on the other hand, if the +room or articles to be painted are very cold, the paint or enamel will +have a tendency to congeal. Both of these defects can be remedied, as +already stated, by a good system of ventilation and maintaining the +heat, night and day, at a uniform temperature. + + +A MODEL DRYING ROOM. + +The immense importance of providing a uniform temperature and ensuring +an adequate system of ventilation in the room in which goods are placed +for air drying can hardly be exaggerated. Unless such a system is in +use the actual drying may be greatly retarded and the work stand a +chance of being spoiled. + +In connection with some of the plant inspected by the author it must +be admitted that the provision made in this respect falls far short of +what is needed. In one case the work of rubbing down was proceeding in +the same shop, although in a different part, in which various goods +which had been dipped were hanging up to dry. It need hardly be said +that under such conditions it was impossible to keep the work free from +specks. + +In other cases the drying rooms were inadequate because of the +inefficiency of doors and windows. These, it may be remarked, should +always be double so as to maintain the heat uniformly. + +Every varnish user knows that a draught of cold air which is allowed +to reach a coat of varnish while drying is fatal alike to its +appearance and durability. The result is almost certain to be a case +of "blooming," which to the uninitiated may be described as a film not +unlike the bloom of a freshly coloured plum which comes on the surface +of varnish exposed under such conditions. Those unacquainted with +varnish vagaries are apt to regard this trouble as being the result +of inferior materials used in its manufacture. As a matter of fact it +indicates nothing of the kind because, speaking generally, the higher +grades of varnishes are the most susceptible. + +Without doubt the best and by far the most economical plan to adopt +is to have a drying room specially built for the purpose of receiving +the articles to be dried. If constructed on scientific principles this +will not only give a uniform temperature entirely free from draughts +and dust but will considerably expedite the work, thereby allowing of +a quicker delivery of goods and effecting a great saving of valuable +floor space. + +The author inspected such a drying room at the works of Messrs. +Pinchin, Johnson, and Co., Ltd., at Silvertown, and a description of +it will doubtless prove of interest. It is built of 5-ply wood and is +about 16 feet square, sufficiently large to hold two full-sized motor +bodies or several dozen perambulators, hand wagons, etc. The actual +size may, of course, be varied according to the size of and number of +articles to be dried. Air is admitted through two ducts situated close +to the floor through fine wire gauze, which is provided with a lifting +cover by which the amount of air admitted may be regulated. + +Immediately over the two air ducts mentioned is a coil of steam +pipes which heats the air to, say, 110° F. This, of course, causes +it to rise toward the ceiling, but the angle between the ceiling and +wall is rounded off by a cove, so that the current of heated air is +directed along the ceiling toward the centre of the room where there +is another cove and beneath it a coil of cold air pipes which lowers +the temperature somewhat. Thus is created a constant motion of the air +which may be regarded as the essence of the system. + +But there is another very important provision in the shape of an +automatic control. This cuts off the steam when any desired heat is +attained so that when the drying room is filled up at night before the +works close it can safely be left until the morning when the drop in +temperature will not be more than 2 degrees. The steam may be admitted +at, say, 10 lbs. pressure, but as soon as the room is heated from 2 to +2½ lbs. will be found to be sufficient. The actual time for heating +the room to 120° F. is from 15 to 20 minutes. + +The speed with which work is turned out by this well-considered adjunct +may be gauged from the fact that a panel may receive one coat of enamel +and two coats of flatting varnish in one day, or four coats of japan in +the same period. + +In addition to the advantages mentioned is the most important one +that the drying room renders the manufacturer who is fortunate enough +to possess one quite independent of the weather. In the words of the +inventors and patentees, "one enabled by its use to create one's own +climate." + +[Illustration: Fig. 34.--DESIGN FOR SHOW CARD DONE BY SPRAYING.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +PAINTS FOR DIPPING. + + +It need hardly be said that the paint employed for this purpose must be +of a special character. There are several firms of manufacturers who +make a speciality of this class of paints and supply them either ready +for use or in paste form, requiring only the addition of white spirit +or other suitable thinner to bring them to the right consistency. The +following may be considered as the necessary qualities of a paint +suitable for this purpose:-- + +1. It must dry hard in not less than six hours. + +2. The pigment must be of such a specific gravity that when mixed with +a suitable vehicle or thinner to form a paint the pigment will not +quickly deposit at the bottom of the tank or settle out. + +3. The consistency of the paint must be so arranged that only a minimum +quantity will run off, while it must not be so thick as to give rise to +tears or runs. + +White lead which has a specific gravity of about 6.750 is for the +reason mentioned usually considered too heavy, and in the case of a +white or grey paint, zinc oxide which has a specific gravity of 5.470 +is used in preference. The following colours may also be successfully +employed, because of their low specific gravity, viz., Oxford ochre (s. +g. 2.822), Venetian red (s. g. 3.560), Indian red (4.732), golden ochre +(3.107), Italian raw sienna (3.081), burnt sienna (3.477), Turkey umber +(3.496), Prussian blue (1.956), bone black (2.319). + +It will be observed that the earth colours, such as ochre, sienna, +umber, etc., are all light pigments, and as they are also recognised +as being the most durable, they are eminently well suited for use in +many positions, although the colour is not always very agreeable. +Precipitated barytes (s. g. 4.144) can be used up to, say, a proportion +of 10 per cent.--not more; red lead (s. g. 8.681) cannot be used for +this purpose, as it is far too heavy, and the same applies to English +vermilion (s. g. 7.726). If, however, a bright colour is required, it +may be obtained by dipping in Venetian red or Indian red and giving a +second coat of crimson lake (s. g. 1.898), but a coat of varnish should +be sprayed upon this for protective purposes. + +In considering this subject, it is well to remember that much will +depend upon the thickness of the vehicle used, as, clearly, a fairly +heavy pigment will settle out in a thin vehicle much quicker than it +would in a comparatively thick one. The successful paint, therefore, is +one in which both considerations are taken into account. + +Very rarely indeed does it pay manufacturers to attempt to grind or +prepare paints themselves, and much greater satisfaction will be +obtained by getting supplies from a reputable firm who have made a +special study of the subject. + +Sometimes a white paint is required for dipping, and in that case +30 lbs. of sublimed white lead, 10 lbs. of zinc oxide and 6 lbs. of +gilders' whiting, with 4 lbs. of asbestine pulp, mixed with 9 lbs. of +raw linseed oil, will be found to give good results. + +A paint which dries with a gloss is often desired for the finish of +many articles, and can be readily obtained by first priming, then +giving a finishing coat of paint on it which has been mixed with +sufficient varnish to produce the desired gloss. In some cases three +coats may be given, namely, the first or priming coat, the second, +which should be flat, or semi-flat, and the third a coat of varnish +paint, which will dry with a gloss. It should be pointed out, however, +that the finish obtained by these means is not a little inferior to +that which may be produced by using over the priming one or more coats +of flat paint of the desired colour and finishing with a coat of +suitable varnish, which may be applied either by dipping or spraying, +according to circumstances. A point here worthy of mention is one which +every house painter is or should be well acquainted with, and that is +that the coats of paint that are superimposed should be alternatively +flat, _i.e._, without gloss, and glossy, in order that each may adhere +closely to the other. If the article to be painted is wood or any other +material which is of an absorbent character, a comparatively large +amount of turpentine and oil must be mixed with it in order to allow +for suction. This will dry with a semi-flat finish, and a glossy coat +or one having more oil in its composition, may be applied over it. If +a further coat is required it should be flat or nearly so, and in that +case a finishing coat of varnish will probably be required. The paints +for these purposes may be purchased ready made or ready for thinning +down, from firms who have made a special study of the requirements. + +The question sometimes arises as to whether paint dipping or spraying +can be used advantageously when in the finish two or more colours are +to be used. As a rule the difficulties can be overcome by dipping first +or even the second coat, spraying on the third or finishing coat, using +specially prepared masks or shields over those parts which are not to +be painted with the particular colour in use. + +The following useful information is taken from "White Paints and +Painting Materials," by W. G. Scott, who was for sixteen years +connected as paint expert with the Milwaukee Harvester Company and the +J. I. Case Threshing Machinery Co. Mr. Scott therefore speaks from a +wide experience. He says:-- + +A certain amount of oil must be present in dipping paints to act as +a binder, and it is advisable to add a small quantity of varnish to +hold the paint together. The desired features in a good dipping paint +are: freedom of flow and proper drip; sufficient binder to prevent +chalkiness and produce a firm coat; covering capacity and an even +distribution of the paint. + +Non-absorbent surfaces like metal and hard wood require less oil than +the absorbent soft woods. + +In the former case there is little or no penetration of the liquid +portion of the paint, but with pine, bass wood, white wood, poplar, +etc., nearly all of the liquid is absorbed or taken up by the +wood, consequently with benzine only as a thinner there will not +be sufficient binder present to hold the pigment when the thinner +evaporates. + +Whereas 5 lbs. of paste pigment or colour ground in oil and thinned +with a gallon of benzine would produce a suitable primer on iron or +other non-absorbent material, it would not answer for soft wood. + +Dipping paints, as a rule, contain from 4 to 10 lbs. of paste per +gallon of thinner, the primer containing less paste than the second +coat paints. + +The composition of the paste colour has much to do with the dipping +paint; for instance, 5 lbs. of paste white lead to the gallon of +thinner will cover and work better than a mixture consisting of half +white lead and the other half made up of transparent pigments like +china clay, barytes, etc., nevertheless a small amount of inert +material is generally understood to be an improvement in the way of +durability. + +Asbestine, whiting, silica and china clay are the inert materials most +often used in paste goods for dipping purposes. + +Asbestine probably helps to hold the pigments in suspension better +than any of the others and answers nicely for dipping paints, but, as +previously mentioned, does not allow the paint to level out when used +with a brush. + +China clay, on account of its low specific gravity, is much favoured as +a suspension agent, but materially lessens the opacity of the paint. + +A small amount of whiting is a good addition to a dipping paint, as +it carries down much of the dirt and heavy particles usually produced +during the process of dipping. Silica gives the paint "tooth," and by +some authorities is considered an actual necessity in primers which are +intended to be sand-papered. + +White lead and zinc oxide are the two ideal white pigments considered +from a dipping standpoint, and it will be found that the majority of +dipping paste paints on the market contain a notable quantity of zinc +oxide, either straight or in the form of zinc lead. + +Zinc oxide is generally the predominating pigment in the white and +tinted paste paints, and is usually associated with white lead (basic +carbonate), zinc lead, and sublimed white lead, mixed with more or less +inert material according to the ideas of the manufacturer or in order +to cheapen the product. + +The admixture of inert material with the coloured pigments requires +some knowledge of the composition of the coloured pigment; for +instance, lampblack might be safely mixed with asbestine, whiting, +silica, barytes, etc., without detriment, but yellow ochre containing, +naturally, considerable clay and silica would hardly permit of any +great addition of china clay or silica. + +The strong iron oxides, chrome greens and similar tinting colours will +stand a large quantity of inert material when the paint is to be used +as a body colour, but for varnish colours it is customary to use the +chemically pure colours and less paste per gallon of thinner. + +Paste paint for varnish colours is frequently ground in oil, in japan, +or in a mixture of the two, but far better results are obtained by +grinding the dry pigment in varnish thinned to a grinding consistency +with a little turpentine. A varnish with a viscosity of 20 (water = 1) +which gives a stiff mix with, say, 5 lbs. of pigment will, when thinned +to a viscosity of that of raw oil, _i.e._, a viscosity of 4, take about +20 lbs. of pigment. + +No set rule can be given for the kind and amount of thinners to +be used in dipping paints for various purposes, but the following +proportions[1] will furnish a key to the general mixtures used:-- + +[Footnote 1: The figures given relate to an American gallon, which +contains 231 cubic inches, while an English imperial gallon contains +277¼ cubic inches. For practical purposes the latter may be +considered one-fifth greater than the former.] + +PRIMERS FOR METAL. + +4 to 5 lbs. of paste thinned with 7/8 to 31/32 gallon of benzine or +turpentine and 1/8 to 1/32 gallon of mixing varnish. + +PRIMERS FOR HARD WOOD. + +4 to 5 lbs. of paste thinned with 15/16 gallon benzine or turpentine, +3/64 gallon raw oil, 1/64 gallon mixing varnish. + +PRIMERS FOR SOFT WOOD. + +4 to 7 lbs. paste thinned with ½ to ¾ gallon benzine or turpentine, +15/32 to 15/64 gallon raw oil, 1/32 to 1/64 gallon varnish. + +In some cases, with very soft, porous woods, it may be necessary to add +more raw oil and some japan or liquid drier, but too much drier must +not be added, as it will shorten the "flow." + +SECOND COAT DIPPING PAINTS. + +5 to 10 lbs. of paste thinned entirely with benzine or turpentine, or +with 7/8 gallon of solvent and variable proportions of oil and varnish +according to the surface desired. + +Varnish is advocated in all of these mixtures, as it helps to hold the +solids and liquids together and prevent separation; it also induces +toughness. + +It is essential that a varnish be used which will mix perfectly with +oil and benzine at a temperature of 60° F. + +Varnish colours are best thinned with turpentine, but owing to the high +price of turpentine the large factories insist on using benzine or some +of the turpentine substitutes now on the market. + +The fact that some of the turpentine substitutes work better and give a +better "flow" with the paint and varnish, is due to the fact that most +of them contain a heavy distillate of petroleum similar to kerosene. + +Kerosene oil has the double property of thinning and imparting "flow" +to either paint or varnish, but retards the drying, hence too much must +not be used. + +Damar varnish, which will not stand thinning with benzine without +separation of the gum or becoming cloudy, will permit of dilution with +kerosene to quite an extent. + +So far as durability is concerned, kerosene imparts more durability and +is more waterproof than any of the other thinners. Combined with rosin +and manganese oxide, it may be made to dry like raw linseed oil, but, +of course, does not possess the same properties. + +In dipping paints, as in all other kinds of paints, good judgment must +be used in the mixing, and it is absolutely essential that paints for +soft wood, or other absorbent material, contain enough oil, or binder, +to hold the pigment. + + WHITE PASTE PRIMER. EXTRA FINE. + + 300 lbs. white lead (carbonate). + 150 " zinc oxide. + 50 " floated silica. + Grind in + 10 gal. raw linseed oil. + Product = 575 lbs. + +This paste is thinned with turpentine or benzine for dipping purposes +in the following manner:-- + + WHITE DIP FOR METAL. + + 100 lbs. of white paste. + 14 gal. turpentine or benzine. + ½ " pale mixing varnish. + ¼ " white liquid drier. + + WHITE DIP FOR HARD WOOD. + + 100 lbs. white paste. + 13 gal. turpentine or benzine. + 2 " raw linseed oil. + ¼ " pale mixing varnish. + ½ " white liquid drier. + + WHITE DIP FOR SOFT WOOD. + + 100 lbs. white paste. + 12 gal. turpentine or benzine. + 6 " raw linseed oil. + ¾ " white liquid drier. + +The pale mixing varnish and the white liquid drier must not liver with +lead or zinc, otherwise, the paint in the tank will thicken continually. + +The above formula produces one of the best paints known, and it is +certainly not a cheap paint. + + +WHITE SPIRIT. + +As already mentioned, many firms who use the paint dipping process +buy their paint in paste form with the requisite amount of driers +added, and thin it themselves with white spirit, which is a petroleum +product specially prepared for the purpose. Turpentine is, of course, +too expensive, and the spirit costs, under normal conditions, little +more than one-third of the price, although exact figures cannot be +given owing to the fluctuation in the price of these materials. Some +manufacturers use a white spirit, to which has been added from 25 to 30 +per cent. of genuine American turpentine. This, of course, renders the +mixture somewhat expensive, and possesses no advantage excepting that +it gives the characteristic smell of turpentine; but this, it appears, +is not important in a factory, and the pure white spirit is quite +suitable in itself. + +According to Mr. S. Roy Illingworth, A.R.C.Sc., A.I.C., B.Sc., Lond., +expert to the Gas Lighting and Improvement Co., Ltd., turpentine +substitutes were first placed on the market about 30 years ago, and +consisted at that time of a mixture of turpentine and kerosene oil. +Investigations led to the production of white spirit, drying as quickly +as turpentine, or even quicker if desired. Several grades of this +material are made, varying in flash-point from 80° up to 150°. The +flash-point of genuine turpentine, it may be mentioned in passing, is +90° to 91°, and the 90° flash-point spirit is the one usually employed +for painting purposes, although the 80° flash-point would answer +equally well for dipping. The best grade is practically free from smell +and is suitable for admixture in all paints, excepting those having a +bitumastic or asphaltic base, or paints in which very common driers +containing cheap rosin are used. A rough-and-ready test as to the +quality of white spirit is to dip a piece of blotting-paper into it +and hang it up to dry. In the course of an hour-and-a-half it should +have wholly disappeared, leaving no smell or stain behind it. If there +should be a stain the sample should be viewed with suspicion. Another +test of the same kind is to drop a little spirit on a piece of white +writing paper and to leave it for three-quarters of an hour, when it +should have disappeared without leaving a stain. In addition to these +tests it might be advisable to mix a little spirit with paint and to +try it experimentally. + +In the evaporation of turpentine it is usually admitted that a small +proportion, say, from ·25 to ·50, is left behind owing to oxidation. +In the case of best white spirit, however, very little residue will +be left behind, certainly not sufficient quantity to interfere in any +way with the drying. The use of the spirit has proved so successful +that practically nothing else is now employed in paint dipping. It is, +however, important, of course, that the best quality white spirit be +used, but as this is so much less in cost than turpentine, there is no +temptation to use an inferior quality. + + +THE QUANTITY OF PAINT REQUIRED FOR DIPPING AND SPRAYING. + +Speaking generally, rather less paint will be required when it is +applied by dipping, or spraying, than is necessary when it is applied +with a brush. But there are many exceptions, particularly in spraying, +where it may be necessary to give a coat considerably thicker than +usual. + +The following table will be found useful as a guide, but it should be +remembered that the actual space covered will vary considerably with +different grades of paint, so that the table should only be taken as +approximately correct. In cases of doubt, careful calculations should +be made after a given quantity of paint, varnish, or lacquer has been +applied to a surface of known area. This will serve as a useful guide +in ordering in the future. It need hardly be said that the quantity of +paint necessary will vary largely with the surface to which the paint +is applied. For example, an absorbent surface, such as unprimed wood, +will require much more paint than metal work, which absorbs little or +none. + +SPREADING CAPACITY OF PAINTS. + + Per Gallon Per Gallon + on Wood. on Metal. + Priming Coats 60 to 70 90 to 100 + Mixed Paint 2nd coat 85 to 90 100 to 120 + Varnish (on paint) 95 to 110 120 to 130 + Lacquer (on paint) 100 to 115 130 to 150 + Enamel (on paint) 75 to 80 85 to 95 + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PAINTING BY COMPRESSED AIR. + + +THE EVOLUTION OF THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED. + +By way of introduction to the subject of the application of paints, +enamels, lacquers, varnishes, stains, etc., by means of compressed air, +a few notes on the development of the method may be given, if only with +the object of correcting the impression, which sometimes exists, that +such apparatus as is now employed is more or less of an experimental +character. + +The early attempts to apply paint, etc., to articles other than by the +old method of brushing were mainly carried out with a type of machine +still largely used for whitewashing, and the principle adopted was +to partly fill a convenient tank with the paint or whitewash and to +pump a pressure of 35 to 40 lbs. into the tank by means of a suitable +hand pump. The paint was forced through a flexible tube attached to a +connection near the bottom of the tank, and at the other end of the +tube was a simple form of nozzle with a trigger control for the paint. + +It may be said at once that this method was doomed to failure owing to +the underlying principle being at fault. While eminently suitable for +applying whitewash or distemper, it was hopeless for paint of a more +viscous character, owing to the fact that the latter was not atomised +as it issued from the nozzle. + +The type of machines referred to, viz., those which are used for +spraying lime white, distemper, whitewash, etc., are fully described +and illustrated in another chapter. + +After failing to achieve satisfactory results with such simple +apparatus when applying viscous paints, etc., further experiments +were carried out with a somewhat different type, commonly known as +the "kettle" type of sprayer. The principle employed was to employ +compressed air, supplied, in this case, not from a hand pump but some +form of power compressor, and at a pressure varying from 20 to 50 lbs. +per square inch. + +The air was delivered through a nozzle controlled by a convenient +plunger or trigger type of valve, and impinged at an angle across a +similar nozzle communicating with the paint receptacle of the sprayer. +The action of the air impinging on or across the paint nozzle created +a vacuum in the paint tube, and thereby sucked up the paint from the +receptacle and gave a fan-shaped spray. Up to a point these experiments +proved satisfactory, but still did not overcome the difficulty of +successfully dealing with intricate shapes, small articles, and +particularly in applying heavy paints with fair percentages of varnish +embodied therein. + + +THE CONCENTRIC FORM OF SPRAY. + +Attention was therefore directed to the concentric jet form of sprayer, +and this is now almost universally employed where painting, enamelling, +etc., is carried out on a large scale. + +The advantages of the latter type are many, and in addition to being +designed, in most cases, to produce the greatest effect with the least +possible consumption of air, they are also capable of applying the +paint in very finely divided particles to the smallest work, such as +buttons, imitation jewellery, small electrical camera parts, or of +applying silky coats to such large work as motor bodies, constructional +iron work, large tinplate work, agricultural machinery, domestic gas +apparatus, etc. at a speed approximating to four to ten times the speed +of handwork, and giving a far superior finish, in many cases with less +coats. + +Many people who contemplate the subject of painting with a spray +think only of a smother of paint being discharged from a nozzle. They +are not aware that the colour can be better controlled in a suitably +constructed spray than is possible with a hog's hair brush. + +The flow of paint is stopped or started instantly, and the amount +of paint delivered is at all times under perfect control, so that a +quantity corresponding to that delivered by a ¼-inch brush or pencil +can be increased to the quantity distributed by a 4-inch brush in a +single stroke. In other words, you have a tool which is the equivalent +of half a dozen brushes ranging from ¼ inch to 4 inch in width. + +A little practice is, of course, necessary to master the instrument, +but nothing like the practice which is required for successful painting +with hog's hair. + +The principal care is to put on the paint until the beads of paint +coalesce. Too much would make the paint run, too little would not leave +the surface covered. When properly done the surface is superior to +other painting, as the hairs of the brush are not dragged through it to +disturb the evenness of the surface. + +The air pressure required for painting varies with the consistency of +the paint, its viscosity as well as its thickness. Some liquids have +a quality of stringiness or hanging together which require a higher +pressure to break up. + +Thin lacquers and varnishes may be sprayed with 18 or 20 lbs. to the +square inch, and from that to about 50 lbs. will cover most classes of +paint. + +The lowest pressure at which a paint breaks up is the best pressure to +use, as high pressures have a tendency to make more dust and put fine +particles of paint in the air, where they are not wanted. + +The volume of air has also to be considered. This varies with the size +of the aperture through which it exhausts and to some extent with the +pressure--for a small nozzle such as is used for lacquers and thin +liquids, say, one cubic foot of free air per minute, and up to 3 cubic +feet for oil paints. + +When it is stated that a pistol sprayer consumes say two cubic ft. of +free air per minute, it means when working almost continuously, but as +the periods of actual work do not represent more than two-thirds of the +actual number of working hours, there is a margin left. Nevertheless, +it would be unsafe to state a lower figure, for in some cases where +convenient feeding of the work to the operator is arranged, the +consumption of air is continuous. + +It should also be remembered that the air is used for other purposes, +i.e., a small amount is used to provide a pressure feed of colour to +the instrument in many cases, and where a heater is employed, a small +amount of air is bypassed through the pistol to keep this warm when +spraying is momentarily stopped. Although the practice of heating the +air slightly increases the ultimate efficiency of a given compressor, +yet it is unwise to count too much upon this fact. + +In submitting the following figures as to air consumption, the +Airostyle pistol has been taken as a type:-- + +For work with a tip and needle of 1 m/m. dia., 1 cub. ft. per minute; +1½ m/m. dia., 1¾ cub. ft.; 2 m/m. dia., 2½ cub. ft.; 2½ m/m. dia., 3 +cub. ft.; 2½-3 m/m. dia., 3½-4 cub. ft.; 4½ m/m. dia., 5 cub. ft. + +These consumptions naturally vary slightly with the adjustment of the +nozzle of the pistol, but they are from actual tests and so may be +taken as authoritative. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +TYPES OF SPRAYING APPARATUS. + + +We now come to a consideration of the different appliances by means +of which the actual spraying is effected, and in order to avoid any +suspicion of partiality the review of instruments, etc., in use will be +dealt with alphabetically. + + +THE AEROGRAPH. + +[Illustration: Fig. 35--THE AEROGRAPH SPRAYING INSTRUMENT.] + +First, therefore, comes the Aerograph Co.'s Spray Painter. This +instrument is of the concentric jet type, and was one of the first of +the kind made in Europe. It is capable of excellent work. In Fig. 35 +is shown one form of the handpiece. A flexible tube for compressed +air connects with the nipple A. The finger lever F controls both the +air valve and a colour valve in the nozzle N, so that little or much +colour may be allowed to pass out into the current of escaping air. + +The colour may be supplied under pressure, through a flexible tube from +a large paint pot, and pass through the tube P to the nozzle N, or in +smaller quantities from a cup C, which is attachable at B, and when so +attached cuts off the supply through the tube P. This cup is useful +when small quantities of colour are wanted with frequent changes. A +ball joint permits work to be done in either an upward or downward +direction. + +[Illustration: Fig. 36.--FORM OF AEROGRAPH SUITABLE FOR SPRAYING +VERTICALLY OR AT AN ANGLE.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 37.--THE AEROGRAPH ELECTRIC MOTOR OUTFIT.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 38.--PAINTING A GASOMETER.] + +In Fig. 36 is illustrated a pistol pattern of the Aerograph, which has +a large side cup which can be sprayed at any angle, being adjusted to +facilitate spraying in an upward, downward or horizontal position. Thus +work can be done by it on table, wall or ceiling. The cup referred to +contains the paint or other liquid to be sprayed, and a series of cups +may be provided for a quick change of colour, if desired, as will be +readily understood. + +In cases where electric power is available, the electric motor outfit +shown in Fig. 37 will be found very serviceable. It may be described +as a "spray painter" outfit complete, and it includes a 1 h.p. motor +mounted on a trolley ready for use, which can be employed for many +different classes of work. In Fig. 38 it is shown being used for +spraying paint on a gas holder. It would appear that this outfit might +be employed for ship bottom painting, provided that the necessary +scaffolding or its equivalent were available. + +[Illustration: Fig. 39.--SMALL AEROGRAPH FOR DELICATE WORK, LINING, +LETTERING, ETC.] + +Going to the other extreme, a form of Aerograph, suitable for very +delicate work, is shown in Fig. 39. This may be used for photograph +retouching, pottery, and small decorative work generally--in fact, it +is suitable for any work requiring delicacy of work. + +In another chapter the subject of artistic work done by means of +compressed air is considered at some length, and a number of specimens +of work executed by this process are given. + + +THE AERON. + +The system of spraying is manufactured by the De Vilbiss Manufacturing +Co., Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A., and 71, Newman Street, London, W. + +The method consists, briefly, in spraying stain, shellac, varnish, or +enamel, as the case may be, on the work by the means of compressed air, +under a pressure varying from 30 to 80 pounds per square inch. + +The necessary outfit comprises the Aeron sprayer itself--which is made +in two styles and several sizes--the air compressor and receiver, an +air transformer set, for regulating the pressure and purifying the air +supply, a steel Fumexer, in which the work is done, and an exhaust fan +to disperse the vapours or fumes resulting from the atomising of the +finishing material. Besides these necessary appliances, turn-tables are +used where advisable to facilitate the handling of the work while the +"aeroning" is being done. + +The two styles of Aerons are shown in the illustrations, each connected +with an air transformer set to which the air supply pipe is attached. +In one style of Aeron the finishing material is carried in a pint +or quart capacity cup forming a part of the Aeron itself. The other +machine takes its supply from a five-gallon container suspended above +the nozzle. The work is placed in the Fumexer on the turn-table, which +can be tilted at any convenient angle and revolved by hand, and is +coated on the top, sides, and front, with the drawers in place. Drawers +may also be finished inside by this process. + +A full coat can be applied to a vertical surface as well as to one in +a horizontal position. There are two reasons why. It is impossible to +put on a perfectly uniform coat with a brush, especially on a vertical +surface, and runs and sags are caused by the heavier portions of the +coat dropping down over the lighter coated spots. With the Aeron a +uniform coat of varnish is applied, and it is a fact that as the coat +is the same over the entire surface it will not run, even if it is +as heavy as a brush coat, which would show sags. The second reason +is that an Aeron coat sets somewhat quicker than a brush coat, owing +to a slight evaporation of the solvent caused by the action of the +compressed air. Again, since the coat is uniform it sets uniformly. For +the same reason the final drying is hastened to some degree. + +In brushing flat horizontal surfaces where a heavy coat is applied it +is almost impossible to avoid fatty edges, and in brushing carved or +ornamental relief work the low spots are sure to collect more varnish +than the high places. Corners and edges in panel work are also causes +of difficulty in this respect. In using the Aeron the surface varnished +is covered uniformly and evenly, whether flat, panelled or carved, with +one sweep of the machine at an even speed. Consequently, heavy spots, +runs and fatty edges are entirely avoided. + +In applying finishes with the Aeron a slight reduction of the material +with turpentine or other solvents is logical; with some materials, +necessary. Reducing is logical on account of the slight evaporation +of solvent previously mentioned. In other words, in order to have the +Aeron application of the same consistency after reaching the surface +as it is when brushed, a reduction of from 5 to 10 per cent. would be +required. This is not always desirable by any means, especially in the +case of the heavy gloss coat spoken of. Whenever a free-flowing coach +varnish is used, reducing is not necessary. Conditions in different +plants govern this matter to a great extent. + +Rubbing varnishes are usually reduced slightly, as a full-bodied, heavy +coat is not required, also because a rubbing varnish does not flow as +readily as a coach varnish. On account of this evenness of the coat, +an Aeron coat of rubbing varnish is somewhat more easily and quickly +rubbed either by hand or by machine. + +Undercoat varnishes are reduced to some extent for Aeron work for +similar reasons. They are also more easily sanded than when brushed. + +Pigments, primers or first coaters are Aeroned to better advantage if +the pigment content is less than for brushing. It is also sometimes +desirable and expedient to use a more finely ground pigment. + +Flat finishes are applied to great advantage, and, because of greater +uniformity of surface, more closely resemble a rubbed finish than when +brushed. + +This spray offers perhaps greater advantages in the application of +shellacs than with other materials. It is a matter of common knowledge +that shellac is very difficult to brush, while, on the other hand, it +sprays easily. Instead of cutting the gum 4 or 5 pounds to the gallon +of alcohol, as for brushing, the material is used in the proportion +of 2½ to 3 pounds of gum to the gallon. The sprayed coat of shellac +is perfectly smooth and uniform, and requires practically no sanding +compared with the work necessary to sand a brushed coat. + +The Aeron is simple and easy to operate, and a week's work is +sufficient to make an efficient and expert operator of the average man. + +The work is clean, and, what is more, is healthful and sanitary, as all +vapours and fumes are removed from the finishing room by the exhaust +fan used with each outfit. + +Cleaning the Aeron is accomplished by spraying a solvent through the +nozzle instead of the finishing material, and the whole machine may be +placed in a can of thinner overnight if desired. It is necessary to +clean the Aeron but once a day if it is used more or less continuously. +The whole operation of cleaning may be performed in a minute or two. + +There is usually some loss in finishing material when the Aeron is +used, though this is hardly noticeable except on small work, when it +may amount to 15 or 20 per cent. In many cases there is no waste, in +others an actual saving--where coats are eliminated by the use of the +machine. On an average, however, there is some slight loss--largely +of the solvent used in reducing the material. In any event, however, +the waste is offset many times by the saving effected in time and +labour, without taking into consideration the saving in floor space, +the greater ease in handling the work, the better quality of the work +done, the advantage to the workmen, and, finally, the general all-round +convenience of the Aeron system. + + +DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS. + +We will now give a description of the illustrations of the different +parts of the Aeron. Fig. 40 shows the attached cup straight barrel +Aeron, which can be fitted with either metal or glass cups. Metal cup +is the standard equipment. + +Attached cup Aerons can be furnished with four sizes of nozzles: +F--.047" dia., E--.070" dia., D--.081" dia., and C--.094" dia. These +nozzles are selected according to the nature of the work that is to be +done. + +Fig. 41 shows an attached cup angle barrel Aeron, a type of advantage +in spraying work lying in a horizontal position. + +In some classes of work, where the liquid to be sprayed is apt to +settle, an agitator is required, such as is shown in Fig. 42. + +In Fig. 43 is shown an attached cup Aeron with type V double nozzle +spray head. This type is especially adapted for the finishing of large +surfaces, such as automobile bodies, case furniture, etc. + +The V spray head shown separately in the above illustration is +interchangeable with the single nozzle spray head, and can be attached +to any standard Aeron. + +Type G Aeron is illustrated in Fig. 44. The nozzle is ·027 inch in +diameter This Aeron can also be furnished with other sizes of nozzles +to special order. + +[Illustration: Fig. 40.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 41.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 42.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 43.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 44.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 45.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 46.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 47.] + +In Fig. 45 are shown various attachments used with this form of +sprayer. At the top left-hand corner is a cup holder and screws, and on +the right, metal or glass cups. Beneath are cleaning pail and length of +pressure tubing with connections. + +Fig. 46 shows the construction of the Aeron, the parts being +disassembled for ease of cleaning. + +We now come to the type of Aerons which take their supply of material +from a five-gallon tank placed above the level of the nozzle, the fluid +flowing down by gravity. This arrangement offers all the advantages of +the pressure feed tank type with none of its disadvantages. It is shown +in Figs. 47 and 48. + +The next type is termed the M Aeron with V-A spray head and is +illustrated in Fig. 47. + +There is the same advantage in the use of this Aeron as with the +former type in that the supply of material is taken from a container +placed overhead, the fluid flowing down by gravity. The slightest pull +upon the trigger releases the material instantly--the varying of the +pressure adjusts the flow automatically. As with the type L there is +but one adjustment. + +This type Aeron is built for large work. It produces a "wide spray," +similar to the V spray head, which covers large surfaces with +remarkable rapidity. + +The nozzle can be turned so that a full, fan-like spray is projected +horizontally, vertically, or in any intermediate position. + +A container with agitator and hose for types L and M Aerons is shown in +Fig. 50. + +It is drawn from one sheet of steel and is heavily tinned to prevent +rust. + +The standard and block and tackle (Fig. 49) are furnished for holding +the container above the level of the Aeron. The block and tackle, +which is of the safety, self-locking type, is recommended where it is +possible to obtain a ceiling fastening. The standard (Fig. 51) can be +used if the block and tackle is impracticable. + +The air transformer set (Fig. 52) is for the purpose of regulating +and purifying the compressed air, and is a necessity with each Aeron +installed. The air duster (D) is a valuable addition to the equipment +for removing loose dust or dirt from the work before finishing. + +The auto-filter (S) is for removing dust, grit, and oil from the +compressed air. The auto-regulator and gauge (R) makes possible +the regulating of the air pressure between 5 and 80 pounds, simply +by turning a thumb-screw. The auto-condenser (C) is for separating +moisture from the compressed air. + +Full details of the air compressor and other special appliances used in +connection with the Aeron will be found elsewhere. + +[Illustration: Fig. 48.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 49.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 50.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 51.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 52.] + + +THE AIROSTYLE. + +Next comes the Airostyle and Lithos, Ltd., with their "Airostyle" type +Record, also a concentric jet-type, an illustration of which is given +in Fig. 55 and a section of which we give also in Fig. 54. This type +is largely used for small, medium or large work, and is considered to +be extremely sensitive and very fast in operation. It has a gunmetal +casting for the main body, and all wearing parts are of steel, tempered +or case hardened. + +It is supplied either with or without pressure fed accessories, +although the makers are strong advocates of pressure feeds for most +work, and with which they have met considerable success. + +In addition to the Record Pistol this firm makes other types, and +in order must be mentioned the type "Ultra" for use where frequent +changes of colour may be necessary, and where no continuous colour feed +is required. This type is specially adapted for stencilling in oil +colours, and is illustrated in Fig. 56. + +Another type about to be introduced is shown in Fig. 53, for small and +medium work, simplicity of construction and ease of adjustment being +specially claimed for this type. This type is called the Airostyle +Pistol "M." + +Yet other type of Airostyle may be mentioned for smaller work, namely, +the "Stencil and Universal Lustre and Photo," which is illustrated in +Fig. 53. + +These types are mainly employed for decorative work, and give a very +wide selection, but save that they are employed in process work and for +textile goods, they do not enter into the scope of this book. + +[Illustration: Fig. 53.--AIROSTYLE TYPE PHOTO.] + +As the pistol type is used for all general painting and japanning, the +adjustment of this may be advantageously explained in greater detail, +and referring to Fig. 54 the instructions are as follows:-- + +[Illustration: Fig. 54.--SECTION SHOWING CONSTRUCTION OF THE AIROSTYLE.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 55.--AIROSTYLE TYPE "RECORD" WITH UNION FOR +CONTINUOUS SUPPLY. A.--SMALL PRESSURE BOWL. B.--SMALL SIMPLE BOWL.] + +If a wide spray is required the nozzle 8 is unscrewed to a small +extent and then locked by means of a small ring 8a, but if a narrow +spray is wished for, the nozzle 8 is screwed on farther and locked in +position. On all-round work one position serves, that is, a position +in which the recessed point of the nozzle coincides with the end of +the tip 9, which just allows the needle 5 to project through it. If it +should happen that a leakage of colour occurs through 9 when spraying +is suspended, this may be obviated by giving an increased tension +to spring 15 which may be obtained by screwing in the spring box 16 +slightly. It may happen that some foreign matter becomes lodged in +9, in which case the pistol from the colour tube must be first +disconnected, the nose 4 removed and the parts brushed or swilled +with turps or spirit. This having been effected, the nose 4 will be +replaced, care being taken that the washer 3 beds down on its seating +in the body of the pistol. + +[Illustration: Fig. 56.--AIROSTYLE TYPE "ULTRA."] + +It is well to provide for any possible contingencies which may arise, +and it may, therefore, be remarked that if any leakage of air occurs +through the air valve 19, it will probably be caused by some grit to be +found on the face of air valve washer 20, and to remove this the handle +can be taken off by unscrewing the milled nut 25 and the valve body +23 in order to get to the air valve. The replacement of the parts is +simple. + +The adjustment of the pistol for working is made as follows:--First +release the screw 14 on cross head 13, and while the instrument is +connected up with the air supply, slightly withdraw the trigger 12, +allowing a small amount of air to pass through the nozzle. While +maintaining the trigger in this position, move the cross head along the +needle until it just bears against the cam 10, and in this position +clamp the same by screwing home the clamping screw 14. + +[Illustration: Fig. 57.--THE AIROSTYLE PISTOL "M."] + +Another important point is to see that the lubrication of the +compressor is carefully watched; the sight feed lubricator on top holds +sufficient lubricant for 10 working days and is capable of adjustment +by means of a needle valve. It can, therefore, be easily set. The main +bearings are ring oiling and only need occasional attention. The fan +bearings are ball bearings and only need attention once in six months. + + +THE EUREKA SPRAYING MACHINE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 58.--THE CRANE "EUREKA."] + +[Illustration: Fig. 59.--THE CRANE "RECORD."] + +An inspection of Figs. 58 and 59 will show that this machine is of +entirely different construction to those already described. The +advantages claimed are the simplicity in construction, the absence of +complicated parts which might get out of order, and the fact that the +machines cannot clog in use. The operation is as follows: The feed +pipe from air tank should be connected up with a high-pressure hose +to the sprayer and a fluid nozzle is then adjusted so that the tip of +the nozzle is in alignment with the centre of the air nozzle. This +adjustment varies according to the thickness of material. When using +thin liquids the fluid nozzle should be slightly below the centre of +the air nozzle. When ready for spraying the valve is pressed, and +this releases the air, which blows through the air nozzle, across +the top of fluid nozzle and draws up the material from the inside, +spraying the fluid on to the work. The shape of the spray is that of +a fan. The air pressure required varies from 20 to 50 lbs. according +to the viscosity of the material being dealt with. As a rule the best +results are obtained when the machine is held from 4 to 6 in. away +from the work. The Fredk. Crane Chemical Co., Armoury Close, Bordesley +Green, Birmingham, are the agents for these machines, and it is also +manufactured in the United States. The remarks given under the head of +"Exhaust," "Air Compressor," etc., will apply to this machine also. +It may be observed that the cup holding the metal can be very quickly +changed, so that a variety of colours may be sprayed one after the +other with very little trouble. The price of the machine (which may be +provided with an agitator if required) is low. + + +"THE INVINCIBLE." + +These sprayers are designed on an excellent "universal movement" +principle and are particularly well constructed throughout. They +further claim distinction on the score that every section is an +independent unit of standardized pattern, and as spare parts are always +available, replacements and renewals can be made instantly with the +minimum of trouble and cost. + +They are made in several types to suit varying classes of work, +ranging from the fine lining and shading of small objects required +by artists, etc., to commercial painting on the scale practised by +motor car manufacturers and other large users; and important points in +their favour are the special facilities provided for quick cleaning +after use, their completely enclosed mechanism, which prevents the +penetration of any dirt, colour or liquid to working parts, and the +adjustment of the needle so that no pressure or damage can occur at any +time to the colour tip, even if trigger is allowed to snap forward. + +Automatic control is also provided for work requiring a given volume +of colour, it being only necessary to turn a regulator to ensure a +constant flow of any desired density. + +The "Invincible" Pistol Sprayer type "E" is illustrated in section +(Fig. 60). The body is gun metal with working parts of finest steel, +highly polished where necessary to ensure smooth working and minimum of +wear. The instruments have a handsomely nickelled finish. + +WORKING.--When connector (4) is attached to colour cup or extension +cock for paint pot and connector (18) affixed to air-line, the air +brush is ready to commence work. + +DUSTING.--No separate or special dusting attachment is necessary with +the "Invincible" apparatus, as a slight pull on trigger (20) carries +back steel sleeve (7), depressing steel ball (15) and bringing the air +valve (19) into "open" position. This allows a stream of air to pass +forward through air channel (21) to nozzle (1) and the projection of +this upon surface to be treated removes all dust. + +[Illustration: Fig. 60.--INVINCIBLE SPRAYER TYPE "E" IN SECTION.] + +SPRAYING.--A continuation of the trigger pull carries back the spring +buffer (8) and opens the control barrel (11) of the needle valve (3) +allowing colour to flow through colour tip (2), at the end of which +it meets the vacuum created by the air stream, and is then (atomized) +broken up into thousands of minute particles which coalesce upon +meeting their object, and form a perfectly level, smooth and even +surface. + +CONTROL.--The trigger control is very sensitive, giving a spraying +range from a fine line to the fullest flush of the instrument's +capacity. For automatic control it is only necessary to adjust +regulator (No. 14). + +[Illustration: Fig. 61.] + +CLEANING.--By unscrewing union nut (5) the complete fore-part may be +removed for cleaning without interfering with any other part of the +mechanism, therefore the operation of cleaning is always quick and +thorough, even when sticky, heavy liquids have been used. + +The movement for the above sprayer applies to all "Invincible" +sprayers. Type "A" for artists, miniature tinting, black and white +process work, etc. Type "B" for Christmas and show card work, etc. Type +"C" for ceramic work, posters and so on. + +A cheaper series is also made which, whilst lacking some of the +refinements of the standard models, are reliable, and soundly made +instruments. + +The patentees and manufacturers of "Invincible" Air Brushes are the Air +Brush Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Pneumatic Works, 13, Arlington Street, +Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C., who also provide all accessories for +complete spraying installation, such as air-compressors, air-receivers, +air valves, reducing valves, condensers and clarifiers, pressure +paint pots and paint pot stands, exhaust benches, fans, turn-tables, +automatic cut-outs, motors, etc., of which complete details will be +sent upon request. + + +THE MIDLAND SPRAYER. + +[Illustration: Fig. 65.--THE MIDLAND SPRAYER.] + +From what has already been said, it will be obvious that the most +important part of a spraying plant is the correct construction of the +actual sprayer or spraying pistol. The Midland Fan Co., Ltd., of 46, +Aston Road, Birmingham, have placed on the market a sprayer which +is shown in Fig. 65, and this, we learn, has given a great deal of +satisfaction. Its principal claim to superiority is the simplicity of +construction, for one reason because the sprayer may be used by those +who have but little knowledge of mechanics. The construction permits of +easy cleaning, which is of vital importance, and for this purpose the +needle can be removed by a turn of the fingers and replaced with equal +ease. The illustration shows the larger pistol, and it may be mentioned +that smaller sizes are made for finer work. + + +THE PAASCHE AIR BRUSH. + +[Illustration: Fig. 66.--THE "PAASCHE" SPRAYER.] + +This spraying machine is manufactured by the Paasche Air Brush Co., +9, South Clinton Street, Chicago, in various sizes, for spraying by +compression air liquids of all kinds. The above illustration shows what +is known as the "Three in One" quick action model "S" brush, and is +recommended for use with heavy material. Instead of the paint pot being +at the top an underslung jar with aluminium cover as shown on the lower +part of Fig. 67 may be used. This figure shows the same air brush or +sprayer with one gallon container; in either case the spraying of the +colour or material is quickly done. The flow of the liquid is entirely +independent of the air circulation. An agitator is provided to keep +the material well stirred, and should be used with all liquids which +have a tendency to settle, such as bronzes, enamels, paints, etc. The +coupling or taper stem of the flexible metal tube or bottles are easily +detachable, and one material after the other can be used without +stopping. If the underslung jar or the gravity pot be used no agitator +is necessary. + +This instrument is made in much larger sizes. The general form of +apparatus is shown in Fig. 68, the special finishing hood with exhaust +fan being in this case employed, while a paint container is suspended +on an adjustable stand. In this case a chair is shown being painted. + +[Illustration: Fig. 67.--LARGER SIZE "PAASCHE."] + +A somewhat novel apparatus for separating oil and water is that shown +in Fig. 69. This is constructed to obviate the trouble which is +sometimes caused by the oil and water in the air main mixing. It is +connected at the end of the air main as close to the air regulator +or air outlet to the brush as convenient. Oil gets into the air main +through the piston of the compressor, and will in time saturate the +walls of the air pipes. The condensation of water which is due to +changes of temperature makes the iron pipes sweat, and a considerable +amount of water is accumulated in this manner. The simple appliance +shown in the illustration will remove this. + +Fig. 70 shows the Paasche Automatic electric controller which is used +for automatic starting and stopping motor driven compressor outfits +where from 1/8th to 1 horse-power motors are used. + +[Illustration: Fig. 68.--GENERAL FORM OF "PAASCHE" SPRAYER.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 69.--"PAASCHE" OIL AND WATER SEPARATOR.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 70.--"PAASCHE" AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CONTROLLER.] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +SUPPLY OF COMPRESSED AIR--PAINT SUPPLY--EXHAUST. + + +The forms of spraying apparatus having been selected, consideration +must next be given to the following details, viz.:--(1) The supply and +degree of pressure of the compressed air. (2) The form and location of +the paint supply. (3) The arrangement of an exhaust installation to +carry away the fumes and waste paint. These will be dealt with in their +order. + +It is clear that attention has to be paid to a convenient arrangement +of reducing valves controlling the pressure of air to the sprayer, and +also providing, what is in many cases indispensable, a pressure feed of +colour to the sprayer, either from a large pot mounted over the hood, +or a special type of bowl screwed on to the sprayer. + +Some makers still advocate a simple type with small bowl screwed on to +the sprayer, and no means of controlling the pressure save by adjusting +the safety valve on the main tank, thus necessitating that each +operator shall work at the same pressure, arguing that reducing valves, +pressure feeds, etc., etc., are unnecessary refinements, but it may be +safely claimed that such opinions are made without due consideration of +the advantages of the more complete system, and that the consensus of +opinion is in favour of such refinements, giving, as they undoubtedly +do, a further increase in speed, and, in many cases, making practicable +what would otherwise be impossible, as well as ensuring that whatever +work is to be done, the most suitable pressure is instantly available. + +In the equipment of an efficient compressed air plant for painting, +the type of compressor employed, and the arrangement of the air main, +should first be decided upon. + +The compressors must be designed to give an absolutely pure supply of +air free from oil or grit, and the air-main must be so arranged as +to avoid any trouble due to condensation. This is overcome, first, +by using, at least for high-class work, a horizontal air compressor, +water cooled, with a sensitive sight-feed needle valve lubricator to +the cylinder, capable of delicate adjustment, so as to avoid excess +of lubrication. Needless to say, the machining of the cylinder, +piston, etc., of the compressor must be of the highest class to ensure +satisfactory running under such conditions. Then a suitable air filter +must be fitted to the intake of the compressor. This filter should be +of large diameter, and have a gauze screen and wad of cotton wool. + +The air valves should be so arranged that they may be removed without +breaking the water joint, and be so arranged that they may be taken out +and replaced in a few seconds. + +The main tank must be provided with safety valve drain cock and +pressure gauge, and the air main, of not less than ¾ in. diameter +barrel, preferably steam barrel, must be arranged to travel in a +downward direction from the main tank towards an end station tank, +which is a duplicate in miniature of the main tank or receiver. All +branches must be taken upwards off the main. Such an arrangement, if +care is taken that the end station tank has its relief valve set to +blow off before the main tank safety valve acts, ensures that all +moisture is collected in the end station tank. + +The Airostyle and Lithos, Ltd., claim to be the originators of such a +system, and it is here explained in print for the first time. + +All experiments with a view to scrubbing or purifying the compressed +air of moisture, oils, etc., on the air main side of the main tank, +other than the above simple expedient, have proved more or less +failures, either from want of appreciation of the increased capillary +attraction set up in the tanks and air main, or from the difficulty +of satisfactorily and frequently cleaning out such scrubber as may be +inserted, and the incidental difficulty created in the prevention of +dust being carried out of the scrubber throughout the system. + +It need hardly be said that ample air must be provided in order +to have sufficient pressure always available for the full number +of operators employed, and this point is one which cannot be too +strongly emphasized, for in too many cases firms have installed small +compressors and have been misled as to their maximum capacity, mainly +through over anxiety on the part of the salesman to secure his order +for apparatus, he apparently having been afraid to ask a high figure +for a really efficient compressor. + +[Illustration: Fig. 71.--AIROSTYLE AIR COMPRESSOR. [CAPACITY 40 CUBIC +FEET PER MINUTE.]] + +[Illustration: Fig. 72.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 73.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 74.--DEVILBISS AIR COMPRESSOR.] + +Another point of importance is that unloading devices, cutting in and +out automatically should be avoided at all cost where compressed air is +to be used for painting. The reasons are that it is much better to use +the surplus air for the purpose of getting rid of the condensation in +the way already indicated, and that in addition most unloading devices +are in the nature of compromises, and while saving only a small amount +of power materially increase the wear and tear by throwing the load +in the reverse direction on the gudgeon pin, large and small end of +connecting rod and main bearings, and by causing a hammering action to +be set up. + +This applies in particular to air compressors with automatic valves +where the device works by means of a valve closing the air intake +entirely, and so setting up a vacuum in the cylinder. + +A much better plan is to arrange the compressor to run at a speed +sufficient to give a slight reserve of air above what is needed and to +have it running constantly during the whole working period. + +This may seem at first sight an arbitrary attitude to take up, but it +is the result of considerable experience, and need not be considered as +extravagant when it is borne in mind that air compressors of more than +40 to 50 cubic feet per minute capacity are seldom employed for such +work, and so the maximum power absorbed is light. + +The compressor illustrated in Fig. 71 is designed and made by the +Airostyle and Lithos, Ltd., and has a number of well thought out +refinements, both as to accessibility and form of valve bodies and +valves, and also with regard to the filtration of the air and the +lubrication of the cylinder. Ring oiler bearings are employed for the +crankshaft, and the compressor throughout is as carefully built as a +gas engine. The makers claim that an absolutely pure supply of air is +delivered by this compressor at all speeds up to 350 r.p.m. + +Water cooling is employed and very ample cooling surface is provided, +not only for the cylinder but also the cylinder cover is cooled, and +has the valves located in pockets in same. + +An air compressor is shown in Fig. 72, and another one, which is water +cooled, in Fig. 73. These are made by the DeVilbiss Co. + +In Fig. 74 are illustrated various forms of air compressors; a pressure +gauge, safety valve and drain cock are furnished with each receiver. +These tanks have welded seams and are tested to 200 lbs. pressure. + +[Illustration: Fig. 75.--AEROGRAPH AIR PUMP AND TANK COMBINED.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 76.--THE AEROGRAPH TYPE OF AIR PUMP FOR LARGER +INSTALLATIONS.] + +One of the Aerograph types of power pump and tank is shown below. It +is strongly built, easy working, and is fitted with metal extending +rings and metal valves, which will supply enough air for three spraying +painters. In the illustration is shown the pump fitted with an +automatic regulator, but this may be dispensed with if desired. The +regulator, therefore, will be found of great value, not only in saving +power, but also in the wear and tear of the pump. The tank is fitted +with an air gauge and a speed valve, and the dimensions of the air +receiver are 18 inches diameter by 30 inches high, and the pump has a +bore of 3 in. while the stroke is 7 in. The power required is 1 h.p. + +[Illustration: Fig. 77.--THE AIROSTYLE PLANT--GENERAL ARRANGEMENT OF +ACCESSORIES.] + + +THE SUPPLY OF PAINT. + +For lacquering or coating small articles a spray may be used which is +constructed with a cup to contain the paint, but for any heavy painting +where large surfaces are to be covered quickly a cup on the handpiece +is not of much utility, and it is necessary to provide a means to keep +the supply of paint to the handpiece continuous. This is done in two +ways: By an overhead paint pot, allowing gravity to carry the paint to +the handpiece, or by an enclosed paint pot with a regulating valve and +pressure applied to the surface of the paint by compressed air. In some +situations all that is required is an overhead paint pot, the weight +of the liquid feeding it to the handpiece. An enclosed paint pot has +the very great advantage that (with a proper valve) the feed of the +paint can be regulated to a nice degree. The paint pot shown in Fig. +77 has a damped cover which is capable of being quickly removed, and a +low-pressure feed to the paint is obtained from a reducing valve. This +can be set so that the paint can be forced to the handpiece to secure a +uniform flow whether the paint be thick or thin. + + +THE EXHAUST INSTALLATION. + +We next reach the question of arranging a satisfactory form of exhaust +installation, which has been found to be absolutely essential in order +to insure the health of the operator. + +This exhaust question obviously opened up special problems in the +direction of convenient forms of hoods or work benches, so arranged as +to carry away the fumes created by the paint distributor without unduly +inconveniencing the operator by reason of the draught set up. + +By some firms use is made of the exhaust to collect the residue or +surplus paint drawn off by employing a ventilator, which sets up a +medium pressure, and interposing between the outlets of the hood and +the air shaft some form of perforated screen or screens which are +readily removable, or in some cases revolvable and self-cleaning. + +Where slow drying japans are employed, such saving is of considerable +advantage, although it must not thereby be assumed that an extravagant +wastage of paint occurs, for it must be borne in mind that with a +spraying plant there is no loss through evaporation from open pots and +gradual drying up of the paint on the sides of the pots, or absorption +of same in the brushes employed. Actually, therefore, although it +would appear that considerable wastage occurs, yet in practice it is +found to be economical, and even where intricate forms, such as cycle +frames, wheels, carriers, etc., or bedstead work are to be dealt with +no undue loss is experienced, and such small loss as may be noted is +compensated for ten times over in the saving of time effected. + +When selecting a ventilator for the plant, the fact must not be +overlooked that the fine particles of paint, etc., drawn off by +the ventilator gradually coat the blades of the fan, sufficiently +to materially increase the friction, and to absolutely prevent the +exhausting of the air should multiple bladed fans be adopted. + +Experience has shown, therefore, that for such work as compressed air +painting multiple bladed fans are to be avoided, even though these are +scientifically designed and admirable for many classes of exhaust work. + +Not more than 8 to 10 blades should be employed, and there must be +no belt-drive taken through the air shaft, this being a source of +continual annoyance in addition to creating a loss of efficiency. + +Where simple impellor fans are used, long spindles should be employed +permitting an outside drive, but a better type of fan is the central +draught type, preferably ball bearing, as these run for years with +no attention save occasionally filling up with grease and periodical +cleaning. + +It may be argued that many of the foregoing remarks are not properly +within the scope of this book, yet on further consideration it must be +conceded that they all have a bearing upon the ultimate efficiency of +the installation, and are the outcome of years of experience. + +When arranging a compressed air painting plant considerable thought +must be given to the most convenient position, and where stoves for +artificially drying on the paint, japan, etc., are employed, care must +be taken that a sufficient number of these stoves are provided to give +the plant full scope, for a very material saving per annum is effected, +additional to that accruing through the labour-saving effect of the +apparatus, by the fact that the stoves are filled more quickly. + +Where bulky work is to be handled, the plant must be so arranged as to +give ample room for getting the work to and from the hoods. + +The volume of exhaust air will depend on the character of the paint +and the size of the cabinet. For large articles a large cabinet is +required, and a proportionately larger fan will be needed. From 500 to +1,000 cubic feet of air per minute should be supplied for each worker. +A hurricane of air is not required; all that is needed is to keep the +air moving away from the worker, and the ordinary type of wall fan may +be sufficient for a simple installation, but cannot be used for large +plants. + + +AIROSTYLE CENTRAL DRAUGHT STEEL PLATE FAN. + +This fan is designed and made by the Airostyle and Lithos, Ltd., and +is invariably specified in all their medium and large installations +for compressed air painting. It is very carefully designed and built +specially for the work, and is fitted with ball-bearings. + +As will be seen from the illustration, Fig. 79, it is worth serious +attention on the part of intending users. + +It is made in many sizes, from 2,000 to 23,000 cubic feet capacity, +and is very largely used, not only for Airostyle plants, but also for +general ventilation work. + +[Illustration: Fig. 78.--THE PAASCHE MOTOR DRIVEN FAN.] + +In the above figure is shown a motor-driven propeller fan manufactured +by the Paasche Air Brush Co. It is made in various sizes, varying in +air delivery from 1,200 to 10,000 cubic feet per minute. + +[Illustration: Fig. 79.--THE AIROSTYLE CENTRE DRAUGHT STEEL PLATE FAN.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 80.--THE DEVILBISS AUTO COOL ELECTRIC EXHAUST FAN, +CLOSED, AND OPEN FOR CLEANING.] + + +LOCATION OF THE WORK CABINETS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 81.--SKETCH OF SPRAYING CABINETS, SHOWING SIDE +LIGHTING.] + +As to the position of the spraying benches, it is a little curious +to note that in not a few cases these cabinets are placed facing the +window, the idea being to obtain as much light as possible for the +process. A moment's consideration, however, will show that this is not +the correct position, because the workman faces the light, which is +thrown on the back of the article he is spraying, in exactly the wrong +position for his purpose. The cabinets should be lighted from the back +of the workman and be, as far as possible, directed from the roof or +the top of the room, so that it comes directly on the article to be +sprayed. Clearly it is necessary to provide as good a light as possible +in order that no part of the work shall be missed. + +Artificial light will, as a rule, be provided for working on dark days +and after the sun sets, and here again the same provision must be made. +Plenty of light arranged in such a manner that it is directed on the +front of the object to be painted is essential in every case. + +After due provision has been made for a suitable exhaust, which +question should be left in the hands of the specialist in compressed +air painting if satisfaction is to be guaranteed, other questions need +attention, such as provision of means for handling the work, special +turn-tables, which should be ball-bearing, if possible, to ensure +light running and enable even heavy articles to be turned about when +spraying, and when examining the work. + +[Illustration: Fig. 82.--"AEROGRAPH" SPRAYING CABINETS.] + + +THE FUMEXER. + +In connection with the Aeron, the makers supply a special form of +cabinet or booth, made of steel, which is called by them the "Fumexer," +and is illustrated in Figs 83 to 89. + +These are made in various sizes, from 3 feet to 16 feet wide, and +4 feet to 18 feet deep. They are each fitted with turn-table and +specially constructed fans for drawing out the air, and with it the +superfluous paint, enamel, etc. + +Fig. 84 shows a side view of an 8-ft. Fumexer indicating the style of +construction and funnel-shaped back clear to the floor. + +The steel Fumexer with the Autocool electric exhaust fan installed +is claimed to insure a maximum exhaust efficiency, and to completely +remove all fumes arising from the work in the finishing room--at a +minimum of power consumption. + +The Fumexer is a fire-proof steel booth specially designed and built +for the height of service. It is constructed of heavy sheet steel on an +angle iron frame, with wire glass windows in sides and top. Provision +is made for electric lights--reflector and sockets being built in. + +The back of the Fumexer is funnel-shaped clear to the floor, which +arrangement, together with the large fan opening, gives maximum +exhausting results, especially on large work. The short exhaust pipe +running from the back opening is easy to clean and permits of the +placing of the Fumexer near outside wall. + +To take care of all classes and styles of work, the Fumexer is +regularly made in a variety of sizes as above mentioned with the proper +number of fans installed. Other sizes to meet any special requirements +are made to order. + +A turn-table, which is adjustable, tilting and revolving--either +floor or suspended type--is supplied with the Fumexer. This device +facilitates the handling of a large percentage of work. The floor type +turn-table is not fastened to the floor nor Fumexer and can be removed +when not required. + +The Autocool electric exhaust fan installed in all Fumexers is an +exclusive Aeron system product, and is particularly adapted to the work +required of it. + +In Fig. 85 is illustrated the side and front views of a 4-foot single +exhaust fan installation Fumexer with suspended type turn-table. + +The fan motor, completely enclosed and protected from fumes, is +automatically cooled by a stream of pure air which is continuously +drawn through the motor. This means a fan of increased efficiency. +The motor is only one-twelfth H.P. and will do the required work at +one-tenth or less the power consumption of other styles of exhausting +methods. + +Autocool fans are made in one size only, the number of fan units being +increased for Fumexers above five feet in width. In this way the right +number can easily be adapted to any kind of work. The makers claim +that by this arrangement a better distribution of exhaust is obtained, +and the vapour is moved quickly at low pressure through the large fan +openings--this accounting for the small amount of power used. + +The next illustration shows the Autocool electric exhaust fan both +closed for use and with motor and blades swung inward for cleaning. + +In Fig. 86 is shown a special Fumexer with three exhaust fan +installation and automobile body. + +This equipment, together with type D Aeron with V spray head or type +M Aeron with V-A spray head and the air transformer set, is used for +priming and surfacing automobile bodies. + +Two very interesting illustrations are Fig. 88, the one on the left +being a Fumexer with automatic elevating and revolving turn-table, +while that on the right is a Fumexer with wheel-jack. + +The turn-table is revolved by a 1/8 H.P. electric motor, furnished +in either direct or alternating current. The speed of rotation is +adjustable through a wide range by means of a friction wheel and disc. +The table is started and stopped by either hand lever or foot pedal +entirely independent of motor. + +A ten-inch elevation of the table is accomplished by compressed air +acting on a piston which supports the revolving parts. A hand lever +controls this feature, and the speed of elevation and lowering is +adjustable for different classes of work. + +This turn-table is especially designed for handling box-like work, +finished inside and outside in the same or different materials. The +elevation feature makes possible the painting of an article one colour +inside and another outside in one operation without interference. It is +also well adapted for use on other classes of small work. + +The Fumexer in operation is shown in Fig. 89. + +[Illustration: Fig. 83.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 84.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 85.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 86.] + +THE DEVILBISS "FUMEXER" OR SPRAYING CABINET. + + +ACCESSORIES. + +It is difficult to classify accessories as readily as the sprayers +themselves; we must content ourselves with a description of some of +these as supplied by the firms mentioned in the previous chapter. + +One of the most complete plant supplied is that installed by the +Airostyle & Lithos, Ltd. + +They have, in addition to the sprayers, a system of carrying a +specially designed colour pot on a bracket over the hood clearly seen +in Fig. 77. Such a colour pot has a clamped cover, making an airtight +joint, and so arranged as to be readily taken off for cleaning or +re-charging, and with a spun copper container, offering no obstruction +to the flow of the paint and reducing loss to a minimum. Connections +are provided on the top for the pressure feed, for filling up by means +of a funnel, and for permitting the use of the compressed air as a +means of driving out the paint from the flexible tube before leaving +the instrument after work is finished each night. + +Another accessory is a smaller pressure bowl made to screw directly +on the pistol sprayer and designed to make possible the use of many +coloured enamels, while still retaining the advantage of the pressure +feed. Pressure is conveyed into the bowl through a flexible tube from a +special type of reducing valve, shown in Fig. 77. + +This illustration shows the connections as universally employed on +Airostyle plants. + +The reducing valves are so designed as to give in case of the top valve +a pressure up to 15 lbs. for the pressure feed, and in the lower one +any pressure instantly from atmospheric pressure up to the maximum. + +It is the practice to take the air pressure from the air main through +the reducing valve into the low pressure tank, as shown, as this +further ensures that absolutely pure air shall be delivered to the +sprayer and a steady supply of air at any pressure is always available. + +The low pressure tank is, as shown, a very simple type, albeit soundly +made, and a drain tap is provided at the base of same. + +Last, but not least, comes the type of flexible tubing employed, +and this is the outcome of much experimenting, in that the same is +unaffected by the action of turpentine, white spirit, or even naphtha. + +Before leaving this question the reader is referred to the numerous +illustrations (see pages 155 to 185), as these give a far better idea +of the completeness of the Airostyle plants than is possible in this +chapter. + + +TURN-TABLES. + +To facilitate handling of goods to be sprayed, a turn-table is usually +found of considerable service. These turn-tables vary according to the +class of work that is being dealt with. In Fig. 87 is shown one made by +the Aerograph Co., Ltd., which is 20 inches in diameter by 12 inches +high. It is made entirely of cast iron, excepting the cone seated +bearing, which is of hardened steel, which rotates freely and is nicely +finished. The weight is 98 lbs. Sometimes turn-tables are provided with +projecting points to prevent the article being sprayed from moving, +while in other cases the top of the table is provided with ridges for +the same purpose. + +In all small turn-tables a conical bearing of hardened steel, properly +lubricated, is sufficient for the purpose, but in the larger work it +is desirable to employ ball-bearings. Whichever method is used, it is +essential that the table turns very freely so that it can be moved +almost with a touch. + +[Illustration: Fig. 87.--AEROGRAPH TURN-TABLE.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 88.--TWO FORMS OF FUMEXER] + +[Illustration: Fig. 89.--THE FUMEXER IN USE.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 90.--A PAASCHE TURN-TABLE.] + +Fig. 90 shows the Paasche turn-table, which can be raised or lowered +into suitable positions as well as tilted at any angle. It revolves +freely with a gentle touch. Larger sizes are supplied. The necessity of +providing for carrying off the fumes which arise in paint spraying has +already been dealt with. + + +THE AUTO-ELECTRIC AIR HEATER. + +This invention is the property of the DeVilbiss Manufacturing Company, +and is intended to overcome the tendency of the air to cool as it +leaves the nozzle in spraying, while it tends to keep it heated till +it reaches the work. It also raises the temperature of the varnish or +enamel, producing a smooth, even finish. + +In addition to heating the air, the auto-heater warms the nozzle, +thereby raising the temperature of the varnish. Because of the heated +air and warmed material there is a complete elimination of the pitted, +pebbled or mottled effect so noticeable when "short oil," quick setting +or heavy bodied varnishes or enamels are sprayed on flat surfaces. +The auto-heater enables Aeron users to improve the quality of many +classes of work--in many instances it opens up an entirely new field of +usefulness. The auto-heater and the air transformer set together insure +clean, dry and warm air at the proper pressure, which is an important +factor in the production of the best Aeron results. + +The auto-heater applies the heat at the last possible point before the +air enters the Aeron; as a consequence there is absolutely no loss or +waste of heat, as would be the case if the air were heated at some +other point and then passed through the hose to the machine. It is very +easy to understand that if air heated before entering the hose retained +sufficient heat to be of service when reaching the nozzle, it would be +so hot that it would destroy the hose. In the only practical way, the +auto-heater maintains the heat in the air at the proper degree till the +spray reaches the work. + +The auto-heater is light, yet rugged in construction. It has no +exposed contacts. The conductor wires run through the air hose. It +can be attached to any style of Aeron without difficulty. There is +an automatic cut-off furnished with every auto-heater. Placing the +Aeron in the cup holder, or hanging it on the hook, automatically +cuts off the current--picking up the Aeron automatically turns on the +current. This automatic control effects a great saving in current. +As a protection against overheating the auto-heater is equipped with +a fusible safety disc, which melts, allowing the air to escape, if +current is left turned on by accident when the Aeron is not in use. +This safety device operates within four minutes. Several extra discs +are furnished with every outfit. The auto-heater can be connected to +any electric light socket, and consumes only 250 watts current when in +operation. + +The construction of the auto-heater will be understood on reference to +Fig. 91. + +Another interesting heater is supplied by the Airostyle & Lithos, Ltd., +a number of which are in use in this country Its general form can be +seen on reference to Fig. 102, page. 165, which shows a gas-heated +type. The same heater is also supplied either electrically or steam +heated. + +In all types it has the same general features, namely, a water-jacketed +colour pot, a special coil for heating the air supply, which is +afterwards passed through the water jacket for the dual purpose +of raising the temperature of the jacket and damping down the air +temperature at the same time. To a convenient standpipe the hot air is +carried and distributed to the pistol, and also to a special jacket +round the colour tube. + +The Airostyle pistol is provided with an adjustment which admits of the +hot air by-passing the whole time so, maintaining the pistol at the +same temperature as the colour pot and ensuring a steady flow of the +japan. + +The heaters are mounted on a stand at the side of the hood and are +complete with pressure gauges, regulating valves, special burner for +gas, or an electrically heated pot giving three heats, or for steam +giving a wide range of temperatures controlled by the steam pressure +through a reducing valve. It must be explained that the same result is +obtained no matter which form of heater is employed, and that in no +case can the japan be burnt. The heaters are used for thick black tar +varnish, or cycle japans, also for certain gum or glue mixtures and +special varnishes. + +[Illustration: Fig. 91.--THE AUTO ELECTRIC AIR HEATER.] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +STENCILS AND MASKS--THE REQUIREMENTS OF DIFFERENT TRADES IN SPRAYING. + + +Just as in applying paint by immersion some parts which are not +required to be painted can be protected, as already explained, so in +spraying. + +Certain parts are to be left unpainted, such as the plated fronts +and glass lenses of cycle lamps. This is effected by the adoption of +some system of masking. Such masks are, however, very simple and are +sprung on with a simple wire spring or clip, and so held in place while +spraying. + +A mask has been designed and patented purposely for use when spraying. +This is described on page 143. This mask has embodied in it a plunger +on the end of which is mounted a rubber sucker, and as the plunger is +controlled by a spring, all that is necessary to do is to depress the +plunger down on to the lamp, box, or whatever article is to be painted; +and as the sucker of the plunger comes into contact with the article +first, it grips the surface and the spring behind the plunger forces +the mask, which may be any shape, but is preferably of box form, down +upon the article. This mask is very practical, but its use is limited, +to some extent, to forms of lamps which do not need any stencil or +mask. Such a step, needless to say, has only been taken because the +system of compressed air japanning is the one ideal method--and one has +only to refer to manufacturers who have used it for confirmation of +this. + +In addition to simple masks, there are many more complicated forms, +such as those in use in gas meter manufactories, where there are no +fewer than half a dozen points to be masked, and in hardly any case do +more than two points remain the same over numbers of meters to be dealt +with. + +However, this has been overcome by arranging the masks on a spring +foundation, and making them capable of sliding adjustment in two or +more directions, and the time taken to fix these masks is in no case +more than 30 seconds. Seeing that the time taken to brush a meter (even +a small one) is not more than seven minutes and the time taken to spray +one, with a superior result, is not more than one minute, there is a +very considerable saving even after allowing time for fixing the mask. + +[Illustration: Fig. 92.--MASKS FOR GAS METERS.] + +Other stencils are employed for lettering on plates, despatch boxes, +and for ornamental work on cash boxes, etc., and need no further +description here other than stating that these must be of something +stronger than tinfoil, and not too strong to prevent them being pressed +firmly down on to the article to be dealt with. + +In other cases, stencils are spun or pressed out to exactly fit the +article, as in the case of brass lacquered goods, rubber balls, +enamelled ironware, etc., and in some cases, where a number of +stencils are employed, for one pattern, these are arranged round a +common centre, and hinged so that, once the article is in position, +stencil after stencil may be readily and accurately brought into +position over the work. + +For decorative work, very elaborate stencils are employed, with many +plates for each design; but such stencils hardly come within the scope +of the present work, although they are employed for wallpaper work, and +in the textile industries for high-class effects. + + +THE HART PATENT MASK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 93--THE HART PATENT MASK.] + +A very ingeniously constructed, although simple, mask which is suitable +for many purposes, but particularly for motor and carriage lamps, +has been patented by Mr. Walter William Hart, of the firm of Matthew +J. Hart & Sons, Great Barr Street, Birmingham, and others. By this +invention means are provided for applying the mask to a plain surface +so that it may be immovably held without causing injury to the surface. +The mask, too, has the advantage that it can be placed in position with +extreme rapidity. By this invention the mask is fastened in position +by a suction pad, preferably made of indiarubber, which, when pressed +on to the surface to be covered, adheres thereto by the pressure of +the atmosphere. In Fig. 93 is shown an inner face view and a sectional +elevation of the device. The mask (_a_) is adapted to have an axial +movement in relation to the suction pad (_b_) so that when such pad has +been fixed in position the mask may be pressed close upon the surface +it is required to protect. This suction pad (_b_) is of a conical +formation, and is secured to the end of the plunger (_c_) which passes +rearwardly through a hole (_d_) in the back of the mask, and through +a tubular extension (_e_) passing rearwardly from the back of the +mask. The rear end of the plunger has a hole therein, which hole is +screw threaded, and to such end a cap (_f_) is secured. A stud (_f_) +on the interior of the flat end of the cap screwing into the said +tapped hole, and the cylindrical portion (_f2_) of the cap slidingly +fitting over the tubular extension (_e_) on the mask. A spiral spring +(_g_) surrounds the plunger, one end bearing on a shoulder (_h_) at +the rear of the mask and the other end bearing against the cap (_f_). +To fasten the mask, the same is placed in position over the part to be +covered and the cap (_f_) is pressed down, thus pressing the suction +pad (_b_) upon the surface of the article, to which it adheres. A mask +constructed according to this invention is capable of a great variety +of applications, one of which is in connection with lamps. That shown +in the illustration is intended for this purpose. + +It will be clear that the shape, however, can be varied according to +the article to be painted by spraying; for example, it may be used with +advantage for decorative purposes. + + +MAKING STENCILS. + +When it is decided to spray through stencils, it is usual to employ +thin copper plates for the purpose, although in wallpaper decoration +very heavy copper stencils are used, because, these being held +horizontally, the weight increases the stiffness of them, while it +prevents them shifting while in use. In ordinary work, however, where +a stencil must be used vertically, the lighter stencil will be most +useful. If paper is used, the best material is Japanese vellum, which +is manufactured from a special fibre and possesses the advantage of +being easy to cut and makes remarkably durable stencils. It is imported +from Japan by Jas. Spicer & Sons, Ltd., 15, Upper Thames Street, +London, E.C. Manilla paper may be had from the same firm, and answers +also very well. For some styles of work, lead foil gives good results. +Messrs. Locke, Lancaster, and W. W. and R. Johnstone & Co., Ltd., 94, +Gracechurch Street, E.C., supply a material which they call "Four-ounce +stencil metal," which weighs 4 ounces to the square foot, is made in +sheets 6ft. by 2ft. 6in., and in smaller sizes, and costs 2s. per +lb. It can be easily cut with a stencil knife, and is most suitable +for work on horizontal surfaces. Another paper which may be used is +ordinary Whatman's paper. The usual method of cutting is to use a very +sharp knife, such as a shoemaker uses, and to cut on a sheet of glass. +If any variety of paper is employed, it will be necessary to apply two +coats of shellac varnish, ordinarily called "Patent Knotting." This +protects the surface of the paper from being worn away by the action of +the brush. Some stencil cutters prefer boiled oil for the purpose. + +Zinc stencils are sometimes employed. These may be made as follows: +The thinnest sheets of zinc are employed for the purpose, and upon +this is painted the letters or design to form the stencil. The whole +of the zinc which is not to be cut out, or rather, by this process, +eaten out by acid, must be protected by means of a varnish made as +follows: Take one pint of best asphaltum varnish, two ounces of beeswax +and half-an-ounce of rosin and four ounces of Venice turpentine. Melt +the beeswax and rosin in the Venice turpentine, and while warm add the +asphaltum varnish, mixing thoroughly together. Paint this on the back +of the zinc plate and on all parts that are to be protected. Form a dam +or little wall made of 6 parts of beeswax and one part of tallow melted +together and allow to cool. This is intended to confine the acid to the +parts required to be eaten out. Nitric acid is used for the purpose +mixed with three parts of water. This is poured on the space inside +the dam and allowed to remain on for from 24 to 48 hours, when it will +be found to have eaten away the zinc on the parts unprotected. Further +information concerning stencils will be found in the book entitled +"Stencils and Stencilling," by A. L. Duthie, published by the Trade +Papers Publishing Co., Ltd., 365, Birkbeck Bank Chambers, High Holborn, +London, W.C., price 3s. 3d. + + +REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIAL TRADES. + +The following hints are given of the requirements of a few special +trades:-- + + +_Piece Work._ + +In very many cases where articles are painted by means of compressed +air it will be found quite practicable to have the work done by piece +work. The exact time taken to spray any particular article can, after +a very little practice, be determined quite accurately. In fixing the +price to be paid for the work an allowance must, of course, be made +for the time taken in bringing the piece to the spraying cabinet and +placing it ready to be taken away by the boys or labourers. It is in +this detail that speed may be increased so materially. The actual time +of spraying to a great extent regulates itself, but if care is not +taken considerable waste of time will be occasioned in getting articles +ready and taking them away, and a satisfactory arrangement of piece +work to both employer and employee will remove this waste of time and +will prove more beneficial than day work. + + +BOOKBINDING. + +The principal use of spraying in this work is to put on the speckled +edges of books after they are sewed and before binding. This is usually +done by splashing colour from a stiff-haired brush over a comb, but +the method is a crude one at best. In using a spray for the purpose +one of the simpler forms will do all that is required. The pressure +must be lowered and paint removed some distance from the books until +the requisite size of the spots or dots of colour is obtained. With a +little practice this can be regulated to a nicety. + + +CARRIAGES. + +The remarks which will be found elsewhere, under the head of +"Tramcars," apply to some extent to carriages also, and although the +superfine finish required for a high-class carriage could hardly be +produced excepting by the old-fashioned means, yet the processes of +flowing-on and spraying could, without doubt, often be employed for the +cheap and moderately cheap style of vehicles of various kinds which are +now produced on so extensive a scale. + + +CYCLE PARTS. + +Many parts of cycles are now painted by means of spraying, although +some firms prefer dipping. Whichever process is used it is necessary, +as a rule, to give at least two or sometimes three or even more coats, +and to get a fine finish to rub down between these coats with powdered +pumice and water, and, for the last coat underneath the finish, +rottenstone and oil. The parts must always be stoved, as air drying +enamels are not, as a rule, sufficiently hard to permit of their +resisting the hard wear to which cycles are subjected. It need hardly +be said that the method of handling various parts will to a great +extent determine the economy effected. + +The wearing parts of cycles are sometimes finished in the following +manner, which is the method used by the Birmingham Small Arms Co. +Although somewhat expensive it is certainly worthy of all praise, +because it gives so durable a finish. The iron or steel parts are first +thoroughly washed in American turpentine and are then stoved, the +result being a perfectly clean surface. A coat of Calcutta linseed oil +is then given by means of brushes and the parts are then stoved at 250° +F., after which they receive a coat of what is called "Black Rubber +Solution," an elastic enamel which dries with a semi-gloss. Then two +separate coats of khaki colour japan are given and each are stoved at +280° to 300° F. A little rubbing down between the coats is sometimes +necessary, and this is done with glass paper. The parts thus finished +are very suitable for work which is to be subjected to very hard wear. +At this writing the cycles are all intended for Government, hence the +care taken in the finish. + + +ELECTRICAL WORK. + +Painting by compressed air is done in the case of many parts of +electrical apparatus, the process being similar to that previously +described. Thus the metal work of fuse boxes may be finished in this +way with black japan, and one coat stoved at 250° F. or thereabouts +will usually be found to suffice. + +Among the large number of electric works where the process is employed +may be mentioned those of W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works, Ltd., at +Gravesend. The Airostyle is used in this case, and the work is done +approximately from twice to three times as rapidly as it was formerly +done with the brush. + + +FANCY BASKETS. + +Fancy baskets which are made of cane, willow, special straw and other +materials can be sprayed with admirable effect in many cases where +brushing would be impossible. Indeed, the application of a spray in +this work may be considered to have created almost a new industry in +a wide range of fancy goods, which may be sprayed with gold paint, +or a great variety of coloured enamels may also be employed. In this +case celluloid varnishes are also employed with the addition of coal +tar dyes for the production of colours such as mauve, blue, moss +green, rose pink, amber, orange, fire red, navy blue, etc. The work +of spraying in this case is usually done over a bin such as is shown +below, a simple wire device being used at the top to support the basket +while it is being sprayed, although even this is often dispensed with +as the article may be held by the handle, and being very light this is +not found to be irksome. + +[Illustration: Fig. 94.--BIN FOR SPRAYING LIGHT ARTICLES.] + + +GAS METERS. + +At the present time less than half a dozen gas meter manufacturers or +repairers have a paint spraying plant in use, and these are described +elsewhere. The saving, however, by spraying the paint is in this class +of work very considerable, amounting to about 1 to 5; that is to say, +five times as much work can be turned out with a spraying machine as by +hand. It is generally recognised that the quality of the painting is +much improved, it being harder and better in appearance and generally +more satisfactory. Turn-tables of a simple character are employed, +and 24 hours are allowed for the drying of the work. For protecting +the indicators, the name of owner or manufacturer and brass plates +of similar character, various types of shields or masks are employed, +consisting of a plate of requisite shape soldered on to a piece of +stiff wire, with turned ends, which embrace the meter and hold it in +position. There appears to be no reason why the larger size gas meters +should not be painted by spraying, provided that a suitable plant, +which would be of a simple character, were provided. There is but +little doubt that in a little time every manufacturer of gas meters +will find it necessary to employ a spraying plant. + + +GAS STOVES AND RANGES. + +In this class of work spraying is used almost exclusively; as only one +side of the iron is to be painted the dipping process is obviously +unsuitable. The work is done at a pressure of about 45 lbs., but +sometimes a little less is sufficient. The usual exhaust is provided +and turn-tables are employed having bearing wheels on the outer edge of +a circular plate. Those used for the larger ranges are usually level +with the floor. In addition to black, all kinds of colours may be used. +This work is mostly done piece work. The smaller parts, such as rings, +cookers, etc., are also sprayed. The stoving is done at 350° F., but +when two coats are given the first is subjected to 450° F. + +The interior of the ovens are coated for a finish of oxide of tin, +which when stoved at a high temperature assures a great increase of +"body" or opacity. Sometimes the finish is left solid, but in most +cases the coat is stippled. + +The usual overhead runways consisting of hanger on four wheels on +V-shaped girder are employed. + + +PICTURE FRAMES, PICTURE MOULDING, ETC. + +One of the industries in which paint spraying is strikingly successful +is that of preparing picture frames with a "gold" finish. If properly +done the result is even better than if gold leaf is used, as the spray +covers completely the most elaborate and intricate ornament. Picture +frames or mouldings of various shapes and sizes are obtained ready for +receiving the various coats necessary to give a gold finish. Formerly +the whole of the operations were done by means of brushes, but this +method has been wholly superseded by spraying, which approximately does +the work five times as quickly and gives a far better result. + +Three separate processes are employed; the first is the application of +a coat of enamel, the second a coat of bronze or "gold paint," and the +third the application of a transparent lacquer. The last protects the +bronze from discoloration, and the manufacturers guarantee that such +mouldings will last at least 5 years without tarnishing. + +The whole of the work is air dried, but to facilitate the operation the +workroom is kept at a temperature of about 75°F and the drying ovens +up to, say, 80° or even 85°F. The first coat of enamel is sprayed on, +and in about two hours is felted down with a pad similar to that used +by french polishers. This is dipped in a solvent which removes all +inequalities. The actual spraying is done on a long open trough shaped +bin some 3 ft. 6 in. from the floor having exhausts at the bottom and +thin laths placed across it at intervals of about 18 inches. The long +stretches of moulding are placed on these laths lengthwise, the laths +holding them in position. The spraying is done directly on them and +they are turned from side to side, and when the spraying is completed +each length is lifted bodily by two boys, one at each end, on to racks +in the drying room which is close by and which has a large number of +open iron shelves running from end to end. These shelves are quite +close together, so that a large number of lengths of moulding may be +dealt with at one time. Heat at about 85°F is admitted at the bottom, +and the drying apartment is open from end to end in front so that the +mouldings may be readily introduced. This heat also serves to warm the +room. + +The enamel being dry the length is removed and gone over with a pad +as described and the gold paint is then sprayed on over the whole +of the work, giving a beautifully fine and compact gold finish. The +application of the transparent lacquer completes the operation. The +materials used in this work are special spirit varnishes made on +a base of celluloid. The exact composition varies with different +manufacturers, but the following recipes are based on "The Manufacture +of Spirit Varnishes," by Livache and McIntosh (Scott, Greenwood and +Son), and will be useful for reference. The great advantage of using +celluloid is that a coloured transparent varnish is obtained. + + +RECIPE FOR CELLULOID VARNISH. + + 1. Celluloid 1 lb. + Amyl Acetate 2 lbs. + Acetone 2 lbs. + Ether (Syph. Meth.) 2 lbs. + + 2. Same as before with the addition of 1/5th part of + camphor. + + 3. Celluloid 1 lb. + Amyl Acetate 5 lbs. + Acetone 5 lbs. + +Picture frames are also finished in black having a semi-gloss +finish, which gives an excellent effect and is most durable. + +It is very important in this class of work that ample ventilation be +given to the apartment in which the work is done in such a way as to +avoid draught. Heated air, of course, takes up moisture much more +readily than cold air, and unless means are provided for adequate +ventilation the air will become moisture charged, and the work will +thereby be adversely affected. This is a point which is frequently +overlooked. + + +SPRAYING SHIPS' HULLS. + +It is the opinion of the author that the painting of ships' hulls may +be done by means of spraying with a great saving of time. Although +there are no available statistics, it is probable that many thousands +of acres of surface on ships' bottoms are re-painted every year. A +careful enquiry has shown that some experiments have been made in this +direction, but that they have always been of a somewhat perfunctory +character. The very large surface gives an opportunity for the use of +the spray which is almost unequalled in its possibilities. There are, +however, certain difficulties in connection with this work, which have +doubtless had much to do with the fact that it has not, thus far, been +adopted to any considerable extent. + +The first of these is that the composition applied is not ordinary +paint, but one which is mixed with arsenic, mercury and other poisonous +compounds, which are added in order to destroy animal and vegetable +life and prevent the adhesion of barnacles and other marine growth. So +necessary is this that compositions are made suitable for different +waters through which the vessel must pass, and it is well known that +those vessels which sail by regular routes need much less frequent +painting than a tramp steamer which may sail in any direction and +through any sea. The reason is, that in the first case the composition +is specially made to withstand the growth of life in well-defined +waters, while in the case of tramp steamers it must be more or less of +a general nature. + +The point, however, which has now to be dealt with, is that the +addition of arsenic, etc., added to the paint, causes it sometimes to +settle out, but it is suggested that this could be easily overcome +by an agitating apparatus in the paint pot. As explained elsewhere, +such an apparatus is frequently used in ordinary painting, when the +composition of the paint demands it. + +The second and more serious objection to spraying ships' hulls is that +the work must be done in the open, and that the wind will carry away +a portion of the paint and prevent it reaching the surface required. +It is suggested, however, this might perhaps be overcome by adopting +a form of enclosed cabinet, which would screen the operator from the +wind. This could be rendered portable by being mounted on a platform +with wheels, and a system of elevators, and be adopted with a little +ingenuity to reach the higher parts of the vessel. In any case, the +subject is one which is well worth the attention of those interested in +spraying, owing to the immense field it opens up. + +In this connection attention may be directed to the illustrations which +appear on pages 252 to 254 of the apparatus used for spraying by the +Pennsylvania Railroad for painting their freight cars. This apparatus +may be adapted, with suitable modifications, for ship painting also. + + +SLATE ENAMELLING. + +The usual procedure followed in connection with enamelling on slate for +mantel-pieces, stall-board, signs and other work of the kind, is to +get the slate slabs quite smooth and level by means of a slate planing +machine. A coat of "black varnish" or enamel is then sprayed on, and +is stoved at 160° to 170° F. Careful rubbing down with powdered pumice +and water is next done, when the work receives a second coat of enamel. +It is again stoved and then rubbed down by hand to a finish with +rottenstone and oil. Sometimes, the slate receives three coats, the +finish being left with a high gloss, but more frequently the semi-gloss +obtained by rubbing with rottenstone is preferred. It is unsafe to +stove slate at higher than 260° F., as it is likely to break when +cooling. + +Formerly, a great deal of this class of work was done in imitation of +various marbles, mostly worked on a black ground, but "marbling" is +now done but rarely. The method is to employ a shallow tank of water +upon which are placed colours in imitation of the veins of the marble +to be imitated. This colour is of a special kind, made to float, and is +manipulated on the surface. The slab of slate, which has received one +coat, is then dipped gently in the water, when the colour adheres to +it. A coat of stoving varnish completes the operation. + +Many slate enamellers still employ the old method of applying the +enamel by means of brushes, but it is only a question of time before +compressed air will be used almost exclusively, for the reason so +frequently urged in this work, viz., that the spray eliminates brush +marks and, therefore, greatly reduces the work of rubbing down. + + +SPRAYING COLOUR SPECIMENS. + +Specimens of various colours in distemper, oil, varnish and enamel are +sent out in very large quantities by the various manufacturers of those +goods, and the preparation of these specimens may be very considerably +facilitated by using a suitable spraying machine. When distemper is +used fairly large sheets of paper are usually employed, and these are +cut up by means of a guillotine machine when dry. Ordinary oil paint +and varnish paints may in like manner be sprayed, but when an enamel +finish is desired it is usual to apply the paint on the back of a sheet +of thin white celluloid, which gives the appearance which would be +obtained by the application of varnish. In spraying celluloid sheets +it will be found that after a little practice the paint may be laid +on much more uniformly than is possible by means of a brush. This can +easily be demonstrated by holding up the painted sheet to the light, +when it will be found that the paint applied by a brush shows more +inequalities or streaks than that when sprayed. + +Stencilling may be done very well on either paper or celluloid sheets; +in the case of these specimens, for example, supposing it was desired +that each specimen of colour when cut up should bear a number, it +would not be difficult to cut a stencil in zinc or leadfoil, repeating +the number as many times as there are specimens to be cut out of each +sheet. The tinfoil would then be fixed in position and the spraying +done over it, which would mark each piece with a number. Then the coat +of colour can be sprayed all over the surface. The plan above would be +followed in the case of celluloid, but when ordinary paper is used the +process would, of course, have to be reversed and the number put on +last. + +In some cases where a very great brilliancy of colour is required, +this is done by the process of glazing, which is described elsewhere +in this book; for example, a comparatively dull red could be very much +brightened by spraying a coat of madder or crimson lake. Here, again, +if celluloid is used the glazing colour will go on first and the ground +colour afterwards, but in ordinary circumstances the ground work would, +of course, be first applied. + +Probably the most complete plant for preparing colour specimens is +in use by Mander Brothers, the well-known paint, varnish and colour +manufacturers, of Wolverhampton. The spraying of colours is mostly done +on celluloid sheets, and four cabinets of the Airostyle type are in +more or less constant use. These cabinets have glass sides and top hung +on hinges so that they may be opened when desired. The pressure of air +is usually from 30 to 35 lbs., with an additional 5 lbs. on the paint +pot. One coat is sufficient, because, of course, it can be made as +thick as may be necessary according to the particular specimens being +prepared. The saving of time is estimated at, at least, 33 per cent. + +In dealing with celluloid sheets it is obviously of importance to adopt +some safe means of storing them while drying. Formerly Messrs. Mander +Brothers had a long series of double clips by which the sheets were +suspended while drying, but this method has been abandoned owing to the +danger involved of fire. Now suitable tin-lined cabinets are provided +having from top to bottom a series of cleats which support open wire +trays. Each sheet of celluloid as it is painted is placed on a wire +tray which is slipped in the cabinet, where it dries in 12 hours. + + +TRAMCARS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 95.--GENERAL VIEW OF AIROSTYLE PLANT FOR 16 +OPERATORS ON SMALL WORK.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 96--VIEW OF AIROSTYLE PLANT FOR 16 OPERATORS, +SHOWING VENTILATOR.] + +As far as the author can gather information, the processes described +in this book are not used in Great Britain to any extent in the finish +of tramcars, but are gradually making headway in America, particularly +for the final coats. There appears to be no reason, however, why +"flowing-on," as described in Chapter XIII., should not be used to a +much greater extent than is at present the case. The earlier coats, +being very stiff, might be applied by means of brushes, and these +coats could be followed by spraying, and finally the finishing coats +could be flowed on. + +Formerly, this work was done almost in the same way as that by which +the fine finish of a carriage body is produced, viz., the building up +of a perfectly smooth surface by a large number of coats, rubbing each +one down carefully and finishing with two or more coats of varnish, +these being also rubbed down excepting the last. + +In modern practice these methods are greatly simplified, and at least +several coats, which were formerly thought to be necessary, are +dispensed with. The finish is often obtained by applying a coat of a +suitable enamel, rubbing this down, and then giving a final finish of a +good flowing varnish. + +It is suggested that spraying, or flowing-on, could be used for some of +this work with very great advantage in the saving of time. + +In dealing with many paints which are to be stoved, a well-thought-out +system should be in use of conveying the articles from the finishing +rooms to the painting apparatus and thence to the ovens. If more than +one coat is given it will be necessary to arrange also for conveyance +after the parts are baked back to the painting plant for the next coat. + +As a rule, a system of overhead runways, such as is described for use +in paint dipping, will be found the most economical method to adopt. + +It will be observed that in the list of trades and articles which +may be successfully painted by mechanical means, given on pages 3 to +6, there are many which are omitted from the detailed descriptions. +The reason for this is that the main principles are in all cases +practically the same and the details must necessarily vary, not only +with the goods being dealt with, but according to the extent of the +operations and the accommodation of the factory available. + +Thornley & Knight, Ltd., of Birmingham, specialise in this business, +and have sold, during the last few years, many thousands of gallons of +their air-drying coloured japans, for use on car bodies. Many of the +largest motor car manufacturers have adopted the process. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +SOME TYPICAL PLANTS. + + +An interesting Airostyle plant is shown in Figs. 95, 96 and 101, and is +arranged for 16 operators to deal mainly with bronze lacquers, hence +the somewhat simple arrangement with no provision for adjustment of +pressures at each hood. + +[Illustration: Fig. 97.--SIDE ELEVATION OF PLANT FOR 12 OPERATORS.] + +It will be noted that the ventilator employed is of important size; the +compressor delivering air to the plant is stationed in the basement. + +The views of the plant are excellent, and serve to remove the erroneous +impression that such a plant cannot be conveniently and economically +arranged, both as regards floor space occupied and the provision of +adequate gangways on all sides. + +Another interesting Airostyle plant is shown in Figs. 84, 85 and 86, +and was installed for japanning gas fires, radiators, gas cookers, +etc. An item worthy of note in this plant is the patented hot air +apparatus installed for warming the japan and for also heating the +sprayer and flexible tube conveying the japan to the sprayer; it is +clearly seen in the centre of the two hoods. The large hood is mainly +used for radiators, which are wheeled on to the large ball-bearing +turn-table, shown white for the purpose of a clearer view, but when +not so used a table is wheeled into position and two operators are +accommodated for smaller work. + +[Illustration: Fig. 98.--PART END ELEVATION OF PLANT FOR 12 OPERATORS.] + +The power unit, consisting of electric drive and suitable overhead +countershaft, together with the compressor and ball-bearing fan, is +shown in Fig. 100, and is directly outside the japanning shop. + +This plant was installed for the Davis Gas Stove Company, Luton, and +has been in operation for several years. + +The compressor shown in Fig 98 also delivers air to the gas cooker +department for two or three operators, and to the porcelain enamelling +department for six or seven operators, but as the same practice is +adopted as is shown in the photos here reproduced, no useful purpose +will be served in describing them in detail. + +Undoubtedly one of the most important plants in the country, and one +producing the highest finish, is installed at Messrs. Joseph Lucas, +Ltd., Birmingham, and the photographs reproduced here are by their +kind permission. The author was granted the privilege of inspecting +the plant fully, and proposes to enlarge upon its arrangement and +capacities for saving of labour, etc. + +[Illustration: Fig. 99.--PLAN OF FIGS. 96 AND 97.] + +The whole of the work was carried out by Messrs. The Airostyle and +Lithos, Ltd., and it must be admitted that the plants are so arranged +as to admit of rapid handling of the work, and the subsequent stoving +of the articles is just as conveniently provided for. + +Two distinct plants are in use at the moment with a separate steel +plate central draught fan and a water-cooled air compressor (the type +of fan and air compressor employed is shown elsewhere in the book, see +Figs. 71 and 79). + +[Illustration: Fig. 100.--AIROSTYLE PLANT POWER UNIT, COMPRESSOR, MOTOR +FAN ETC., INSTALLED FOR THE DAVIS GAS STOVE CO., LTD., LUTON.] + +On referring to the drawings Figs. 97, 98 and 99, showing respectively +an elevation, end view and plan of one of the plants, it will be seen +that the plant is divided up into two bays, each accommodating six +operators, so that, in all, twenty-four operators are provided for in +the two plants and were actually seen at work. + +It will at once be noticed that ample space between the bays is +provided, and this is most essential in order to give sufficient room +for the racks which are wheeled into place behind each operator. These +racks are readily seen in the photographs, Figs. 103 and 106, and can +also be distinguished in Fig. 104. + +The japanning shop in which the plants are installed is of large +dimensions, 250 feet long by 48 feet wide, and is extremely light and +airy, but, owing to the fact that the roof-lights are now painted +over (by Government regulations), the shop at present appears to +disadvantage, and the photographs consequently suffer. + +The photographs, nevertheless, show very clearly what an immense amount +of work can be daily handled, but, notwithstanding this, the writer +was assured that there were still numbers of brush hands in the shop. +This was primarily due to the fact that full arrangements for spraying +are not yet completed (12 more operators are being provided for), and, +secondly, to the fact that certain work needing a large amount of +masking can be almost as readily brushed, and this class of work finds +employment for brush hands. Messrs. Lucas, Ltd., admit that there is a +wastage of japan, but maintain that a heavier and much more even coat +is applied with a superior finish to brush work, and that there is an +enormous gain in time of about 4 to 1 over brushing. + +They state, also, that an indirect gain is obtained in the economical +working of the stoves, for these are filled far more quickly, and, +consequently, the daily output per stove is correspondingly increased. + +A striking proof of the saving is their statement that if they had +not the system of spraying at work, it would have meant 200 hands in +the japanning department, whereas they now employed only 90, and a +considerable number of these were engaged upon brush work, so that if +only the whole of the work could have been handled with the spray, then +the number of hands necessary would have been even less than 90. + +The photographs, Figs. 105 to 107, need no description, and are +self-explanatory to a large extent. + +The type of instrument used, and the accessories, are described in +detail elsewhere, as they are the standard practice adopted with all +Airostyle plants. + +The writer also had the privilege of inspecting another interesting +Airostyle plant, installed at Messrs. G. Cabdy and Sons, Birmingham, +where 7 or 8 operators are employed upon high-class celluloid enamel +finishes upon buttons, medallions, cameos, electrical fittings, +and last, but not least, numerous parts for munition work, such as +cartridge clips for 18 or 24-pounders, etc. + +The small articles are laid on a grid measuring about 11 inches by +9 inches, and while holding the grid the operator sprays over the +whole of the article on the grid, and in the case of rounded faces of +buttons, sprays these obliquely from all sides in turn, as well as over +the tops of the buttons. + +It may be mentioned that the greater part of the spraying paints and +enamels are supplied by Messrs. Thornley & Knight, Ltd., of Birmingham. + + +THE BIRMINGHAM SMALL ARMS CO. + +The cycle department of this well-known firm deals with an enormous, +amount of parts, and a new paint spraying department on an extensive +scale is in course of construction at Redditch, and the method in use +at the Birmingham works will be to a great extent followed. In both +cases the "Midland" sprayer is used under a pressure of from 30 to 50 +lbs. + +The method is very thorough, and although comparitively expensive +is well calculated to produce a finish which is (a) capable of +withstanding hard wear and possible knocks and (b) absolutely +rust-proof. The finish is elastic and very durable. It is produced by +the following method. The steel or iron parts are first thoroughly +washed in pure American turpentine in order to remove every trace of +grease and dirt. In passing, it may be said that a suitable white +spirit would probably answer as well and would effect a considerable +saving, although it is possible that the pure turpentine leaves a +certain residue behind it which is of advantage in forming a key to the +subsequent coats. The parts are then stoved, when a coat of pure Baltic +linseed oil is applied by means of brushes, and they are again stoved +at 250° F. Then a coat of black japan, known in the works as "rubber +solution," is sprayed on, and a third stoving is given in this case at +280° F. This is followed by two coats of khaki-coloured enamel sprayed +on, which dries with a semi-gloss finish. The parts are stoved between +each coat and after the final coat, so that they receive five stovings +altogether. + +[Illustration: Fig. 101.--COMPRESSOR, ETC., FOR AIROSTYLE PLANT FOR 16 +OPERATORS.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 102.--AIROSTYLE PLANT INSTALLED FOR GAS FIRE AND +RADIATOR WORK FOR MESSRS. THE DAVIS GAS STOVE CO., LTD.] + +The ovens are of special construction and are described in detail +elsewhere. The japans employed are supplied by Messrs. Arthur Holden +and Co., Ltd., of Birmingham. + +Samples of the work thus finished were submitted to the author, who +carefully tested them. He found that the finish was all that could +be desired. A piece of plate metal, for instance, was bent double +without the finish being affected, thus showing very clearly the great +elasticity of the coating--a most important and necessary quality in a +finish for this class of work. + + +MESSRS. FLETCHER, RUSSELL & CO., LTD. + +This well-known firm use spraying at their Warrington Works on an +extensive scale. All parts of gas cookers, gas stoves, and ranges large +and small, are sprayed by different sizes of the Airostyle sprayer. +Stoving takes place in most cases, and the work of spraying effects a +great saving, one man being able to do the work of at least three under +the old brush system. + +Some very beautiful effects are obtained in stoves intended for use +in drawing, dining and reception rooms, by spraying various coloured +semi-transparent lacquers over silver-bright iron or steel. Rich reds, +browns, greens and blues in various shades are produced, and the bright +surface beneath the lacquer gives a very pleasing and artistic effect. +Stoving produces the necessary hardness of the lacquer, which may be +regarded as being very durable. + + +SPECIAL MACHINES. + +The Berkel and Parnall's Slicing Machine Co., Ltd., whose extensive +works are at 6, Bow Common Lane, London, E., have had a plant for +paint spraying in use for the last four years, and find it to be quite +successful and a great saving of time over the old method of applying +the paint by means of brushes, in addition to a superior finish being +obtained. The sprayer in this case is the "Invincible," and the paint +is sprayed on under pressure varying according to the nature of the +work. The iron parts which go to make up the slicing machine are first +primed and stoved and any imperfections stopped in the usual manner. +They are then painted by means of compressed air and again stoved, +after which they receive a further coat, which is also stoved. Various +ornamentation in gold is then put on, mostly by the transfer process, +although certain parts require lining by hand. The final coat of +varnish is given by means of brushes, it being found that this is +the most economical way for this particular class of work. In this +particular it will be observed that the method differs from that used +in many other works where all the operations are done by spraying, +including a final coat of varnish. The colour used for the paint is a +bright red. There are two spraying cabinets with the usual exhaust, and +turn-tables are employed for turning the parts round to receive the +coat of paint. It may surprise some readers to learn the very large +extent to which these slicing machines are used throughout the world +for various purposes. + + +GITTINGS, HILLS AND BOOTHBY, LIMITED. + +The plant for spraying in use in these works is principally intended +for experimental purposes in connection with the preparation of +paints, varnishes and lacquers of various descriptions which the firm +manufacture. An up-to-date type of pistol is used, with a pressure +not exceeding 30 lbs. to the inch. The work is done in a small closet +with glass sides open at one side, and a small turn-table is employed +upon which to place the article that is being sprayed. Some admirable +results are obtained with the aid of gold lacquers. It is found that +in certain varnishes the application of heat is an advantage, but as +a rule the spraying is done cold. Among the articles which have been +painted are motor cars and various smaller appliances. + + +THE KINGSBURY MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. + +A typical plant for finishing picture frames, furniture, fancy +articles such as wood, cane and other ornamental baskets, is that of +the Kingsbury Manufacturing Co., Ltd., 1, Markfield Rd., Broad Lane, +Tottenham, N. This firm are the inventors of what is known as the +"Inolite" system of gilding, which is described as an ideal process. +Certainly the work produced is as near perfection as one would desire, +the gilding being excellent in appearance, while it is guaranteed for +five years to be free from discoloration or tarnishing. The process +consists in applying by means of spraying, first, a coat of special +enamel, which when dry is rubbed down with a solvent applied by a +pad. Upon this is sprayed a coat of gold paint, and a final coat of +colourless celluloid varnish is given which protects the gold from +tarnishing. The process adopted is described in greater detail under +the head of "Picture Frame Finishing" in this book. + +[Illustration: Fig. 103.--VIEW FROM ONE END OF MESSRS. LUCAS, LTD., +AIROSTYLE PLANTS, SHOWING FAN AND COMPRESSOR DRIVES.] + +The coloured celluloid enamels which are applied to fancy baskets, +etc., have a very attractive metallic appearance, which is far superior +to the ordinary crude bronzy effect. Another speciality of the firm is +the finish of frames in special black, which gives a perfectly smooth +finish which might be called "egg-shell gloss." It is quite artistic in +appearance, eminently suitable for the particular purpose, and gives a +durable frame at a comparatively small cost. + +The firm estimate the saving of time by using the spraying as compared +with that of employing a brush is as 5 is to 1. They point out that +a little extra material is required, but this is not begrudged as it +possesses advantages in an increased durability of the protective +coating. + + +THE GAS LIGHT AND COKE CO. + +Several of the works of this company, which deal with gas meters, +are fitted with paint spraying installations. The branch at Laburnum +Street, Kingsland Road, in charge of Mr. W. F. Fagan, may be taken as +a type. Two Aerographs and three Airostyles are in use. The old meters +that come to the works are examined, and if the paint is in fairly good +condition the surface is rubbed down with pumice stone and water, but +if it is much decayed the meters are placed in a hot bath containing a +solution of lime and caustic soda, and allowed to remain in it a short +time, when the paint becomes so soft as to be easily removable. The +surface of new tinplate is cleaned down with spirit, when it is quite +ready to receive the coat of paint. At these works many different makes +of meters come in to be dealt with, hence various masks are necessary +to protect those parts which it is not desired to spray. The pressure +used here is rather more than usual, being 40 lbs. to the sq. inch. The +time taken to paint a meter is very small, as can be understood when +it is said that two men working on five-light meters can turn out 30 +an hour. Before the spraying apparatus was put in, about a year ago, a +man could paint with a brush about three meters in an hour, so that, +with the present system, there is an immense saving. It is calculated +that the whole of the original outlay of putting in the plant will be +returned at the end of about a year. + +The masks or shields having been placed in position, a cap is placed +over each union and the paint is sprayed on. The meters are turned out +at the rate of 900 to 1,500 a week of 48 hours. The spraying apparatus +is provided with the usual exhaust consisting of two 9-inch holes +to each cabinet, with grating over. About 10 per cent, more paint is +allowed than that used when it is applied by hand, but the greater part +of this goes on the surface, and the coat of paint as a protector is +distinctly improved. The exhaust is carried up to the roof, but the +actual loss of paint is very small. + +Fig. 108 shows a general view, and a large central draught steel +plate fan is employed to exhaust the hoods, and to drive this and the +compressor a gas engine is employed. The compressor is of the type +illustrated in Fig. 71, page 115, and can just be discerned behind the +gas engine. + +Fig. 109 shows a gas meter in position, with the necessary masks fixed, +and Fig. 110 shows the operator about to spray-paint same. This plant +has been in daily operation for more than two years. + + +THE GAS METER CO., LIMITED. + +The installation of a spraying plant at the works of this firm, which +are at 238, Kingsland Road, have been in operation for rather less than +a year, but has proved quite satisfactory. Various types of gas meters +are sprayed with one coat of Torbay paint, which is an iron oxide paint +of high quality, and the one coat possesses amply sufficient quality +to give a good covering. Prior to painting the surface of the tinned +plate which is used for gas meters, it is cleaned down with a piece of +waste dipped in spirit. Masks are used to fit over name plates, etc., +and the spraying is done in the usual cabinet, with an exhaust. A three +or four-light meter takes about two minutes to do, and the larger +sizes, of course, longer in proportion. All sizes up to and including +500-light meters are sprayed, but those larger, up to 1,000 lights, +are a little too big to handle. The greater part of the meters are +done in deep red oxide iron colour, but three other colours are used +in addition, as may be required. The meter to be sprayed is placed on +a turn-table which bears on a sharp steel point and has on its upper +portion spikes or ridges, to hold the meter in position. The Aerograph +spray is employed in this case. + +[Illustration: Fig. 104.--GENERAL VIEW OF AIROSTYLE PLANTS AT MESSRS. +LUCAS' LTD.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 105.--J. LUCAS, LTD., AIROSTYLE PLANTS, SHOWING THE +AMPLE SPACE BETWEEN HOODS.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 106.--J. LUCAS, LTD., AIROSTYLE PLANTS, SHOWING +THE METHOD OF EMPLOYING RACKS TO GREATER ADVANTAGE, AND ALSO GIVING A +CLEARER IDEA OF THE LARGE FAN EMPLOYED.] + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +PAINTS, LACQUERS, VARNISHES, ETC. USED IN SPRAYING. + + +Under the head of "Paints used for Dipping" some information has been +given in respect to the paints suitable for that purpose. Some, but not +all, paints are suitable for both dipping and spraying, the exceptions +being the heavier or more viscous compounds, which are not suitable +for painting by immersion because they are too thick. Tar, enamel, and +the heavier varnishes may be given as examples, although they may be +successfully applied by the spraying process. + +Sometimes in dealing with the heavier compounds the application of +heat is an advantage. This may be applied to either the paint or +the compressed air or to both in order to increase the fluidity of +the compound. It is important when heat is thus applied that the +temperature of the room in which the spraying is done should be +raised correspondingly, so that the heavier paints, enamel, etc., +do not congeal by being directed against a cold surface. Under most +circumstances it is unnecessary to apply heat, provided that the +spraying room is kept at a temperature of not less than 60° F. both in +summer and winter. + +As already intimated, the preparation of paints, lacquers and varnishes +for both dipping and spraying necessitates a close study of the special +requirements. In the case of paint the particles of pigment must be +very finely divided as coarse material would tend to choke up the +spraying apparatus, or if even they did not actually have that result +they would require a greater pressure of air and thus add to the cost +of working. Zinc oxide, the various grades of black and most bright +reds, are examples of finely ground pigments which are well suited for +spraying. + +In buying materials for this purpose it is well to purchase of those +firms who have made a special study of the subject. The following is a +list of a few such firms, all well known to the writer, and although it +by no means exhausts the list yet anyone desiring to buy materials may +very safely leave themselves in their hands. + +Messrs. Docker, Bros., Ltd., Birmingham; Gittings, Hills and Boothby, +Ltd., Tower Varnish Works, Long Acre, Birmingham; Goodlass, Wall and +Co., Ltd., Seal Street, Liverpool; A. Holden and Sons, Ltd., Bradford +Street, Birmingham; Indestructible Paint Co., Ltd., King's House, King +Street, London, E.C.; Lewis Berger and Sons, Ltd., Homerton, London, +N.; Llewellyn Rylands, Ltd., Balsall Heath Works, Birmingham; Mander +Bros., Wolverhampton; Postans and Morley Brothers, Ltd, 19, Lionel +Street, Birmingham; The Frederick Crane Chemical Co., Birmingham; +Thornley and Knight, Birmingham; Wilkinson, Heywood and Clark, Ltd., +Caledonian Works, Poplar. E.; Pinchin, Johnson and Co., Ltd., Bevis +Marks, London. + +The following are American firms:-- + +The Moller and Schumann Co., Chicago, Ill.; John Lucas and Co., Inc, +Gibbsboro', N.J.; The Chicago White Lead and Oil Co., Chicago, Ill.; +John W. Masury and Son, New York, N.Y.; The Glidden Varnish Company, +Cleveland, O.; The Sherwin-Williams Co., Cleveland, O.; + + +STOVING ENAMELS. + +We now reach these important enamels, and extract the following from +the foreword of the little book above mentioned. Messrs. Wilkinson, +Heywood and Clark claim to be the first successful makers of stoving +blacks, which was in the days before the introduction of bicycles. +Though originally introduced for cycle work, stoving enamel produces a +most successful finish for all kinds of materials. In the United States +of America such enamels are used in great quantities for finishing +standardised motor bodies. These black enamels have gained a very high +name for themselves, as properly baked they are extraordinarily hard, +brilliant and tough, and when applied over such material as tin sheets +are flexible enough to withstand being bent double without showing +signs of cracking. An important feature are the coloured enamels made +by the same firm, which run through a whole series of yellows, reds, +browns, greens and blues, and are hard, durable and tough, and can be +stoved without changing colour. We extract the following notes on the +"Application of Stoving Enamels," and fully endorse the recommendations +offered:-- + +1. All work should be perfectly free from dirt, grease or oil, before +application of enamel. + +2. Every trace of moisture should be removed before enamelling. This +can be effected by stoving the work, previous to enamelling, at a light +heat. Moisture on work will cause enamel to blister and burn. + +3. Always when using brushing or dipping enamels, allow the enamel +to set slightly (i.e., after the surplus paint has dried off) before +putting in the baking oven. This will prevent uneven stoving and +eliminate "fat edges," as far as possible. + +4. Oven heat should be increased gradually. Never place enamelled work +into a hot oven at once, but raise the heat by degrees, until the full +temperature is obtained. + +5. Most of our enamels are sent out slightly thick; should an easier +working material be desired, in the case of colours or blacks, add +kerosene gradually until the required consistency is obtained. +Coloured enamel should always be stirred before use, to prevent the +pigment settling and the light medium rising. If this is not done, the +appearance of the work will lack body and appear dull and lifeless. +This applies especially to dipping enamels. To render white stoving +enamel thinner, add pure turpentine only, stirring well, until a +uniform consistency is obtained. + +6. It is quite possible to over-bake enamels and spoil the colours, +and likewise under-baked enamels will not be tough enough to withstand +hard wear. Particular attention should be paid to the directions on the +package labels, as the various pigments require different temperatures. + +7. Stoving enamels, if left in an opened can, tend to thicken +considerably. For this reason, keep the can closed when not actually +using the enamel. + +For thinning purposes we recommend kerosene. Sp. gr. 810 at 60° F. + +8. Ovens should be properly ventilated to allow the proper oxidation +necessary in baking. + + +ENAMELS. + +It has already been pointed out in these pages that the success of +painting by dipping, spraying, "flowing on," in fact, all other +mechanical means, depends upon the exact properties of the materials +used. The same is true with enamels, which are made from a large +variety of formulæ so as to dry slowly or quickly in the air, or when +subjected to heat in a stove. The author feels he cannot do better than +take as a guide to the properties of enamels in general the extremely +useful handbook published by Wilkinson, Heywood and Clark, under the +head of "Enamels for every Purpose." This book gives practically +all the information concerning enamels likely to be required by the +average user. The products are divided up under different heads, for +example, one page is headed "Heat Resisting and Slow Drying Enamels." +These dry fit to handle in 16 hours, and dry bone hard in 24 hours. +They are made to withstand heat up to 212° F., and for this reason are +suitable for enamelling iron baths, radiators, etc., particularly so +as to effectively resist hot water without softening or peeling. They +are made in a number of beautiful colours. A somewhat similar series +of enamels is made which dry quicker, viz., in 8 hours fit to handle +and quite hard in 12 hours. They are useful for touching up radiators, +stoves, steam pipes, etc., and are made in white and a dozen or more +colours. The next series which demands our attention are "Dipping Air +Drying Enamels." They dry in 8 hours and are quite hard in 12 hours. +They are claimed to produce a finish equal to that obtained by a quick +air drying brushing enamel with the labour of brushing eliminated. For +a finish done by immersing the article to be painted these are capital +enamels, but they require to be used with a stirrer of some sort in the +tank. + + +HINTS ON STOVING OR BAKING. + +The degree of heat to which an article is subjected after being painted +or japanned will obviously depend upon the kind of coating used. It +is safe to assert as a general rule that the heat applied must not be +higher than the particular paint or enamel is made to withstand, for, +if this be exceeded, it will inevitably result in a loss of elasticity, +of the protecting film and, hence, its durability. + +The following hints are taken from a very useful little pamphlet +issued by the Moller & Schumann Co., of Chicago, Ill. The degrees of +temperature given refer to their products, and would doubtless have to +be modified in some cases, according to the nature of the paint being +dealt with. They will, however, form a very useful guide. + +[Illustration: Fig. 107.--J. LUCAS, LTD., AIROSTYLE PLANTS, SHOWING THE +TWO BAYS OF ONE COMPLETE UNIT.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 108.--AIROSTYLE PLANT INSTALLED FOR MESSRS. THE GAS +LIGHT AND COKE CO., LTD. GENERAL VIEW.] + + +BLACK JAPAN FINISHES. + +One or more coats rubbing finish japan, reduced as thin as possible and +still cover well. + +Bake each coat at 250° to 350° for 3 to 4 hours. Sandpaper each coat +lightly. + +One or more coats finishing black japan reduced to brushing consistency +(not too thin). + +Bake each coat at 300° to 350° for 3 to 4 hours. Sandpaper each coat +lightly. Rub the last coat with pumice. Apply transfer and striping to +last coat of japan. + +Bake these at 150° for 1 to 2 hours. + +One or more coats finishing copal brushed as it comes from the can. +This protects the transfer and striping and increases the depth of the +finish. + +Bake each coat at 175° for 2 to 3 hours. Rub each coat and polish the +last coat. + +If finishing copal is omitted, leave the last coat of japan in gloss, +or rub and polish as preferred. + + +STEEL FURNITURE ENAMELS. + +One or more coats of first coat enamel, reduced as thin as possible and +still cover well. When brushed on, use steel preservative for back and +underside of metal, one coat only, baked at same time as first coat of +first coat enamel. + +Bake each coat at 250° for 3 hours. Sandpaper each coat lightly. One or +more coats of finishing enamel. + +Bake each coat at 250° for 3 hours. Sandpaper all but the last coat. +Rub the last coat with pumice. + +Enamels when rubbed have a different colour than the surface colour; +this must be taken into account in finishing. + +Transfer and striping, if any, should be put over last coat of +finishing enamel. Bake at 150° for 1 to 2 hours. One or more coats of +finishing copal. + +Bake each coat at 175° for 2 to 3 hours. Rub each coat, and polish the +last coat. + +If finishing copal is omitted, leave the last coat of enamel in gloss, +or rub and polish as preferred. + +The same enamel will bake to different shades at different heats and +varied lengths of time, so care must be observed to get uniform results. + + +IMITATION WOOD EFFECTS. + +One or more coats of ground colour; back of metal one coat steel +preservative, both reduced as thin as possible, and still cover well. +If the steel preservative is used by dipping, only one coat of ground +colour is generally used. + +Bake each coat at 250° for 3 hours. Sandpaper each coat of ground +colour. One coat of graining colour, reduced with turpentine brushed +on, and grained by hand, or with tools as in general graining. This may +be done by machine or as transfer work. + +Bake the graining colour at 200° for 2 to 3 hours. Sandpaper lightly. + +Put on transfer and striping, if any, over last coat of finishing +enamel. + +Bake at 150° for 1 to 2 hours. One or more coats of finishing copal. + +Bake each coat at 175° for 2 to 3 hours. Rub each coat. Rub and polish +the last coat. + +In this work, at least one coat of finishing copal is necessary to +protect the graining colour. + + +WHITE WORK--BEDSTEADS, ETC. + +White work cannot be finished with one coat, because no white pigment +has sufficient covering power. + +Two or more coats of first coat white enamel. + +Bake each coat at 120° to 150° for 3 to 4 hours. Sandpaper each coat +lightly. + +Two or more coats of finishing white enamel. + +Bake each coat at 120° to 150° for 3 to 4 hours. Sandpaper each coat +lightly except the last coat. + +For gloss finish, leave last coat as it is; for eggshell finish, rub +the last coat. + +Finishing copal is rarely used over whites because of colour. + + +TRANSPARENT COLOUR VARNISHES. + +These varnishes are used over smooth, clean, bright metal. As the metal +shows through the varnish, no primer or filler can be used. + +One coat only is applied, usually by brushing or by a coating machine; +however, it may be dipped or sprayed. + +Bake at 225° for 3 hours. + +The more these varnishes are reduced, the lighter the colour becomes. + +[Illustration: Fig. 109.--AIROSTYLE PLANT INSTALLED FOR THE GAS LIGHT +AND COKE CO., LTD., SHOWING HOOD IN GREATER DETAIL AND A METER WITH +MASKS AFFIXED.] + + +SAFE BAKING HEATS OF PIGMENT COLOURS. + +All colours are more or less affected by heat. They lose their +brilliancy, become very much darker and sometimes turn black when baked +at too high a heat. + +Prolonged heat (not too high) kills the elasticity of the enamel. It +does not affect the colour. + +To assure brilliancy of the colour, the following highest heats can be +used with safety. + + White 160° 4 hours. + Pale Blue 175° 2-3 " + Pale Gray " " " + Pale Green " " " + Pale Yellow " " " + Gray 200°-225° 4-3 hours + Bright Red " " " " + Green " " " " + Yellow " " " " + Dark Blue " " " " + Olive Green 240°-275° 4-3 hours + Maroon " " " " + Brown " " " " + Black - any heat up to 600° + +COMMENTS ON THE ABOVE. + +A well-known English firm, commenting on the above says:-- + +"Generally speaking, the information given therein is quite correct, +though it should be remembered that instruction as to stoving +temperatures which might be quite correct with one maker's materials, +might be quite wrong with another's. + +"We notice they recommend that all black japan finishes should be +stoved at from 250 to 350 degrees. This is the general practice in +England, but it also happens that some firms cannot use these high +temperatures or some goods will not stand it, and black japans have to +be supplied which can be stoved at temperatures of about 180 or 200 +degrees Fahr. Such qualities cost rather more to produce. + +We also notice it is recommended that finishing varnish should be +stoved at 175 degrees Fahr. Personally, we cannot make any clear +finishing varnishes which will stand this temperature without +discoloration, and even if used over black japan, they would discolour +the lining or the striping thereon. + +"The temperatures recommended for coloured enamels are also higher +than we find satisfactory, and the statement made that the same enamel +will bake to different shades at different heats, and that therefore a +uniform temperature is necessary to obtain uniform results, seems to +confirm our view. In practice we think that uniform results can only +be obtained by using a lower temperature. If a workman has to watch +the thermometer in a stove to make sure that his enamels will always +discolour to the same degree, you can rely upon it that in practice +accidents would soon happen." + + +DIPPING AND SPRAYING PAINTS COMPARED. + +From the above it can readily be seen that it is necessary to exercise +considerable care in the selection of paints for both of these +processes. The following opinions on this important subject are given +by the firms named. + +Messrs. John Lucas and Co., Inc., Gibbsboro', N.J., U.S.A., say:-- + +"It is our experience that a paint which is suitable for dipping +purposes can also be manipulated for spraying. A paint to be suitable +for spraying depends largely on two factors, namely:--Gravity, or +weight per gallon, and consistency, or fluidity. A paint made from +pigments which are heavy gravity will not produce good results for +spraying, just as it will not prove satisfactory for dipping, because +of the tendency for the pigment to settle out. In the case of spraying +such paints produce an uneven finish. A paint such as is ordinarily +used for dipping contains sufficient light gravity pigments to make +possible reduction with the proper vehicles (depending on the desired +finish) so that by spraying a satisfactory coating can be produced +so far as finish is concerned. We are not certain whether a coating +produced by spraying will wear as long as a coating which is applied +either by dipping or by brushing." + + * * * * * + +The Chicago White Lead and Oil Co., Chicago, Ill., say:--"There is no +very intricate or specific formula for this class of material. The +following rule we think will prove a safe one to follow:-- + +"Always select a pigment which will stay in suspension, and also hold +with it the extenders such as very fine silica. The addition of a very +fine silica to all dipping or spraying paints will add materially +to the flowing off and levelling of the finish. The pigments should +be ground very fine in varnish, the grade of varnish depending upon +the quality of the material to be produced, and reduced to working +consistency with varnish and turpentine, or naphtha. + +"Linseed oil should be avoided in the preparation of dipping paints, +as the tendency of linseed oil to wrinkle is very objectionable. +Chemically pure colours, such as green, yellow, para toners, etc., are +best adapted as colour bases. + +"The above constitute the principles upon which we have produced +extremely satisfactory paints for the purpose named. These, coupled +with expert workmen, will produce excellent results. The average +formula for paints can only be considered as a general guide; the +successful blending, tinting, etc., must be perfected by careful and +sometimes extended experiments. + +"The difference between a dipping paint and spray paint is in the +consistency. A spray paint must naturally be made thinner, and +consequently only the most dense of colours should be used and a +smaller amount of inert pigment as an extender, or leveller. A few +experiments with a spraying apparatus (of which some inexpensive hand +sprayers can be obtained) will quickly guide the paint man as to proper +consistencies to produce best results." + + * * * * * + +Messrs. John W. Masury and Son, of New York:--"It is practically +impossible to give full particulars regarding varnishes and enamels +for spraying and dipping, for the reason there are so many different +kinds and they vary so much owing to the different character of work +that a description of them is out of the question. In a general way +it may be said that dipping coatings must be quick setting, so as to +avoid runs and sags; it must flow out to a smooth, even surface. The +drying quality must depend upon the kind of work being done, character +of surface, subsequent exposure, and whether the coating is to be baked +or air dried. Dipping varnish and enamels are made for many classes of +work, such as all kinds of small iron castings and sheet metal work, as +well as wood work, vehicle wheels, parts of automobiles, and in some +cases wagon bodies and automobile bodies, these last only in one or two +shops. These goods include cheap black baking japans, coloured enamels +of various kinds and clear varnishes. + +"In regard to spraying enamels, the 'spray brush' is gradually coming +into use. These goods must be made to suit the character of the work; +the body or viscosity of the material, the pressure used in the spray +and character of the surface to be coated, must all be taken into +consideration and properly graduated to insure suitable finish. + +"In both dipping and spraying work one, two and three coats are +frequently used, sometimes the under coats are only dipped or sprayed, +while the finishing coat is applied with brush. + +"The equipment for dipping will vary also with the article to be +dipped; it includes dipping tanks of suitable size and shape, racks +for hanging articles dipped, with troughs or trays to collect surplus +material. In dipping it is necessary to wipe off with brush the surplus +which gathers on lower edge of the article. + +"Equipment for spraying requires besides the spraying machine a +pressure tank with suitable cocks to regulate pressure, which will vary +from thirty to fifty pounds, a suitable hood provided with fan to draw +off any fine spray away from the workman, proper racks for taking care +of the finished work. Work done with spray does not require any wiping +up." + +[Illustration: Fig. 110.--AIROSTYLE PLANT INSTALLED FOR THE GAS LIGHT +AND COKE CO., LTD. OPERATOR AT WORK ON GAS METERS.] + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +SPRAYING VERSUS BRUSHING. + + +It will be convenient now to consider the length of time involved in +spraying, as compared with that involved when painters' brushes are +used. + +In dealing with this question, it should be pointed out that while some +little gain is apparent in the actual time occupied in handling the +article, which is mostly done on turn-tables when spraying, yet no note +is taken here of the difference in handling, but only the time occupied +in covering the article with paint, japan, etc. + +We will take, by way of example, a modern gas fire. Very few of these +are now brushed. It is the consensus of opinion that a gas fire takes +10 minutes to brush. + +To spray one, with a superior finish, takes 30 to 45 seconds, and even +where some difficulty is experienced in handling, or where it is the +practice to have the firebricks in place beforehand, so necessitating +the use of a mask, in no case is a greater time than 1½ to 2 minutes +taken. A cycle lamp, small size, takes fully 2 minutes to brush +properly. To spray the same lamp takes 10 seconds. A gas meter, 5 or 10 +light size, takes 7 minutes to brush. To spray one takes 1½ minutes, +allowing for the time occupied in fixing and removing the somewhat +elaborate mask employed for covering the indicator glass, badges, +name-plate, etc. + +A motor headlight takes nearly 20 minutes to brush properly, whereas to +spray one takes but 1½ minutes at the outside. + +To brush a cycle frame takes 10 minutes or so (brushing is still done +for coloured work). + +To spray either in japan or colours takes 1 to 1½ minutes, and when it +is considered that a heavier coat can be applied than is the case when +brushing or dipping, it will be admitted that such a result compares +favourably even with dipping. + +A 2-seater motor body takes from 25 to 45 minutes to brush properly. + +To spray the same body takes only 6 to 8 minutes, and when it is noted +that a fraction of the rubbing down is necessary in the case of the +sprayed result, as against the brushed body, it will be granted that an +enormous gain is to be effected. + +Where two or more colours are employed, it is difficult to make +comparisons as readily, but, generally speaking, it is the practice to +employ two instruments per operator where the colours are applied one +immediately after the other, as is the case with many electrical parts, +and in this case a gain of 4 or 6 to 1 is shown over brushed work. + +In some cases it has been found an advantage to spray one coat and +to brush the other, especially where some difficulty is experienced +in masking, and, in such cases, the only way to arrive at the most +satisfactory method is by actual test. + +In other cases, such as bronzing, with a celluloid medium, it is +absolutely impracticable to apply these bronzes, save with the spray, +unless the old method of varnishing and afterwards dusting on the +bronze is adopted; but, of course, against spraying, such an obsolete +method as the latter has absolutely no chance when speed is considered. + +Iron piano frame manufacturers have almost universally adopted the +system of spraying bronze on the frames. Where the old-fashioned method +is still in use, it is usually because the quantity of frames to be +dealt with is hardly large enough to justify the outlay required in the +purchase of a plant. + +Another advantage should be mentioned. The special celluloid japans now +largely used for application by means of compressed air obviate the +necessity of a considerable amount of rubbing down and papering, etc., +which cannot be dispensed with when the liquid is applied by means of a +brush. + +For the purpose of comparison, it may be said that these japans may +be sprayed upon such articles as buttons, medallions, electrical and +bedstead fittings, and also on wood brush-handles and furniture, large +and small, with a gain of 5 to 1 over brushing. + + +OBJECTIONS SOMETIMES URGED AGAINST SPRAYING. + +Having explained the advantages of the spraying system, we may now +consider the objections which are occasionally raised against it. + +One of the arguments most frequently used is that the effect thereby +obtained must be less durable than is the case of the brushed effect. + +Why such a theory should be advanced is a little obscure, for, +theoretically, it is possible to apply, with a properly fitted plant, +a far more even coat than is the case when brushing, and seeing that +such paint is applied with the idea of protecting the article against +rust, or corrosion, or of improving the appearance, the argument is for +rather than against spraying. + +However, to come to the practical side, the evidence is all in favour +of spraying, for it has been proved by many exhaustive tests by +independent persons, that, with the same material treated in the same +manner, _i.e_., either air dried or stoved after spraying or brushing, +there is no difference in the durability of the japan or paint, and +that the sprayed result has this advantage, that some little gain in +time is effected in the period occupied in drying or stoving of the +paint. + +Another objection is sometimes raised to the application of paint by +means of the spray to rough and uneven surfaces. The argument here is +that it is impossible to make the paint adhere to the surface, save +with a good stiff brush. + +Such arguments ignore the pressure at which the paint is applied, which +is usually between 30 and 45 lbs. per square inch, and are mainly based +on unfortunate experiences with early types of whitewashing machines, +which have already been pointed out to be entirely unsuited to painting +problems. + +Again here, it may be positively stated that in no case has it been +found that a less durable finish is obtained with the spray. As a fact, +an advantage is to be recorded in that on rough surfaces the gain in +time is enormous, for such surfaces may be spray-painted as rapidly as +the smoothest surface obtainable, whereas the labour of brushing such +rough surfaces is very considerable. + +Still another objection which may be mentioned is the slightly mottled +appearance which the sprayed surface sometimes shows when finished--if +such can be objected to seriously. + +This objection may be met by the statement that such a mottled effect +is only apparent when the paint has not been specially prepared for +spraying, and is mainly due to the fact that mediums used dry rather +too rapidly and do not allow the paint (which is, of course, applied +in minute spots) to flow out. + +The remedy is naturally to re-model the paint should the mottled +appearance be objected to, but most certainly such an effect, if +not pronounced, is not any worse than brush marks, which are always +noticeable unless rubbing down has been done. + +In passing, it may be stated that most of the large paint and varnish +manufacturers have experimental plants for producing spraying +materials, and they are naturally well able to answer any queries which +may be likely to arise and which may not be adequately dealt with here. + +Many firms who consider the question of adopting a spraying plant seem +to have the idea that while the principle is admirable for many trades, +yet it cannot be successfully employed in their particular case, and +one frequently finds the manufacturer of small goods wondering why his +neighbour opposite, who makes, we will say, motor bodies, does not +install a plant, although, of course, in his own case the question is +impossible. Most probably, at the same time the said neighbour has +precisely similar thoughts, save that he considers the only proper use +for a plant is in small work. + +Occasionally one hears the opinion advanced that primers or fillers +cannot be applied with a sprayer, or, if so applied, it is at a risk +that they will either crack or peel off afterwards. + +This objection may just as readily be advanced in the case of brushing. +If trouble of this kind occurs, it is not due to the method of +spraying, or brushing, so much as to the way in which the paint has +been used. This statement sounds paradoxical, yet it will be understood +by practical men. For instance, it is obvious that motor bodies, par +exemple, must be dealt with by the expert coach-painter as far as the +methods, number of coats, etc., to be employed are concerned, even +though the work may be carried out by unskilled labour, and naturally +whether brushed or sprayed, motor bodies cannot be well done by novices. + +To summarise, it may be confidently stated that whatever difficulties +there may be in the application of paints, enamels, varnishes, +lacquers, etc., by means of brushes in the ordinary way, these are +certainly never accentuated but are in most cases considerably lessened +by the use of an adequate spraying plant. + + +SPRAYING AND DIPPING COMPARED. + +In considering those articles which may be dealt with either by dipping +or spraying, the manufacturer has first to take into account the number +of coats necessary. + +If, for instance, to produce the correct finish on a cycle frame, when +dipping, needs three coats, and assuming that the same effect may be +obtained in two when spraying (and this is frequently the case), then +spraying must be considered to rank favourably with dipping, and if +allowance be made for the time taken to drain, and the room occupied +with an elaborate dipping plant, then again spraying scores, for a +cycle frame can be sprayed in 1 to 1½ minutes, or, say, 40 to 50 frames +per hour, which is very little, if any, less than can be comfortably +dealt with by dipping, and, of course, no time is lost in draining. + +If, on the other hand, gas is so cheap as to be of little consequence +whether two or three stovings are necessary, and if some of the work +can be done with two coats, then the saving effected when spraying +would not be sufficient to warrant the outlay necessary for a modern +compressed air plant, _unless_ a fair proportion of coloured work, not +easily dipped, was required to be dealt with. In this latter case, a +spraying plant ought to receive very serious consideration. + +To take another case. Some gas fires may be dipped, but, owing to their +weight and to the fact that they are seldom entirely free from grit or +dust, they are not a satisfactory type for dipping, and we venture to +state that all the leading gas engineers have dropped the question of +dipping such work in favour of spraying, although in some cases, for +gas cookers, the accessories, such as burners, bars, racks etc., are +dipped. + +Such accessories are as readily sprayed, but as only one coat is +applied, naturally no saving is shown over dipping. + +Other goods sprayed or dipped are steel implements, hoes, spades, +shovels, axes, picks, etc., and in some cases it is an advantage to +dip where the same colour, black, red, etc., is needed, say, half-way +up the spade or hoe, but otherwise spraying should be adopted; and, of +course, in many cases where two colours are employed it is out of the +question to dip, the only alternative being to spray or brush--spray +for preference on account of the enormous saving of time over brushing. + +Where very small articles are dealt with in bulk and can be so handled +that trays may be used, then these are undoubtedly better dipped; but +if various colours are needed it is better to still use the trays, but +to spray them, as the speed is approximately the same as when dipping. + +A tray full of camera parts is sprayed almost instantaneously and with +a far better finish than if dipped. + +To sum up the various arguments advanced on this subject, we may come +to the following conclusion. + +As already intimated, the saving effected by painting by immersion or +by spraying as compared with brushing is very large indeed, provided +that a properly equipped plant is employed, and the paint or enamel is +exactly fitted for the purpose. The question must often arise as to +whether dipping or spraying is the best and cheapest to employ. The +answer is that everything will depend upon the nature of the article +that is to be painted. Speaking generally, painting by immersion +possesses many advantages, because the actual work of applying the +paint is done in a few minutes and every part of the article is covered +with paint at one time. In reaping machinery, iron treads of staircases +and many other parts of the kind in which there are a large number of +small parts or depressions, paint dipping cannot be improved upon; on +the other hand, spraying possesses distinct advantages in dealing with +many classes of goods which are of such a shape or character that if +the paint were applied by dipping some accumulation in parts would +inevitably occur. + +A decision on the subject can only be arrived at after a very careful +study in comparison of the two methods. It will frequently be found +that, on the whole, the most economical plan to pursue is to dip the +first and subsequent coats, excepting the last, and to spray this on, +particularly when it consists of varnish or a viscous liquid. It is +in this particular that one can draw a wide distinction between the +two methods. In dipping, the paint must not be very thick, and, as +previously stated, in designing a paint for the purpose the greatest +effort is made to produce one which gives a happy medium between +excessive thickness and the reverse, too thin a coat. Just as soon as +the peculiarities of the article to be painted necessitate the use of +all thick paint or enamel it must be considered that dipping is not +suitable, but that spraying is. The latter may be employed successfully +with any liquid up to the thickness of tar. + +[Illustration: Fig. 111.--AIROSTYLE PLANT SHOWING VENTILATOR AND +PORTION OF HOODS FOR 4 OR 6 HOODS PROVIDING FOR SUBSEQUENT ENLARGEMENT.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 112.--ELEVATION OF SPRAYING PLANT.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 113.--ELEVATION OF SPRAYING PLANT.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 114.--PLAN OF FIGS. 111 AND 112.] + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE ARTISTIC APPLICATION OF PAINT SPRAYING. + + +Some of the smaller and more delicate types of spraying apparatus are +largely employed for such purposes as the following:--Black and white +and water-colour drawing, photograph finishing, preparing pictures +for process blocks, Christmas cards, window tickets, embossed cards +and small stencil and shaded work on fabrics, wood, glass, metal, +leather, etc., lithographic work, picture painting in oils, decoration +of pottery and stencil and shaded work of all kinds. They are also +employed for producing very charming effects in wallpaper. The writer +has seen most creditable examples of work done in this way on menu +cards, lamp shades, and even stencilled ornaments on men's ties. + +A few examples of this class of work are given in the accompanying +illustrations. + +It may be pointed out that when decorative work is required on metal +work or engineering appliances, it can in most cases be done by +spraying without much difficulty, aided in some cases by stencils +specially cut for the purpose. Thus the outline of a trade mark, a +monogram or a coat-of-arms, or heraldic device can be easily sprayed +and be then finished by hand. + +Again, the lining on a motor or carriage can, if care is taken, be done +by the same means, although it must be said that the result is never +quite equal to that produced by the hand of a skillful worker. + +In relief work, such as ornamental iron, pressed paper, etc., some +pretty effects may be produced by spraying a different colour to +that of the ground in such a manner that only one side of the relief +receives the second colour. This is effected by directing the spray +from the side. Most readers will be familiar with these effects +produced on menu cards, concert programmes, etc. The possibilities in +connection with relief metal work are many. + +Another series of effects in which brilliancy of colouring is required +may be referred to in passing. Sometimes a bright red or a bright green +is desired for the finish of a particular piece of work. In such cases +a use of the process known as "colour glazing" is recommended. For +example, an agricultural implement or any other article which it is +desired should have a bright crimson finish can be first painted with +Venetian or Indian red, by either spraying or dipping, and then have +a coat of crimson lake, which will give an excellent effect. As the +crimson lake is somewhat fugitive a protecting coat of varnish will be +required. + +All glazing colours may be applied by dipping, because, being +semi-transparent, they are all very fine, and the coats may be thin, +but the varnish should be applied by spraying or by hand. It may of +course, be of a variety suitable for baking or stoving if required. + +This process is an alternative to using coloured enamels, and in some +cases gives better results. Much depends upon the colour and the +constituents of the enamels. Many of the lakes are very sensitive to a +high heat, which changes the colour to a dirty brown. In such cases a +final coat of stoving varnish, if carefully handled, will be safer than +some grades of enamel. + + +SCUMBLING AND COLOUR GLAZING. + +For convenience of reference we include a short list of glazing colours +taken from Andrew Miller's "Scumbling and Colour Glazing," published +by the Trade Papers Publishing Co., Ltd., 365, Birkbeck Bank Chambers, +London, W.C. + + +GLAZING. + +The principal colours used for glazing are cadmium, crimson lake, +Prussian blue, lemon and orange, chrome, yellow, Brunswick green, +carmine, madder lake, Chinese blue, cobalt, indigo, gamboge, terra +verte and emerald green. These colours may be used ground in either +linseed oil, turpentine or water. Some of them are rather expensive, +but the coat being very thin a little colour goes a long way. + +Following is a list of ground colours with the glazing which may be +used in conjunction with them. They by no means exhaust the range of +effects, but are given as suggestions:-- + +[Illustration: Fig. 115.--DESIGNS FOR LAMP SHADES (OPENED OUT) DONE BY +SPRAYING.] + + +REDS. + +APRICOT.--Ground made up with zinc white, middle chrome, and +vermilionette, glazed with crimson lake. + +BEGONIA.--White zinc, vermilionette and Prussian blue, glazed with +brown madder lake. + +CARNATION.--White zinc and vermilion, glazed with crimson madder lake. + +CLARET.--Zinc oxide, Venetian red and vermilion glazed with brown +madder lake; or zinc oxide and ultramarine blue, glazed with carmine. + +CORAL.--White zinc, vermilion and lemon chrome, glazed with crimson +lake. + +FLESH COLOUR.--White zinc, yellow ochre and Venetian red, glazed with +burnt sienna. + +GERANIUM.--Bright Derby red and orange chrome, glazed with crimson lake. + +LILAC.--White lead, vermilion and ultramarine blue, glazed with brown +madder lake. + +MAGENTA.--Zinc oxide and ultramarine blue, glazed with crimson lake. + +PEACH.--Zinc oxide, vermilion and lemon chrome, glazed with cadmium +(deep); or white lead and Venetian red glazed with carmine. + +PLUM.--Zinc white, Indian red, and ultramarine blue, glazed with +carmine; or white lead and Indian red, glazed with ultramarine blue. + +POMEGRANATE.--Zinc white, Venetian red and lemon chrome, glazed with +burnt sienna. + +RUSSET.--Venetian red, orange chrome, lemon chrome, glazed with emerald +green (thin). + +ROSE.--Zinc oxide and vermilion, glazed with crimson lake; or white +lead and lemon chrome, glazed with carmine. + +TERRA-COTTA.--White zinc and Venetian red, glazed with burnt sienna. + + +BLUES. + +AZURE BLUE.--Zinc oxide and ultramarine blue, glazed with cobalt. + +BRONZE BLUE.--Zinc white and Prussian blue, glazed with black japan. + +CHINA BLUE.--Zinc white, cobalt and raw sienna, glazed with indigo. + +GOBELIN BLUE.--White, blue black, Prussian blue, glazed with emerald +green. + +MARINE OR SEA BLUE.--Ultramarine, ivory black, glazed with cobalt; or +white, raw sienna and cobalt, glazed with indigo. + +METALLIC BLUE.--Zinc white and cobalt, glazed with emerald green; or +zinc oxide, Prussian blue, black, glazed with indigo. + +MAUVE.--Zinc oxide and cobalt glazed with carmine; or zinc oxide and +celestial blue glazed with carmine. + +PEACOCK BLUE.--Zinc oxide and ultramarine, glazed with emerald green; +or zinc oxide and Prussian blue, glazed with cobalt. + +TURQUOISE.--Zinc white and cobalt, glazed with emerald green. + +WEDGWOOD.--Zinc white, Prussian blue, glazed with terra-verte. + + +YELLOWS. + +AMBER.--Zinc white, golden ochre, glazed with cadmium (deep); or white +lead and lemon chrome, glazed with cadmium. + +ANTIQUE BRASS.--Zinc white lead, orange chrome, glazed with Vandyke +brown or black japan. + +BRASS.--Yellow ochre, white lead, orange chrome glazed with Vandyke +brown. + +CANARY.--Zinc white and Naples yellow, glazed with emerald green (thin). + +CHAMOIS.--Zinc white and middle chrome, glazed with terra-verte. + +CITRON.--Zinc white and middle chrome, glazed with brown madder lake +(thin); or white lead, Venetian red, lemon chrome, glazed with Prussian +blue. + +DAFFODIL.--Zinc white, lemon chrome, glazed with burnt sienna. + +GOLD.--Zinc oxide, golden ochre, vermilionette, glazed with raw sienna. + +OLD GOLD.--Middle chrome, vermilion, burnt sienna glazed with cobalt +(thin); or zinc oxide, Oxford ochre, glazed with burnt sienna. + +PRIMROSE.--Zinc oxide, lemon chrome, Naples yellow, glazed with emerald +green. + +TOPAZ.--Zinc oxide, raw sienna, lemon chrome, glazed with cadmium +(deep). + + +GREENS. + +APPLE GREEN.--Zinc oxide, Prussian blue, glazed with cadmium (middle); +or lemon chrome, zinc oxide, celestial blue, glazed with lemon chrome. + +DUCK-EGG GREEN.--Zinc oxide, lemon chrome, glazed with Prussian blue. + +EAU-DE-NIL.--Zinc oxide, lemon chrome, Prussian blue, glazed with +emerald green. + +GRASS GREEN.--Zinc oxide, Oxford ochre, glazed with cobalt. + +IVY GREEN.--Zinc oxide, lemon chrome, burnt sienna, glazed with +Prussian blue. + +MYRTLE GREEN.--Zinc oxide and ultramarine, glazed with emerald green. + +OLIVE.--Zinc oxide, lemon chrome, burnt sienna, glazed with emerald +green. + + +BROWNS. + +CHESTNUT.--Yellow ochre and middle chrome, glazed with burnt sienna; or +burnt sienna and orange chrome, glazed with Vandyke brown. + +CHOCOLATE.--Burnt sienna, vermilion, ultramarine glazed with crimson +lake; or burnt sienna and Indian red, glazed with Vandyke brown. + +CHERRY.--Raw sienna and burnt sienna, glazed with raw umber. + +NUT BROWN.--Venetian red, lemon chrome, zinc oxide, glazed with burnt +sienna. + + +GRAYS. + +COOL GRAY.--Zinc oxide and ivory black, glazed with Prussian blue. + +DOVE.--White, ivory black, Prussian blue, glazed with terra-verte. + +FAWN.--White, raw sienna, glazed with raw umber. + +HELIOTROPE.--Zinc oxide, vermilionette, glazed with ultramarine. + +LAVENDER.--Zinc oxide, ultramarine and carmine, glazed with cobalt. + +MOUSE GRAY.--Zinc oxide, Prussian blue, glazed with burnt umber. + +PEARL GRAY.--White, Prussian blue, and vermilion, glazed with terra +verte; or zinc oxide, vermilion, glazed with emerald green. + +SILVER GREY.--Zinc oxide, ivory black, glazed with indigo. + +OPAL.--Zinc oxide, celestial blue, glazed with burnt sienna. + +WARM GRAY.--Zinc oxide, Venetian red and ivory black, glazed with +Vandyke brown. + +WEDGWOOD GRAY.--Zinc oxide, Prussian blue, glazed with terra verte. + +NOTE.--The terms "Zinc white," "White zinc" used above, all mean pure +zinc oxide. + + +SCUMBLING AND GRAINING. + +It is sometimes desired to obtain a different effect from plain paint +or enamel, and to either imitate graining, such as old oak or to give +mottled effects. Both processes are produced by scumbling, which means +that the ground and finishing colours are different in hue or in +intensity, and that portions of the latter are removed to show part of +the ground. Thus, in imitating oak, the ground might be painted with a +mixture of zinc oxide and yellow ochre, and the graining colour be made +of burnt umber and raw sienna. Both coats could be applied either by +dipping or spraying, but while the latter is wet, portions should be +removed by combs and by the thumb held over a piece of rag, both marks +being intended to represent the grain of the wood. In other cases, +the colours may be applied as before, and the last coat, while wet, +be wiped away at the edges, or in the case of relief metal work, at +the highest parts. Again, some excellent effects are obtained by using +different colours for the two coats, as suggested, and stippling the +second, while wet. + +Space will not permit of a more lengthy reference to this part of the +subject, but full information can be obtained from Mr. Miller's book +already mentioned. Something should be said, however, about + + +BRUSH GRAINING, + +because it is so very well suited for work of this character, and by +its use some very pleasant effects may be produced. + +[Illustration: Fig. 116.--SHOW CARD DONE BY SPRAYING.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 117.--ANOTHER EXAMPLE.] + +In this case, a material such as "Matsine," or "Scumblette" is applied +by spraying over a different coloured ground, and, while wet, this is +"flogged," or a dry brush is drawn over the surface, removing hair-like +parts which expose the ground colour beneath. Thus a very dark green +or even black may be used over a white or nearly white ground, or a +very dark red over an orange chrome ground. Various metallic effects +may also be produced on wood or other materials by using silver, +aluminium, gold or copper leaf, and partly spraying over it a lacquer +of suitable colour. + +The actual graining can be done in the ordinary way by an expert +artisan, but as a rule this would be too costly when perhaps thousands +of iron or other goods are to be turned out in a short time. In such +a case transfer graining paper is sometimes employed, but this also +is somewhat costly. Bellamy's graining rollers are found to be very +economical. This tool consists of a cylinder on the outside of which +is engraved the grain of various woods, such as oak, mahogany, maple, +satin wood, birch, walnut and ash. All that is necessary in working +it, is to pass the roller over the surface immediately after the +graining colour has been applied, when it will be found to remove some +of the paint and give the appearance of graining. This appearance is +considerably enhanced if the parts are softened after the roller is +used by going over the work with a badger softener. + + +MARBLE GROUNDS. + +For the convenience of those who are called upon to imitate marble for +any class of work, the following information is given as to the colours +to be employed for the ground colours. + +WHITE.--A dead white ground should be used mixed to dry hard and smooth. + +SIENNA.--White blended with a mixture of white and raw sienna in +irregular patches. + +PINK MARBLE.--The ground may be the same as that used for sienna, but a +little Venetian red should be added to give it a pinkish cast. + +ALABASTER.--Light cream ground made by adding a little middle chrome +and vermilion to white. + +ROUGE GROTTE.--This is a very beautiful marble which contains a large +number of different colours. The ground may be either white or Venetian +red, mixed with a little chrome yellow. + +GRANITE.--There are several varieties of granite, the principal being +termed "grey" and "red" respectively. To mix the former ground, add +a little black and Prussian blue with just a touch of Indian red to +white. The grounds for red granites can be produced by mixing Venetian +red and white. + +ROUGE ROYAL.--A mixture of Indian red, Venetian red and vegetable +black, with a little white, will make the correct colour for the ground +of this beautiful marble. It is very necessary that the ground be +quite "solid," and to produce this, two, or even three, coats may be +necessary. + +EGYPTIAN GREEN.--The ground should be a dead black. + +VERD ANTIQUE.--The same as above. + +DEVONSHIRE MARBLE.--Venetian red and ochre with a little white to +produce a light terra-cotta ground. + +BLACK AND GOLD.--A dead black ground should be used. + +DOVE.--In this case a white ground without gloss may be employed, but +a grey is better, such as that produced by tinting white with Prussian +blue, a little black and a very little Indian red. + +GREY.--The same as "dove." + +ST. ANNE'S--A dead black ground should be used. + + +GRAINING GROUNDS. + +POLLARD OAK.--The ground colour is prepared with a mixture of Oxford +ochre, Venetian red and white lead in proportions, to form a rich buff; +or white lead, chrome yellow and vermilion may be used. + +KNOTTED OR ROOT OF OAK.--This ground is exactly the same as the above. + +BIRCH.--The ground is prepared with white lead, a little Oxford ochre +and a little Venetian red, of which latter, however, only sufficient +must be used to make a very light buff colour. + +MAHOGANY.--The ground colour is prepared with the best Venetian +red, yellow ochre and a little white lead (or orange chrome may be +substituted for the yellow ochre). If it is desired to increase the +brilliancy of the colour, substitute vermilion for Indian red. If a +light ground is required use the same colours as above, adding more +white. The addition of a little vermilion will increase the richness of +the colour. + +ROSEWOOD.--The ground colour is mixed in the same manner as above +described for mahogany, but a little burnt Turkey umber and Victoria +lake is added. + +SATINWOOD.--A little Oxford ochre added to white lead gives the proper +ground for this wood. + +[Illustration: Fig. 118.--SHOWING THE BEAUTIFUL SHADED EFFECTS WHICH +MAY BE PRODUCED BY SPRAYING (STRONG).] + +WALNUT.--The ground is prepared with white lead, Venetian red and +Oxford ochre, with a small quantity of burnt Turkey umber, but not so +much as to destroy the appearance of the other colours and make them +poor. Neither red nor yellow should be in excess, but all should +be toned down with the umber. Although this colour may look dull when +mixed, it is only a relative dullness, and it will shine out brightly +enough when grained and glazed. + +BIRD'S EYE MAPLE.--This ground may be prepared with either white lead +and a little Oxford ochre, Venetian red or vermilion, but care must be +taken not to use too much. + +SATINWOOD.--The ground should be a yellowish white, obtained by adding +yellow ochre to white lead. + +NOTE.--Those who desire to obtain copies of marbles and woods printed +in colour, from which to copy, should obtain either or all of the +following books:--"The Art of Graining and Marbling," by James Petrie. +Price 25s. The Trade Papers Publishing Co., Ltd., 365, Birkbeck +Bank Chambers, High Holborn, London, W.C.; "The Art of Graining," +by W. Sutherland. Price 25s. A. M. Sutherland, 26, Oxford Road, +Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester; "Graining," by A. R. Van der Burg, +26s., Crosby Lockwood and Co., Stationers' Hall Court, London, E.C. + +In Fig. 119 is given an illustration of a fruit dish, the ornamentation +of which has been done by spraying. In Fig. 120 is shown a portion of a +table cover done by the "Airostyle" on a fine art fabric. + +There is, of course, no limit to the number of artistic designs which +may be produced by applying the paint by compressed air; indeed, the +air brush or spraying machine for this class of work produces results +which cannot be obtained in any other way. Several of the engravings +illustrate forms of advertising cards all done by spraying, while +Fig. 118 illustrates very well indeed the different effects in form +which may be produced by the spray properly used, such as the raised +panels, the sphere in the middle and the convex and concave portions +of cylinder. These examples are reproduced, with full acknowledgments, +from the "Book of Designs" by Chas. J. Strong, of the Detroit School of +Lettering, Detroit, Mich., U.S.A. The price of this book is £1 ($5.00), +and it contains an immense number of useful designs suitable for the +use of sign painters, show card writers and commercial artists. It may +be had in London from the office of the "Decorator," 365, Birkbeck Bank +Chambers, London, W.C. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE "FLOWING-ON" SYSTEM. + + +The very latest method of finishing automobiles which have steel bodies +is that at present in use by the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., at Trafford +Park, Manchester, and elsewhere. The method is a remarkable one not +only because of the great saving of time it effects, but by reason +of the fact that the "life" of the painted or enamelled surface is +prolonged by the improved method. + +Stated briefly, the process consists in coating the body with +blue-black enamel by means of gravity only; that is to say, the enamel +is placed in an elevated tank and discharged on to the work through a +flexible pipe and slotted nozzle opened by a lever which is actuated by +the thumb of the operator. Thus no spraying is required, while dipping +is out of the question, as only the outside of the body is required to +be painted. + +Each coat takes two minutes to apply to the whole surface of a +four-seated Ford motor body! An achievement which justifies our use of +the word "remarkable." + +But it will be convenient to explain how the present method came into +use. Until a few months ago the several undercoats were sprayed on the +work in the ordinary manner, but the finishing coat of varnish was +flowed on by the gravity apparatus now referred to. Then it was thought +that the undercoats might be applied by the same method, and some +careful experiments having been made, it was found that by dispensing +with the spraying and flowing on the coats a much more satisfactory +result was obtained. As the new method caused more paint to adhere to +the work than would be put on by the spray under ordinary conditions, +one coat, it was found, could be dispensed with altogether. There +was also less rubbing down required because of the very smooth coat +obtained by flowing on, and, above all, the time of applying the coat +was reduced to the extraordinarily short time of two minutes. + +[Illustration: Fig. 119.--A CHINA FRUIT DISH DECORATED WITH THE +AIROSTYLE.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 120.--TABLE COVER DECORATED WITH THE AIROSTYLE.] + +The apparatus employed for this work is of the simplest character. +The car body is placed upon a platform mounted upon wheels. This is +made of exactly the right size to fit between a V-shaped metal trough +which surrounds three sides of the body and is intended to receive the +superfluous paint, a considerable quantity of which drips into it from +the body as the enamel is applied. This trough, a sketch of which is +shown in Fig. 121, is slightly inclined so that the paint which drips +off all runs to one point, where it passes through a gauze covered +orifice, descends to a small tank beneath, whence it is pumped up to +the elevated tank above and is then ready to be used again. + +This elevated tank is cylindrical and holds, perhaps, 25 or 30 gallons. +It is stationed overhead some 12 or 15 feet high. From this tank +descends a flexible metal pipe or hose ending in a slotted nozzle, +opened by a lever, which is operated by the thumb of the workman and is +closed by a spring. This completes this simple though very effective +apparatus. + +The body of the car is made of stamped steel which has already received +a protective coat of paint of a dull red colour, the body being placed +upon the platform or bogie and being placed in position with the +V-shaped trough surrounding it on three sides. The first or undercoat +is given by rapidly passing the slotted end of the lever valve over +the surface, upon which the paint literally pours out. The top part +receives attention first and the paint runs down over the surface, +which it covers completely, excepting perhaps here and there, where the +discharge of paint is directed, and the whole of the outer surface of +the car is, as already stated, completely covered in two minutes. This +coat dries semi-flat. + +In order that the discharge pipe may be kept nearly vertical and be +moved around the car as the different sides are dealt with it is +provided, at its upper end close to the point where it joins the tank, +with a brass swivel union and a horizontal arm which swings around. A +stop-cock is also provided. + +The undercoat having been applied the body is allowed to rest for a +few minutes until the dripping ceases. It is then wheeled on the bogie +across the room to an oven, in which it remains for one hour at a +temperature of 160° F. This heat is found to be sufficient to bake the +paint but is not high enough to injure the woodwork which, of course, +forms part of the body. At the expiration of the hour a little stopping +of inequalities of the surface is usually found necessary, but in any +case the surface is lightly rubbed down with fine glass paper. + +[Illustration: Fig. 121.--SKETCH OF TROUGH TANK USED IN FLOWING ON +PAINT.] + +The body is now brought underneath a second tank with the V-shaped +surrounding trough exactly as before described, and here it receives +another coat of enamel or paint, which in this case has a little more +body and gloss. After stoving as before and at the same temperature the +surface is carefully but rapidly rubbed down with powdered pumice stone +and water applied by means of felt pads. + +There are a series of four troughs and tanks in all, corresponding +in number with the coats to be applied. From the third one the body +receives a third coat, is then baked or stoved, rubbed down with +powdered pumice and water, thoroughly cleaned off, and from the fourth +tank receives the final coat of varnish which completes the operation. +This coat of varnish is not stoved but is air-dried. The finish is a +blue-black picked out with very dark blue, and it is free from any +signs of runs or drips; in fact, no one could tell how the application +was made. As already remarked, the coats of paint are somewhat fuller +than would be the case if they were applied by spraying, and the +durability is thereby increased. + +The output from this department is 70 cars a day, a number which would +be practically impossible if the work were not so splendidly systemised. + +It should be observed that the varnish is applied in a separate room +from that used for the application of colour. This is done in order to +exclude dust, and also to maintain the temperature at 90° F. + +In considering the essential points of this method of finishing motor +bodies, it is clear that the system might be successfully applied in +very many other industries to a great variety of goods. The apparatus +is so simple in character that no engineer would have the least +difficulty in designing a plant suitable for any particular requirement. + +It must be admitted that the crux of the whole situation is the kind +of paint or enamel used. It must be sufficiently viscid to hold on to +the surface to which it is applied, sufficiently liquid to run off +freely without leaving runs, tears or "fat edges." And, above all, it +must flow out uniformly. All these conditions, however, apply also to +a dipping plant, and only require careful consideration on the part of +the paint manufacturer who has made a special study of the subject. +The varnish applied by this method must also be of a special character +so that it may flow out nicely without yielding too thick a coat, +which would be likely to lead to blemishes. Ordinary paint, enamel or +varnish, then, will not answer for this class of work, but special +products must be employed, and when these are obtained, the rest is +comparatively easy. + + +THE FLOCO PROCESS. + +This process is in some respects similar to that above mentioned, the +difference being that it is intended principally for the application of +varnish by flowing over a painted surface done by spray. The essential +difference in the apparatus is that the varnish, instead of being +discharged by gravity, is pumped up from a tank. It is largely used in +America, and is manufactured by the DeVilbiss Manufacturing Company, +Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A. It is particularly suitable for automobile bodies +and large surfaces generally. + +The process flows such materials as varnishes, enamels and japans, when +it is impracticable to spray them. It has superseded the inadequate, +inefficient flowing systems used in the past, and is also replacing +brush and dip methods as practised in many instances. + +The equipment of the process comprises a 15-gallon tank, drawn from one +sheet of steel and heavily tinned; 1-6 H.P. motor, housed in, driving a +rotary pump; regulator; nozzle; electric fittings; flexible fluid hose, +and galvanized iron drain trough on rack. All parts, excepting nozzle, +hose and trough, are mounted on a castered truck for moving about. The +truck is equipped with a rack around which to wind the hose when not in +use, and a holder for the nozzle. + +[Illustration: Fig. 122.--THE "FLOCO" SYSTEM OF PAINTING MOTOR BODIES.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 123.--SHOW CARD DONE BY SPRAYING (STRONG).] + +The finishing material, such as varnish, to be used is pumped from the +bottom of the tank by the electric motor-driven pump, in a continuous +stream, through the flexible hose, to the nozzle. The flow of material +is adjusted by the regulator, by means of which a varying amount is +not put into use and returned to the tank. In this way the flow from +the nozzle is instantly adaptable to any class of work and viscosity of +fluid without changing the speed of the motor. + +When the nozzle is closed the material pumped is all forced back into +the tank through the overflow. This, serves to agitate the material; in +fact, is the only agitation necessary with material containing pigment, +such as colour varnish. + +The body to be flowed is--as shown in Fig. 122--placed over the drain +trough. The operator first applies the material all along the top, +then flows it copiously over the upper half of the surface. Sufficient +material is thus, applied to insure a perfect flow to the bottom. The +job is allowed to drain into the trough which carries the material back +to the tank--here it is strained and, without the slightest waste, used +again. + +Only enough material is put into the tank to take care of the work at +hand, or to handle the day's production. The maximum amount of material +exposed is 15 gallons--the tank's capacity. The nozzle will operate +satisfactorily on a gallon of material. + +The tank, motor, pump and regulator are--as previously stated--mounted +on a truck fitted with casters, permitting of these parts being moved +about with the greatest of ease. Another appreciable advantage of this +style of arrangement is that an extra truck can be kept on hand and put +into immediate use in case of accident. + +The cleaning of the parts is simple. The nozzle of the machine is +detached and all of the material pumped out of the tank, after which a +small quantity of naphtha--or some other similar solvent--is put into +the tank and pumped through the machine. + +As the motor is only 1-6 H.P., the consumption of power is low. The +motor is made for all kinds of current, and can be attached to any +light socket. + +It may be observed that the pressure tank used in this equipment +permits of the use of heavier or more viscid enamels and paints than +would be possible where gravity was depended upon. In view, however, +of the success which has been met with in the case of the Ford Motor +Company, there appears to be no reason why the Floco process should not +be used for some of the undercoats, as well as for the finishing. + +The following article by M. C. Hillick appeared in "The Painters' +Magazine," of New York, and will doubtless be read with interest:-- + +The Willys-Overland automobile factory has recently been installed with +sixteen large enamelling furnaces or ovens having a volume of 48,000 +cubic feet and a capacity of 140 tons of enamelled product every ten +hours. These ovens have been electrified and they require approximately +5,500 horse-power. For some months past the Overland Company has been +testing one of these electrically-heated ovens, and the results have, +in every way, measured up to expectations. Formerly the company, in +common with practically all other companies using enamelling or baking +ovens, employed gas as the treating medium. The ovens now electrified +are almost entirely automatic in operation. When the oven is loaded the +closing of its doors automatically throws a switch which turns on the +current. A pyrometer which can be adjusted to operate at any desired +temperature rings a bell when the proper degree of heat is reached, +thus notifying the attendant, and also automatically turning off the +current. The electrically heated oven does away with all flue gases +and with their attendant dirt and spots. It also reduces the required +volume of ventilation to the minimum, thereby eliminating air currents +and the dust which, in greater or less degree, usually accompany them. +The electrification of the ovens does away with explosions, banishes +danger from fire, and gives an assured "safety first" to the workmen. +The heat is said to be non-oxidizing and, therefore, cannot scald the +operator. The working quarters are rendered comfortable and a higher +grade of work is made possible. + +[Illustration: Fig. 124.--SHOW CARD DONE BY SPRAYING (STRONG).] + +While for the custom shop painter it is a long way to such equipment, +the fact that these facilities are gradually being acquired leads +to the assumption that, in the course of a few years at most, some +portion of the work coming to the shop for painting repairs will be +handled through the baking oven. In connection with this subject of +enamelling and oven baking, the various costs of paint and varnish, +it is to be noted that the excessive temperature employed in baking +is being criticised as detrimental to the finish. Recent tests are +said to have been made which show that baking paint and varnish at the +maximum temperature shortens the life of the finish. Mr. J. W. Lawrie, +of the Chemical Works of Milwaukee, Wis., has stated that, as a rule, +the lower the temperature and the longer the time the paint and +varnish is baked, the finer the appearance, service and durability of +the finish and the greater its capacity for resisting moisture. The +finish will have more elasticity and deeper lustre. Mr. Lawrie is of +the opinion that twelve hours at 180 degrees are better than five hours +at 280 degrees. + +In some motor car shops, within the past two years, by the use of +baking ovens cars were painted and finished, all coats being baked, and +made ready for service in three days. However, we are not commending or +recommending this practice. For the custom shop painter, especially, +it is entirely unsuited. Nor would we recommend the baking process +for surfaces other than metal. The same disadvantages marshalled in +opposition to baking paint and varnish upon wood surfaces fifteen +years ago, or longer, still remain in evidence. For aluminium, sheet +steel or other metal panels or metal surfaces in general, the baking +process offers an opportunity for finishing work under conditions more +uniform than any which may be expected to prevail outside the oven. +An other advantage is noted in favour of oven baking. It permits the +use of more elastic materials without the aid of artificial oxidizing +agents. As compared to the present air-drying system, the oven baking +method, operated upon a conservative basis, permits the car to be +thoroughly painted and finished in six or eight days. The use of more +elastic materials--paints, colours and varnishes--has been mentioned as +a part of the oven baking method. Upon steel surfaces this is perhaps +more necessary than upon aluminium, and possibly iron. Steel has a +linear expansion double that of wood. As a matter of fact, experts in +these matters employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad assert that the +contraction and expansion of steel surfaces is much more pronounced +than the same action in wood. Materials of greater elasticity as +compared to those used in natural air-drying practice are urged. + +Primers and surfacers, and the general class of foundation coats, will +require an average of three hours' baking at 200 degrees F. While some +colours require higher degrees of heat than others, 170 degrees F. +baked for, say, six hours will dry the average colour, excluding white. +The latter pigment, baked at a temperature varying from 85 to 110 +degrees F., will dry properly in the course of a few hours, and retain +its natural purity of colour, whereas at a higher degree of heat the +white takes on an objectionable yellowish cast. Black, at the opposite +end of the colour pole, can be safely baked for six hours, at something +like 200 degrees F. Finishing varnishes, taking them as they run, will +bake at from 110 to 150 degrees F. for five or six hours. In all baking +practice the personal equation figures largely. Reason, good judgment, +the capacity for taking pains--all these are items of importance. + +Oven baking methods are being successfully employed in some of the +large city repainting establishments. A firm near New York, for +example, using what is known as the radio process, paints and finishes +a car in three days. The cleaning of the cars is accomplished by the +use of a steam jet, a treatment which is said to cut away the grease +like magic. All surface defects following the cleaning of the car are +touched up and faced over with the necessary filling and surfacing +materials. Then these patched-up parts are rubbed down with water and +rubbing brick, and the general surface of the car is lightly rubbed +with pulverized pumice stone and water. All colour, and varnish +colour, coats are applied with a paint atomizer. This atomizer is +a pistol-shaped device operated with a trigger, the material being +sprayed from the muzzle of the barrel. The varnish colour is baked for +three hours at a temperature of from 110 to 120 degrees. From 90 to +100 degrees of humidity are provided for the oven, and by means of an +exhaust fan a fresh supply of air is furnished every three minutes. +In the oven where the varnish colour coats are baked a thermostat is +installed, which regulates the temperature. All the air entering the +oven is washed and purified by running it through a water tank before +it enters the oven. This water-washed air is forced into the oven by a +fan blower, and contact with a radiator superheats it. + +In practice, the high humidity here referred to, and the water-washed +air, are mediums which serve to keep the outer surface of the drying +coat moist while the inner surface is drying, in this manner furnishing +in due time a paint film dried uniformly from top to bottom. + +The finishing varnish is dried in an oven having a maintained +temperature of from 90 to 100 degrees, the humidity being regulated +at from 60 to 70 percent. This humidity is likewise found to assist a +varnish film to dry uniformly throughout. + +[Illustration: Fig. 125.--DESIGN FOR SHOW CARD (STRONG).] + +The treatment of the car chassis in the establishment here referred to +is quite similar to that given the body of the car. A steam treated +potash bath is provided into which fenders and other removed parts +are immersed, removing all grease and foreign substances, and even the +paint, from such parts. These parts, after cleaning, are then dropped +into tanks containing the required paints, varnish colour, etc., after +which they are taken out and drained and then consigned to an oven +maintained at a uniform degree of heat. + +Other establishments having ovens installed are employing methods +designed to secure equally quick results without sacrificing any +measure of durability or appearance. + +In the absence of ovens, not a few car and carriage painters are +practising the so-called hot-air method as far as possible. Successful +results are reported in many instances, the work being turned out +quicker, with an increase in lustre advised in some cases. This method +is very simple and requires no previous experience or special training. +Anyone capable of providing the necessary degree of heat--85 to 95 +degrees F.--and maintaining it for eight or ten consecutive hours, can +have the benefit, in full measure, of the hot-air system. Coats of +paint, colour, varnish colour and varnish dry rapidly in a temperature +at the above degree, where the ventilation is good and a fair volume of +pure, fresh air can be constantly brought into the drying room. + + +NOTES ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOVES. + +The construction of stoves for use in connection with enamelling +and baking japans generally does not properly form part of this +treatise, but a few remarks on the subject may be of service. It is +to be regretted that in only too many cases the stoves employed are +very inadequate. In some cases they are heated by gas, and the jets +cause a certain amount of discoloration. This is objectionable even +when the work is black, but if it is coloured it may lead to serious +disadvantages. In Fig. 126 is shown a sketch of what is known as the +"Perkins System of Heating." It is largely adopted in many trades for +enamelling cycle frames and parts, lamps and motor horns, etc. It is +this system which is used by Messrs. Lucas, Limited, of Birmingham, a +description of whose plant is given elsewhere. In the "Perkins" system +water is heated under pressure, and the comparatively high temperatures +required for drying and other similar purposes are obtained in a simple +but efficient manner. + +The apparatus consists of circulations of hydraulic tubing, certain +proportions of which are formed into a coil and placed in a furnace +situated in any convenient position outside and below the drying +chamber. The apparatus is hermetically sealed and self-contained, +the heating water circulating from the furnace through the heating +pipes or coils and back again to the furnace without any loss through +evaporation. No pumps or moving parts of any description are required, +so that unskilled attention only is needed. + +[Illustration: Fig. 126.--THE PERKINS STOVE.] + +The illustration shows a simple application of the apparatus, which is +the type often employed for cycle and motor parts, bedstead frames, +electric apparatus parts, etc. The arrangement of the pipes, of course, +depends upon the class of work which has to be dealt with. + +[Illustration: Fig. 127.--A TYPICAL GOODYEAR STOVE.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 128.--DIPPING TROUGH.] + +In Fig. 127 is shown a type of stove manufactured by Goodyear and Sons, +Churchfield Works, Dudley. The construction is a great improvement +on the old-fashioned type of enamelling stoves, which through +faulty design were responsible for great loss through radiation and +combustion. The work done in such stoves is necessarily inferior. The +firm named are among those from whom may be purchased up-to-date stoves +heated by gas (ordinary lighting or producer), steam, superheated +water, and oil, either single, double, or treble cased suitable for +purposes which a few years back were hardly dreamt of, and which may be +said to range from hairpins to bedsteads, and include munitions of war, +such as stoves for shell drying and varnishing. A very important part +of the process of stoving is the rack and trolley system of transport +in and out of the stove, which in effect means that no article is too +heavy for such process. In the production of stoves for enamelling +certain firms have made a special study of the requirements, including +those above mentioned. + +[Illustration: Fig. 129.--SHOW OR MENU CARD (STRONG).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 130.--EXAMPLE OF METAL DECORATION--LID OF COAL BOX +DONE WITH AIROSTYLE.] + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +LIME AND WHITEWASH SPRAYERS. + + +As explained in previous chapters, this type of machine is of an +entirely different and much simpler construction than those used for +spraying oil paint, varnish, etc. Yet such apparatus is used to a very +considerable extent in factories of all kinds as well as for spraying +insecticides on fruit trees and other purposes of the agriculturist. By +the Factory and Workshop Act of 1901 it is provided that "all walls and +ceilings must be limewashed at least every fourteen months, and painted +and varnished work must be washed with hot water and soap at the same +periods. Special exceptions to this rule may be made by Special Order." +Such an order was made in 1911, which was to the effect that "when +at least two coats of washable water paint or sanitary distemper is +used instead of limewhite the period for renewing with one coat of +such paint shall be three years. The paint, however, must be washed at +least once in every three months. It is provided in this Order that +"If it appears to an inspector that any part of a factory to which +the exception applies is not in a cleanly state, he may, by a written +notice, require the occupier to limewash, wash or paint the same; and +in the event of the occupier failing to comply with such requisition +within two months from the date of the notice, the special exception +shall cease to apply to such part of the factory. In this Order a +washable water paint means a washable paint which, when finished for +use contains:--(i) at least half its weight of solid pigment containing +not less than twenty-five parts by weight of zinc sulphide as zinc +white (lithopone) in each hundred parts by weight of solid pigment and +(ii) at least ten parts by weight of oil and varnish to each hundred +parts by weight of solid pigment." + +It should be stated that the type of machine now under consideration +may be used for the application of such paint or distemper provided +that it is rendered sufficiently thin by the addition of water. If very +thick compressed air will be required as in the case of ordinary oil +paint. + +An excellent machine for applying limewash, whitewash or distemper is +made by Messrs A. C. Wells and Co., Engineers, London and Manchester. +It is used to a very large extent by engineers and in factories, +breweries, car sheds, cattle docks, etc. Builders, decorators, +corporations, etc. also find it of great service for special work. +The manufacturers state that over 5,000 of these machines have been +sold, and that they are fast taking the place of the old method of +limewashing with the brush. The speed with which lime, whiting or cold +water paint can be applied is from 10 to 20 square yards per minute. +A very distinct advantage of the machine over brushes is that when an +irregular surface, such as a brick wall, the joints of which are not by +any means perfect, is being dealt with, the lime or distemper is forced +in by the spray into the interstices which could not be reached by +the brush. These machines consist essentially of a pump with spraying +nozzle which is made in various forms, the simplest of which is that +shown in Fig. 131. + +[Illustration: Fig. 131.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 132.] + +This machine is designed to stand rough usage. The pump is simple +and easily removable for repairs, and the spraying nozzle, which is +naturally an important feature, can be regulated to any degree of +fineness. A patent filter is provided which prevents clogging. It will +be observed by the illustration that wheels are provided which enable +the machine to be easily removed from one place to another. A 15 ft. +armoured delivery hose and 5 ft. spraying pole for reaching the upper +portion of a surface to be sprayed is provided. The capacity is 8 +gallons. The machine shown in Fig. 132 is somewhat smaller and cheaper. +It contains 6 gallons. + +[Illustration: Fig. 133.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 134.] + +Fig. 133 shows a machine with a double spraying nozzle and valve +arrangement. This has several advantages over the single pattern; the +speed is almost double, and one jet can be put out of action if desired +when working in cramped places. It is a powerful machine with 12 gallon +tank and strong lever pump. It is supplied with large wheels and is +easily moved about, and is eminently suitable for anyone having a large +quantity of work to do quickly. + +In dealing with very high buildings either the single or double nozzle +is attached to a bamboo pole, as shown in Fig. 134. + +[Illustration: Fig. 135.--THE BROWN SPRAYER WITH EXTENSION ROD.] + +In Fig. 135 is shown an excellent machine suitable for spraying +whitewash, distempers and disinfectants. It is manufactured by the E. +C. Brown Co., of Rochester, N.Y. The pump is of a simple but effective +character; the valves are located so that they can be opened instantly +and are fitted with springs so that the operator can pump while the +machine is pointed in a downward direction. The strainer has five +inches of screen surface and the screen can be instantly removed and +cleaned. The pump barrel projects beyond the hand and serves as an +extension rod. The nozzle is guaranteed not to clog, and is fitted +with Messrs. Brown's patented screen arrangement. It throws four +different kinds of spray, one a solid stream, the second a broad +carrying spray, the third a long driving spray for ceilings and tops +of walls, and the fourth a fine spray which may occasionally become of +service for spraying work near at hand. + +There are several other makes of machines suitable for whitewash +spraying, among them one manufactured by Merryweather and Co., +Greenwich Road, S.E., The Bean Spray Pump Co., Los Angeles, California, +U.S.A., and the Four Oaks Spraying Machine Co., Sutton Coldfield, +Birmingham. The last named is particularly well adapted for spraying +insecticides upon fruit and other trees. + +[Illustration: Fig. 136.--THE MERRYWEATHER LIMEWHITE SPRAYER.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 137.--A TUMBLING BARREL.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 138.--ANOTHER FORM.] + + +THE TUMBLING BARREL PROCESS. + +This process of japanning small castings is very successful in those +cases where the parts are small and intricate in construction, and, +therefore, cannot either be dipped or sprayed, excepting with some +difficulty. The great advantage of tumbling is that such work is done +better and faster than by dipping. A machine, of which two examples +are shown in Figs. 137 and 138, is used in this process. Inside this +machine are placed a number of shot or steel balls of different sizes. +The articles to be treated are then introduced in the japan and the +machine is started at varying degrees of speed. The shot carries the +japan over the various parts and into the interstices. As different +objects and materials require different speeds, some work will be +started slowly and the speed increased to get the desired finish. +The objects are then dumped out on to wire screens or baskets, and +shaken, when the steel balls and shot fall through the mesh, leaving +the articles that have been japanned behind. The baskets are then hung +in baking ovens, while the balls are washed in gasoline ready for use. +The machines mentioned above are manufactured by the Baird Machine Co., +Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.A. The English agents are R. Cruickshank, +Ltd., Camden Street, Birmingham. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A PORTABLE PAINT SPRAYER FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER WORK. + + +Mr. M. E. McDonnell, Engineer of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, +Altoona, Pa., U.S.A., very kindly furnishes the author with the +drawings which will be found on the following pages. He says:--The +Company does very little painting by dipping. The spray process is, +however, used very extensively, a large percentage of our freight +cars having been painted by this method for years. The method is very +satisfactory and also economical. The saving in the cost of labour in +the spraying method is approximately 60 per cent. In some cases the +saving is greater than this. In one of our largest shops the cost of +application per unit for a given number of square feet is thirty-eight +and nine-tenth cents with the spray as compared with one dollar with +brush. It might be said that more paint is applied per coating when the +brush method is used. A given surface which would require 10 gallons of +paint for one coat by the brush method would require approximately 7 +gallons by the spray method. + +When painting a freight car a more uniform coating is obtained when +the brush is used, due to the fact that the paint can be brushed out +behind ladders and other things which would obstruct spraying, while in +the application of the paint with a sprayer it is necessary to apply +a thicker coating at certain points in order to reach other points +which are obstructed, and which must, therefore, be approached from a +side angle. The spray however, reaches certain crevices which cannot +be reached with the brush, which is in some cases advantageous with +the painting of freight equipment cars. Our Company would not consider +returning to the brush method of painting. + +The machines which we use for spraying the paint are made in the +Company shops. + +The following is a description of the apparatus referred to:-- + +It consists of a stout steel cylindrical receptacle 11½in. internal +dia. by 24in. in depth, and having a capacity of about 12 gallons. It +is supported on a special wheelbarrow of wood with trundling wheel of +cast iron. The bottom of the receptacle is so low down that it rests +on the ground when in use, by lowering the handles of the barrow. The +paint is placed in this cylinder and is forced out by air pressure, +introduced through the lid of the receptacle, at from 80 to 90 lbs. +pressure per square inch. This air is provided from the shop compressor +range or by a separate compressor. The paint pipe penetrates the +cover and is extended nearly to the bottom of the receptacle. The air +pressure on the surface of the paint forces it through this pipe to the +atomizer. + +A branch from the air supply is also taken to the atomizer and a third +air branch taken to the bottom of the receptacle and carried through +a 1in. iron pipe stopped at the end with a screw plug, but perforated +with a number of 1/8in. holes. This latter is for agitating the paint +and prevents settlement. The atomizer is shown clearly in the drawing. +It consists of an air jet impinging on a vena contracta nozzle and +surrounded by the paint forced through from the receptacle. The air +blast carries the paint through the orifice immediately opposite to the +nozzle and there reduces it to a fine spray. A hose is attached to the +exit of the atomizer and the atomized paint is carried by the blast to +the spray pipe, which is slightly fan-shaped and flat. + +The cover is fastened by four hook-clamps, and is, therefore, readily +removable. An air pressure gauge reading to 120 lbs. is also provided, +and the valves are so arranged that the regulation of both the paint +and the air supply are easily adjustable. + +It will be noticed that, in the atomizer, a vena contracta is +arranged so that it may be adjusted in its position in relation to +the air orifice. The use of this is to provide for paint of various +consistencies. Very great care has been taken in designing the details; +as, for example, the provision of a scraper to clear off accumulations +from the periphery of the trundling wheel. + +[Illustration: Fig. 139.--PLAN OF PAINT SPRAYING APPARATUS USED BY THE +PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD, PRINCIPALLY FOR FREIGHT CARS.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 140.--ELEVATION OF APPARATUS SHOWN IN FIG. 139.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 141.--DETAILS OF APPARATUS SHOWN IN FIGS. 139 AND +140.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +METAL SPRAYING. + + +Although the spraying of metal does not really come within the scope +of this book, the process is so closely allied to paint spraying +that it is considered advisable to devote a chapter to the subject, +particularly as the perfected process is of very recent date, and bids +fair to be used successfully in many industries. It should be stated at +once that a metallic coating may be applied to practically any surface, +and that almost any metal or alloy may be employed. + +Stated briefly, the process consists in melting metal in the form of a +rod or wire, by means of oxygen and coal gas, or other gas, depending +upon the metal used. The molten metal is sprayed at a high pressure, +and a surface may be quickly covered with the metal of any desired +thickness. A remarkable fact concerning the process is that the metal +is cooled to an extent that renders it possible to hold the hand in the +jet so as to receive a coat of metal without inconvenience, and samples +of wood and fabrics may be coated with metal without injury. + +A moment of consideration will render it clear that there is an immense +field for this process; for example, as aluminium can be sprayed, a +lining of that metal might be given to brewers' and cooking utensils, +etc., while tanks, barrels, reservoirs, intended to contain acids and +oils, can also be treated. In the production of blocks for printing, +in decorative work and mural decoration, there is an immense field, +while ships' bottoms, instead of being painted with composition, can +be copper-plated or sprayed with any other suitable metal, in order +to prevent incrustation. No doubt some very beautiful effects can be +produced by means of the process. + +It will be convenient now to describe the machine used for the +application of the metals. It consists of a pistol rather bulkier, but +not unlike in form, the usual spraying apparatus, see Fig. 142. + +[Illustration: Fig. 142.--THE METAL SPRAYING MACHINE OR "PISTOL."] + +[Illustration: Fig. 143.--THE METAL SPRAYER.] + +In Fig. 143 is shown very clearly the construction of the sprayer, +which it will be understood comprises a combined melting and spraying +jet and a feed mechanism. The metal, in the form of rod or wire, is +fed to the melting flame. This, as already stated, is formed by coal +gas burned in the air, or oxygen, water gas, acetylene, hydrogen, +etc., may be employed instead of the coal gas. The gases are supplied +at such a pressure as to prevent blowing out and to ensure a highly +deoxidizing flame. The spraying jet can be of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, +air, steam, etc., and it must be fed at such a pressure as to produce +a sufficiently high velocity for successful coating. The usual gauges +and reducing valves will, of course, be employed. The feeding of +the wire is accomplished by a small pneumatic motor, driven by the +spraying medium, either in series or parallel with the main jet. +The dimensions of the wire nozzle, and feed mechanism vary with the +different metals. To obtain a good adhesion between the metals being +sprayed and the surface to which it is to be applied, the latter must +be thoroughly clean and of an open nature, to give a key for the +deposit. Sandblasting is sometimes employed to effect this. + +Fig. 145 shows an enlargement of the nozzle with the different parts +marked. The cost of the process is not prohibitive; the cost of the +metal only on one square foot of a thickness of 0·001 inch is quite +small with the cheaper metals. The process is put on the market by the +British Metal Spray Co., Ltd., Queen Anne's Chambers, Tothill Street, +Westminster, London, S.W. + +In a paper read by Mr. R. K. Morcom before the Institute of Metals, the +following interesting information was given:-- + +[Illustration: Fig. 144.--SECTIONAL DRAWING OF THE METAL SPRAYING +MACHINE OR "PISTOL."] + +With a given design of jet there is only a certain volume left by the +air-jet which can be filled with flame, and this flame has a limiting +temperature which cannot be exceeded. The wire, passing through this +cone of flame receives heat, partly by radiation, but chiefly by +conduction, and becomes melted; but there is a definite limit to the +amount of heat which can be picked up by the wire passing through the +flame, and a definite limit to the rate at which it can be melted. This +cannot be increased by forcing more gas into the flame, as the extra +gas is merely blown away by the air-jet. It is possible to increase the +rate of melting by shaping the nozzles so as to leave room for a larger +cone of flame, and experiments are in progress on this point. There +is, therefore, a most definite economical quantity of gas which should +be used in the pistol, this quantity being about 1·5 cubic foot of +hydrogen per minute, and 0·5 cubic foot of oxygen; or about 0·8 cubic +foot of coal-gas to 0·65 cubic foot of oxygen for the present standard +designs. + +In refractory metals these quantities may be increased slightly, as +a slightly higher temperature can be obtained if the burning gases +are under a pressure greater than atmospheric, and this occurs if the +gas quantities are increased, the inner surface of the air-jet acting +to some extent as an enclosing wall to the flame. On the other hand, +for the more easily fusible and oxidizable metals, such as tin, lead, +and zinc, it is advisable to keep the gas quantities rather below the +figure given, so as to avoid any possibility of overheating and burning +any portion of the wire. + +The outer jet performs a threefold purpose: it keeps the nozzles and +wire cool, it cools the object, and it produces the requisite velocity. + +[Illustration: Fig. 145.--DIAGRAMMATIC REPRESENTATION OF MELTING AND +SPRAYING JETS IN ACTION.] + +The velocity of the air leaving the jet will be independent of the +volume discharged, and depends only upon the pressure at the jet, so +long as there is no disturbance due to the entraining of air from +the surrounding atmosphere. This, of course, will actually occur in +practice, and the layer of air must have a certain thickness in order +to prevent its being broken up, and its velocity destroyed by mixing +with the surrounding atmosphere. + +As at present constructed the standard pistol uses about 0·55 to 0·6 +cubic foot per minute for every 1 lb. per square inch air pressure, +so that with an air supply at 80 lb. per square inch, which is a very +suitable figure for ordinary spraying, the air consumption will be from +45 to 50 cubic feet per minute. + +The bulk of this will be from 830 to 920 grammes, and the mass of metal +sprayed by this air will be from about 8 grammes in the case of iron to +about 200 grammes in the case of lead. + +The action of deposition is probably a complex one. The minute +particles of solid metal are driven with such force against the object +that, in some cases, they fuse, but owing to their small relative +size, are promptly chilled by the object to which they adhere. If any +of the particles are molten or gaseous they will adhere. In addition, +the suddenly chilled particles are possibly, or even probably, in the +state of unstable equilibrium found in "Prince Rupert's Drops," and act +like so many minute bombs, bursting on impact into almost molecular +dimensions, and penetrating the smallest cracks and fissures of the +object. + +The process requires some care in manipulation, as, by varying the +conditions, it is possible to spray porous or non-porous coatings, +and, with some metals, anything from a pure metal to a pure oxide. +With care, however, non-porous, oxide-free, adherent coatings can be +produced, of almost any metal on almost any solid. + +In addition to metals, it is possible to spray fusible non-metals, +or, by stranded wires, alloys of metals or mixture of metals with +non-metals. + +The process is so new that its uses are still partly to be developed. +But it is easy to see that it may have far-reaching value for +protective coatings against weather or fire, for ornament, for +electrical resistance and conductors, for the production of special +alloys, for joint making, and for many other purposes. + +Quite in a different category comes that of very fine casting. The +surface of a pattern, polished or slightly greasy, is most minutely +copied, and it is possible to produce process blocks very rapidly. It +may be useful to line moulds before pouring in a metal. The application +of the process to the production of very fine or coarse metallic +powders is being investigated. + +The bulk of the work has hitherto been carried on in laboratories, +but the apparatus is gradually becoming used in the more progressive +factories, where extended facilities, and the knowledge of specialised +requirements, will ensure a rapid improvement in technique and results. + +[Illustration: Fig. 146.--AN EXAMPLE OF SPRAYED DECORATIVE WORK. +(AEROGRAPH.)] + +[Illustration: Fig. 147.--SHADED WORK BY THE AEROGRAPH.] + +The research on the lower melting point metals has been greater than on +the others, and undoubtedly the economy with them both can be greatly +improved. Preheating of gases and air, supplementary flames acting +in front of the main jet, and electrical methods of heating, are all +still the subject of experiment. + +The following metals are among those which have been successfully +sprayed by this process:--Aluminium, brass, bronze, copper, +cupro-nickel, iron, gold, nickel, silver, tin, zinc, lead. + +It will be obvious that this method is a most useful one to employ +when it is desired to prevent iron from rusting on machine parts which +cannot possibly be treated by chemical or other anti-rust processes, +and be rendered immune from rusting by treatment where they stand. To +give some idea of the cost, it may be said that if the thickness of +0.001 of one inch of zinc is deposited, the cost of metal for coating +10 square feet would only be a fraction over 4d.; while for lead the +cost would be about 2d. The amount of gas used is not a large item, +being at the rate per minute of 0.50 cubic foot of oxygen and 0.55 +cubic foot of coal gas when spraying zinc, and 0.101 cubic foot less +in each case where lead is being used in the pistol. These figures are +given on the authority of the "Daily Telegraph." + +[Illustration: Fig. 148.--SHOW CARD.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 149.--A SPRAYED FRIEZE (AEROGRAPH).] + + + + +INDEX + + + PAGE + + Accessories 121-133 + + Advantages of Dipping 22 + + Advantages of Dipping Piano Cases 46 + + Aerograph 81 + + Aerograph Air Pump and Tank Combined 118 + + Aerograph Electric Motor Outfit 83 + + Aerograph Spraying Cabinet 127 + + Aerograph Turntable 134 + + Aeron 85-87 + + Agitating Apparatus 9-15 + + Agricultural Implements, Dipping 58 + + Air Drying Enamels 180 + + Air-drying coloured Japans 157 + + Air Heater 137 + + Air Pump and Tank Combined 118 + + Air Pump for Large Installation 119 + + Air Transformer Set 93 + + Airostyle 97 + + Airostyle Air Compressor 115 + + Airostyle Central Draught Fan 125 + + Airostyle Plant 121 + + Airostyle Plants for 16 Operators on Small Work 155 + + Airostyle Plant Showing Ventilator 199 + + Alabastine 29 + + Apparatus for Dipping Piano Cases 42 + + Application of Stoving Enamels 179 + + Artistic Application of Paint Spraying 201 + + Artists' Type of Invincible Sprayer 107 + + Asbestine 73 + + Auto Electric Air Heater 137, 139 + + Auto Filter 93 + + Automatic Control of Drying Room 68 + + Automatic Electric Controller 111 + + Automatic Finishing of Pianos 42 + + Automobiles, Latest Method of Finishing 216 + + + Baird Machine Co. 249 + + Baking Enamel 63 + + Baking Heats, Safe for Pigment Colours 187 + + Baking or Stoving, Hints on 180 + + Barytes, Precipitated 70 + + Baskets, Fancy 147 + + Bean Spray Pump Co. 247 + + Bearings, Paint Proof 13 + + Bedsteads 33 + + Bedsteads, Dipping 58 + + Bedsteads, White Work 184 + + Berkel and Parnall's Slicing Machine Co., Ltd. 167 + + Bin for Spraying Light Articles 148 + + Birmingham Small Arms Co. 147-164 + + Black Japan Finishes 183 + + Blinds for Paint Dipping Tank 10 + + Block and Tackle 93 + + Blooming of Varnish 68 + + Blues 205 + + Bone Black 70 + + Bookbinding 146 + + Brown, E. C. & Co. 246 + + Brown Sprayer with Extension Rod, The 246 + + Browns 207 + + Bronzing 194 + + Brush Graining 208 + + Brushing versus Spraying 193 + + Burnt Sienna 70 + + + Cabinets 127 + + Cadby, G. & Sons 164 + + Cans, Painting by Dipping 7 + + Carriage Department, Woolwich Arsenal 54 + + Carriages 146 + + Carriers for Dipping Piano Cases 42 + + Casements 7, 37 + + Casements Dipping 60, 61, 65 + + Casements, Steel 60 + + Celluloid Buttons 3 + + Celluloid Varnish, Recipe for 150 + + Central Draught Fan 125 + + Chicago White Lead and Oil Co. 188 + + China Clay 73 + + China Fruit Dish Decorated with the Airostyle 217 + + Cleaning Metal Parts 41 + + Coach Body Painting 55 + + Coal Box, Metal Decoration done by Airostyle 241 + + Coats of Paint, number 21 + + Collapsible Gates 33 + + Colour Glazing 202 + + Colour on Bedsteads 33 + + Colour Specimens, Spraying 153 + + Colour Varnishes, Transparent 184 + + Coloured Enamels 59 + + Compressed Air, Painting by 78 + + Compressed Air, Supply of 113 + + Compressor for Airostyle Plant 165 + + Concentric Form of Spray 79 + + Construction of Airostyle 98 + + Cost of Paint Dipping Plant 2 + + Cover for Tank 11 + + Crabs 18 + + Crane Eureka 103 + + Crane Record 104 + + Crittall Manufacturing Co. 60 + + Cycle Frames 197 + + Cycle Parts 146 + + + Davis Gas Stove Co., Ltd. 161, 165 + + Decorative Work, an Example of Sprayed 261 + + Deed Boxes 38 + + Demar Varnish 75 + + Designs for Lamp Shades Done by Spraying 203 + + De Vilbiss Air Compressor 115 + + De Vilbiss Auto Cool Fan 125 + + De Vilbiss Fumexer or Spraying Cabinet 131 + + De Vilbiss Manufacturing Co. 85 + + Diogrammatic Representation of Melting and Spraying + Jets in Action 259 + + Different Trades in Spraying, Requirements of 33, 141 + + Dipping and Spraying Compared 197 + + Dipping and Spraying Paints Compared 188 + + Dipping Casements 61, 65 + + Dipping Paints 7, 70, 72 + + Dipping Process, Advantages of 22 + + Dipping, Quantity of Paint Required for 77 + + Dipping Sewing Machine Parts 34 + + Dipping Tanks 57 + + Dipping Troughs 238 + + Dripping Platform 9 + + Driving Gear for Tank 14 + + Drying Room, Model 67 + + Durability of Dipping Paints 1 + + Dust, Excluding 64 + + + Electric Controller 111 + + Electric Hoist for Heavy Goods 27 + + Electric Motor Outfit 83 + + Electrical Work 147 + + Elevation of Spraying Plant 199 + + Enamel, Stoving 63 + + Enamelling, Slate 152 + + Enamels 179 + + Enamels, Air Drying 180 + + Enamels for Steel Furniture 183 + + Enamels, Heat Resisting and Slow Drying 180 + + Enamels, Stoving 178 + + Eureka Spraying Machine 103 + + Evaporation of Turpentine 77 + + Evolution of Spraying Apparatus 78 + + Exhaust 113 + + Exhaust Installation 122 + + + Fan, Central Draught 104, 124 + + Fancy Baskets 147 + + Files 38 + + Filler for Iron 26 + + Filler, Harland's 29 + + Finishing of Pianos 42, 43 + + Finishing Room 53 + + Flash Point of Turpentine 76 + + Fletcher, Russell & Co., Ltd. 167 + + Floco Process 223 + + Flowing-on System 25, 216 + + Ford Motor Co., Ltd. 54, 59, 216 + + Four Oaks Spraying Machine Co. 247 + + Freight Car, Painting 250 + + Frieze, a Sprayed 267 + + Furniture, Metal 38 + + Fumexer 86, 129, 135 + + + Gas Fires 197 + + Gas Meter Co., Ltd. 172 + + Gas Meters, Masks for 142 + + Gas Meters, Spraying 148, 171 + + Gas Light and Coke Co. 171, 181, 185, 191 + + Gas Stoves and Ranges 149 + + Gasometer, Painting 83 + + Gates, Collapsible 33 + + Gear Box, Paint Proof 13 + + Gibbons, James 58 + + Gittings, Hills and Boothby, Ltd. 168 + + Glazing Colours 202, 205 + + Gloss Paint 71 + + Goodyear Stove, a Typical 237 + + Golden Ochre 70 + + Graining and Scumbling 208 + + Graining Grounds 212 + + Grays 207 + + Greens 207 + + + Hanger, Iron 34, 38 + + Hanging Apparatus 16 + + Hard Wood, Primers for 74 + + Hard Wood, White Dip for 75 + + Harland, Wm. & Sons 29 + + Harrison, McGregor & Co. 58 + + Hart Patent Mask 143 + + Hayward Bros. & Eckstein, Ltd. 60 + + Heat of Drying Room 69 + + Heat Resisting and Slow Drying Enamels 180 + + Heavy Goods, Hoist for 27 + + Henley's Telegraph Works, Ltd. 147 + + Hickory Wheels 54 + + Hints on Stoving or Baking 180 + + Hoist for Heavy Goods 27 + + Hoists 18 + + Holden, Arthur & Co, Ltd. 167 + + Holes in Woodwork, Stopping 29 + + Hook for Suspending 17, 64 + + Hot Air Method 235 + + + Illingworth on White Spirit 76 + + Imitating Marbles 210 + + Imitation Wood Effects 183 + + Immersing Mangle Frames 35 + + Immersion, Painting by 7, 11 + + Implement Manufacturers 14 + + Indian Red 70 + + Introduction 1 + + Invincible Sprayer 105 + + Iron, Filler for 26 + + Iron Hanger 38 + + Iron Rods 34 + + Iron Sashes 7 + + Iron Window Frames 37 + + Italian Raw Sienna 70 + + + Joist and Wheels Supplying Hanger 16 + + + Kerosene Oil 75 + + Kettle Type of Spray 78 + + Khaki Paint 57 + + Kingsbury Manufacturing Co, Ltd. 168 + + + Lacquers for Spraying 80 + + Lacquers, Paints, etc, for Spraying 177 + + Lamp Shades, Designs done by Spraying 203 + + Lime and Whitewash Sprayers 241 + + Limewashing by Machine with 8ft. Bamboo Pole 245 + + Limewhite Sprayer, Merryweathers 247 + + Location of Work Cabinets 127 + + Lockers 38 + + Lowering Piano Cases into the Varnish Tank 47 + + Lucas, John & Co. 188 + + Lucas, Joseph, Ltd. 160, 169, 173, 175, 181 + + + Machine for Metal Spraying 256 + + Making Stencils 144 + + Mander Brothers 154 + + Mangle Frames Immersing 35 + + Marble Grounds 210 + + Marshall Sons & Co, Ltd. 59 + + Mask Hart Patent 143 + + Masks and Stencils 141 + + Masks for Gas Meters 142 + + Masury, John W. & Son 189 + + McLennan System 9 + + Melting and Spraying Jets in Action 259 + + Merryweather Limewhite Sprayer 247 + + Metal Decoration 241 + + Metal Furniture 38 + + Metal Goods 38 + + Metal Motor Parts 41 + + Metal, Primers for 74 + + Metal Sheets, Dipping 58 + + Metal Sprayer, Details of 257 + + Metal Spraying 255 + + Metal Spraying Machine 256 + + Metal, White Dipping for 75 + + Midland Sprayer 108 + + Model Drying Room 67 + + Moller and Schumann Co. 180 + + Morris, Herbert, Limited 21 + + Morris Standard Electric Trolley Hoist 23 + + Motor Bodies, The Floco System of Painting 224 + + Motor Car Shops 231 + + Motor Outfit for Spraying 83 + + Motor Parts, Metal 41 + + Motor Wheels 54 + + + Objections sometimes urged against Spraying 194 + + Ochre 70 + + Office Partitions 60 + + Oil and Water Separator 111 + + Oil in Dipping Paints 72 + + Oxford Ochre 70 + + Oven Baking Methods 232 + + Overhead Rails 57 + + + Paasche Air Brush 109 + + Paasche Automatic Electric Controller 111 + + Paasche Motor Driven Fan 124 + + Paasche Turn-Table 135 + + Paint Dipping 7 + + Paint Dipping Plant, Cost of 2 + + Paint Dipping, Simple Form of 7 + + Paint Dipping Tank 10 + + Paint for Casements 37 + + Paint for Metal Work 41 + + Paint for Wagons 57 + + Paint, Number of Coats 21 + + Paint Proof Bearings 13 + + Paint Sprayer, Portable 250 + + Paint Spraying Apparatus Used by the Pennsylvania Railroad 252 + + Paint Spraying, Artistic Application of 201 + + Paint, Supply of 113, 122 + + Paint Tank 8 + + Painting a Freight Car 250 + + Painting by Compressed Air 78 + + Painting by Immersion 7, 11 + + Painting Gasometer 83 + + Painting Motor Bodies the Floco System of 224 + + Painting Motor Wheels 54 + + Paints Durability of 1 + + Paint for Dipping 70 + + Paints, Spreading Capacity of 77 + + Part End Elevation of Plant for 12 Operators 159 + + Pennsylvania Railroad Company 250 + + Perkins System of Heating 235 + + Phillips & Son 58 + + Philorite 30 + + Piano Cases, Lowering into the Varnish Tank 47 + + Pianos, Finishing of 39 + + Pickling Metal Parts 41 + + Picture Frames 149 + + Picture Mouldings 149 + + Piece Work 145 + + Pigment Colours, Safe Baking Heats for 187 + + Pinchin Johnson's Drying Room 68 + + Plants, Some Typical 54, 158 + + Platform, Dipping 9 + + Portable Paint Sprayer for Railing and other Work 250 + + Precipitated Barytes 70 + + Preparing Wood Before Painting 25 + + Pressure in Spraying 80 + + Primers and Surfacers 235 + + Primers for Metal 71 + + Primers for Soft Wood 74 + + Protecting Parts not to be Painted 24 + + Prussian Blue 70 + + Purifying Air 114 + + + Quantity of Paint Required for Dipping 77 + + + Raido process 232 + + Rails and Hanging Apparatus 16 + + Rails for Overhead 57 + + Railway Work, Portable Paint Sprayer for 250 + + Raw Sienna 70 + + Recipe for Celluloid Varnish 150 + + Record Pistol 97, 99 + + Reds 205 + + Reducing Varnish 87 + + Requirements of Special Trades 33, 141, 145 + + Rims and Wheels 41 + + Rods, Iron 34 + + Rubbing Down 30 + + + Safe Baking Heats of Pigment Colours 187 + + Scrubbing Air 114 + + Scumbling and Colour Glazing 202 + + Scumbling and Graining 208 + + Second Coat Dipping Paints 74 + + Sectional Drawing of Metal Spraying Machine 258 + + Sewing Machine Parts, Dipping 34 + + Shaded Effects produced by Spraying 213 + + Shaded Work by the Aerograph 263 + + Shafting for Tank 14 + + Sheets Metal Dipping 38, 58 + + Shellac Spraying 87 + + Ships' Hulls Spraying 151 + + Spraying Plant, Elevation of 199 + + Spraying, Quantity of Paint Required 77 + + Spraying Requirement of Different Trades 121 + + Spraying Ships' Hulls 151 + + Spraying versus Brushing 193 + + Staircases 7 + + Standard Hydraulic Immersion System 42 + + Standard Varnish Co 42 + + Steel Casements 60 + + Steel Furniture Enamels 183 + + Steel Implements 197 + + Steel Office Partitions 60 + + Steel Plate Fan 125 + + Steel Sheets 1, 12 + + Steel Wheels 41 + + Steel Wool for Rubbing Down 30 + + Stencils and Masks 141 + + Stencils, Making 144 + + Stirrers and Blinds for Paint Dipping Tank 10 + + Stopping Holes in Woodwork 29 + + Stove, a Typical Goodyear 237 + + Stoving Blacks 179 + + Show Card Done by Spraying 69, 209, 225, 239 + + Shop Fronts 60 + + Side Elevation of Plant for 12 Operators 158 + + Skylights 60 + + Slate Enamelling 152 + + Sliding Doors 60 + + Soft Wood, White Dip for 75 + + Soft Woods, Primers for 74 + + Spray, Concentric Form of 79 + + Sprayed Decorative Work, An Example 261 + + Spraying and Dipping Compared 197 + + Spraying and Dipping Paints Compared 188 + + Spraying Apparatus for Painting Freight Cars 252 + + Spraying Apparatus, Types of 81 + + Spraying Cabinets 127 + + Spreading Capacity of Paints 77 + + Spraying Colour Specimens 153 + + Spraying Metal 255 + + Spraying, Objections Sometimes Urged Against 194 + + Spraying Plant, Cost of 2 + + Stoving Enamel 63, 178 + + Stoving or Baking, Hints on 180 + + Stoving Temperatures 187 + + Stoves, Notes on the Construction of 235 + + Sub Frame for Tank 14 + + Supply of Compressed Air 113 + + Supply of Paint 122 + + Suspending Hook 64 + + + Table Cover Decorated with the Airostyle 219 + + Tank and Air Pump Combined 118 + + Tanks for Dipping 57 + + Tank for Dipping Metal Windows 63 + + Tank for Painting Steel Sheets 12 + + Tank Paint 8 + + Tank, Special Form of 9 + + Tank Used in Flowing on Paint 222 + + Tapered Cans 7 + + Temperatures for Stoving 187 + + Test for White Spirit 76 + + Three Tank Plant 15 + + Thornley and Knight, Ltd. 157 + + Time Saving 1 + + Toys 1 + + Trade, Requirements of Different 33 + + Tramcars 154 + + Transparent Colour Varnishes 184 + + Trolley Hoist 19 + + Troughs 41 + + Tumbling Barrel Process 248, 249 + + Turkey Umber 70 + + Turn-Tables 129, 130, 134 + + Turpentine, Flash Point of 76 + + Type G Aeron 68 + + Types of Spraying Apparatus 81 + + Typical Hoist 19 + + Typical Plants, Some 54, 158 + + + Ultra Airostyle 101 + + Umber 70 + + + Varnish, Quantity Required for Piano Cases 46 + + Varnishes for Spraying 80, 177 + + Varnishes, Transparent Colour 184 + + Venetian Red 70 + + Ventilation of Paint Shop 67 + + Ventilator for Plant 123 + + Volume of Air in Spraying 80 + + + Wagons, Painting 54 + + Wagons, Store Room 61 + + Wells, A. C. & Co. 244 + + Wheels, Rims of 41 + + White Dipping for Meta 75 + + White Paint for Dipping 71 + + White Paste Primer 75 + + "White Paints and Painting Materials" 72 + + White Spirit 76 + + White Work Bedsteads, etc. 33, 184 + + Whitewash Sprayers 241 + + Whitewashing Machines 78 + + Whiting 73 + + Wilkinson, Heywood and Clark 11 + + Willys-Overland Automobile Factory 228 + + Winch 18 + + Window Frames, Iron 37 + + Wood Effects, Imitation 183 + + Woodwork Preparing before Painting 25 + + Woodwork, Stopping Holes in 29 + + Woolwich Arsenal, Carriage Department 54 + + Woolwich Arsenal Store Room 61 + + Work Cabinets 127 + + + Yellows 206 + + + Zinc Oxide 73 + + Zinc Stencils 145 + +_ADVERTISEMENTS._ + + +STANDARD VARNISH WORKS. + +[Illustration] + +Consulting Specialists respecting, and Manufacturers of every class of +Varnish for all Industrial purposes INSULATING VARNISHES, CARRIAGE, +AUTOMOBILE, MARINE & DECORATORS' VARNISHES, etc. + +Patentees of the new STANDARD HYDRAULIC IMMERSION SYSTEM described on +pages 42-53 of this publication. + +Correspondence invited from responsible houses: + + NEW YORK ELM PARK, STATEN ISLAND. + CHICAGO 2,600 FEDERAL STREET. + TORONTO INTERNATIONAL VARNISH Co., Ltd. + BRUSSELS 26, RUE GAUCHERET. + PARIS 34, RUE DE CHABROL. + MELBOURNE 479, COLLINS STREET. + LONDON 27, BEVIS MARKS, E.C. + +THE AIROSTYLE + +THE ONE COMPLETE & EFFICIENT SYSTEM OF COMPRESSED AIR PAINTING, +JAPANNING, VARNISHING, Etc. + + +Manufactured throughout by + +The AIROSTYLE & LITHOS, Ltd., + +35, St. Bride Street, Ludgate Circus, + + TELE PHONE: 12025 CENTRAL. + GRAMS: STAINLESS, LONDON. London, E.C. + +THE + +AIROSTYLE + +COMPRESSED AIR + +PAINTING PLANTS + +ARE IN DAILY USE + +at the Leading Works for + + Motor Cars, Side Cars, etc. + Gas Meters + Gas Fires, Radiators, etc. + Kitchen Ranges, Grates, etc. + Cycles and Motor Cycles + Cycle and Motor Accessories + Carriage Lamps + Leather Manufactures + Buttons + Toys + Baby Carriages + Sewing Machines + China and Glass + Electrical Apparatus + Scientific Instruments + Constructional Work + Horticultural Buildings, etc. + Tinplate Work + Munitions + General Japanned Goods + Porcelain Enamelled Goods + Advertising Signs + Textile Productions + Rubber Goods + Typewriters + Tiles + +etc., etc., etc., etc. + +Manufactured throughout by + +The AIROSTYLE & LITHOS, Ltd., + +35, St. Bride Street, Ludgate Circus, + + TELE PHONE: 12025 CENTRAL. London, E.C. + GRAMS: STAINLESS, LONDON. + +PECORA + +FIRST COATERS, FINISHING COATS & THINNERS FOR USE BY THE IMMERSION +(DIPPING) PROCESS OR APPLICATION BY COMPRESSED AIR (SPRAY) ARE THE +RESULT OF + + 1st.--Theoretical Combinations of pigments + and vehicles. + + 2nd.--Careful _practical_ test of these combinations + and changes to meet given + requirements. + + 3rd.--Close study of the finished article to + determine durability. + + 4th.--Twenty-five years experience in the + production of special finishes, which + must meet unusually severe conditions. + +Our Experimental Laboratory is equipped with a complete dipping, +spraying and baking plant, and is at the service of any interested +person. + +We would be glad to finish samples of your product along any desired +lines, or to follow out our own ideas as to the most desirable method. + + +PECORA PAINT COMPANY. + +4th & Erie Ave. Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A. + + Est. 1862 by Smith Bowen. Incorporated 1911. + +ARE YOU USING + +"AEROGRAPH" SPRAYS + +[Illustration] + +_FOR_ + +Plain Painting, Decorating, Japanning, Enamelling, Varnishing and +Lacquering. Also for Distempers of all kinds. Five times Faster than +any other Method. + +Stationary and Portable Painting Outfits + +_PERFECT CONTROL. SUPERIOR RESULTS._ + +THE AEROGRAPH CO., LTD. + +43, HOLBORN VIADUCT, LONDON, E.C. + +BRITISH AND FOREIGN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS. + + +[Illustration] + +_CRANE'S SPRAYERS_ + +[Illustration] + +For ENAMELS, PAINTS, LACQUERS, VARNISHES, ETC., ARE + +--THE GREATEST ECONOMISERS OF TIME-- MATERIAL & LABOUR EXTANT--The +Handiest and most Efficient yet Devised and further + +[Illustration] + +They ENSURE the Best Results. + +Write for details: + +FREDK. CRANE CHEMICAL Co., + +Bordesley Green, B'HAM. + +[Illustration] + + +W. GOODYEAR & Sons, + +[Illustration] Manufacturers, DUDLEY. [Illustration] + +SPECIALISTS IN: + +_Enamelling Stoves_ + +_for_ + +[Illustration] _All Purposes_ [Illustration] + +WRITE FOR CATALOGUE. + + +[Illustration: ESTABLISHED ·1760·] + +If you will come to Homerton to see a practical demonstration of the +finishing of your own products by the economical Spraying process, +our facilities are at your service without charge or obligation. +Those facilities are: a fully equipped spraying plant--probably the +first spraying expert in the Kingdom--and a range of spray paints +covering the entire process from Filler to Varnish coat, perfected by +experience. We specialise too in paints for Dipping and shall be glad +to demonstrate to you the economy of either or both. + +Berger's Spray Paints & Dipping Paints. + +Lewis Berger & Sons, Ltd. + +Makers of Paints, Colours & Varnishes, + +HOMERTON, LONDON, N.E. + +Branches--Paris, Copenhagen, Sydney, Wellington, Bombay, New York. + + +[Illustration] + +PNEUMATIC SPRAYING + +OF PAINTS, ENAMELS, LACQUERS, VARNISHES, RUBBER SOLUTION, &c. + +If you use any of the above in quantities you cannot afford to be +without a + +PNEUMATIC SPRAYING PLANT. + +[Illustration] + +BETTER FINISH, SMALLER BILLS for material, much cheaper production. + +The Midland Pneumatic Spraying Plant is the product of practical +Engineers and is ALL BRITISH. + +LET US DEMONSTRATE ITS POSSIBILITIES AND ADVISE YOU. + +Wire--Blast, Birmingham; 'Phone--Central 5463; or write-- + +The MIDLAND FAN Co., Ltd., 46, Aston Road, BIRMINGHAM. + + +[Illustration: GITTINGS, HILLS & BOOTHBY, L^D. BIRMINGHAM.] + +SPECIALISTS FOR + +SPRAYING, DIPPING & STOVING VARNISHES & PAINTS. + + G. H. & B., Ltd., will be pleased to show their Spraying + Installation to any firm desirous of seeing + and testing same--customers' own material + sprayed. + + DIPPING TANKS loaned to customers to enable adequate + tests to be made. + +DO YOU WANT TO + +SAVE MONEY ? + +Then take up the most economical methods of painting, viz., + +DIPPING AND SPRAYING. + + Gittings, Hills & Boothby, Ltd., + + Varnish and Paint Manufacturers, + + LONG ACRE, + BIRMINGHAM. + + And at + 82, TURNMILL STREET, + LONDON. E. C. + +_One Man with the Aeron is worth 2 to 10 without_ + +There is not only this 50 to 90% saving in time and labour, because of +the speed that is possible with the AERON SYSTEM of spraying, but there +is also produced a better quality of finish than is obtainable with any +other method. The surface is absolutely uniform, smooth and even of +thickness. It is free from all sags, runs, thin spots or fatty edges. + +[Illustration] + +The AERON SYSTEM is simple and easy to operate. Ordinarily inaccessible +places, and carved and irregular surfaces, are quickly and uniformly +finished. + +The AERON SYSTEM installed in your finishing room will produce the +utmost in results at the lowest possible cost. + + Address: + + The DeVilbiss Manufacturing Co. + + 71 Newman St., + Oxford St., London, W., Eng.: Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A. + +Finish Your Products, Large or Small, Wood or Metal, with the + +[Illustration: Guaranteed _Aeron System_ Paints With Air] + +The AERON SYSTEM of applying varnishes, enamels, shellacs, lacquers, +japans, bronzes, and practically every kind of finishing material, on +wood and metal products with compressed air, is the result of extensive +painting and mechanical experience, and a comprehensive study of +finishing problems. + +The AERON SYSTEM is complete in every detail. Every angle and problem +of the application of finishing materials is successfully met with a +thoroughness and positiveness--with a certainty of greater quality, +speed, economy and efficiency--by this SYSTEM. There is a wide variety +of "best type" Aerons and Accessory Equipment, meeting all requirements +and enabling the operator to obtain striking results. + +Let us send you full and interesting particulars, --and a booklet of +equipment facts.-- + + Address: + + The DeVilbiss Manufacturing Co. + + 71 Newman St., + Oxford St., London, W., Eng.: Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A. + +Telegrams--Varnish, Birmingham. + +ARTHUR HOLDEN & SONS, Ld. + +(Established nearly a Century) + +Bradford Street, BIRMINGHAM. + +Specialists in Spraying Finishes for every Trade. + +Spraying Paints, Enamels, Japans, Varnishes, Varnish Paints, etc., + +FOR STOVING OR SELF-DRYING IN ALL COLOURS AND QUALITIES. + +TRADES ALREADY SUPPLIED:-- + + Photographic, Optical, Electrical & Surgical Apparatus Manufacturers. + Bicycles, Motor Bodies, Motor and Cycle accessories. Steel Toys, Wood + Toys, Lamps, Iron Fittings. Mail Carts, Radiators, Trunks, Weighing + Machines, Scales, etc., etc. + +The DeVilbiss Aeron + +[Illustration] + + The most Efficient and Flexible + :: Spraying Machine. :: + +Sold by + +LLEWELLYN RYLAND, LTD., + +BIRMINGHAM. + +Manufacturers of + +LACQUERS, PAINTS, JAPANS AND VARNISHES, + +Suitable for Spraying. + + +Wells' "Lightning" Lime & Colour Washer. + +A Great SAVING of TIME, LABOUR AND MONEY. + +NO OUTSIDE POWER REQUIRED. OVER 5,000 SOLD. + +SAVES its Cost in a Few Days + + LIME, WHITING, or COLD WATER PAINTS + + applied at a speed of from 10 to 20 square + yards per minute, in a manner superior to + brushwork. One coat with the machine on + rough surfaces is equal to two applied with + brushes. + +ENLARGED PATTERNS. + +REDUCED PRICES. + + No. 6a--Small Size, fed from + pail, 5 gallons £5 5 0 + " 4--8 gallons £8 5 0 + " 4a On Wheels, same capacity £9 0 0 + " 5a--On Wheels, 12 gallons £11 5 0 + +A. C. WELLS & CO., MIDLAND ROAD, ST. PANCRAS, LONDON. + +Works--Carnarvon Street, MANCHESTER. + +[Illustration: Nos. 4a and 5a Patterns.] + + +THE + +PERKINS CLOSED SYSTEM + +OF + +HEATING BY HOT WATER + +FOR + +ENAMELLING, JAPANNING, DRYING, etc. + +_Schemes & Estimates Submitted Free of Charge._ + +PERKINS, ENGINEERS, LTD., + +KINGSWAY HOUSE, KINGSWAY, W.C. + + _Telephone No._ _Telegraphic Address--_ + _482 Gerrard._ _"Arktos" Westcent, London._ + +"PAINT & COLOUR MIXING." + +By ARTHUR SEYMOUR JENNINGS. + +5th EDITION, REVISED & ENLARGED. + +A Practical Handbook for Painters, Decorators, Artists, and all who +have to mix colours. + +Containing 300 samples of actual oil and water paints and water colours +of various colours, including the principal graining grounds and +upwards of 600 different colour mixtures, with instructions on colour +and paint mixing generally, testing colours, &c., &c. + +With fourteen coloured plates. + +Contents.--Paints and Colour Mixing, Colours or Stainers, How to +learn to mix and match colours, Reds and how to mix them, Blues and +how to mix them, Yellows and how to mix them, Greens and how to mix +them, Browns and how to mix them, Greys and Greys, White and Blacks, +Black Japan in colour mixing, Glazing, Graining grounds and Graining +colours, Mixing paints and colours on the manufacturing scale, Water +paints, Distempers, Artists' water colours and how to mix them, testing +colours, notes on harmony, The proportions of materials, Notes, &c. + +POST FREE 5/4. + + E. & F. N. SPON, Ltd., + 57, Haymarket, S.W. + +THE PAINTERS' POCKET BOOK. + +By ARTHUR SEYMOUR JENNINGS. + +Many thousands of copies of this exceedingly useful book have been sold. + +3s. 3d. Post Free. + +_SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS._ + + Simple methods for Painters' materials. + + Behaviour of different pigments. + + How to measure Painters' work. + + Painters' Prices for all kinds of Paint work, Sign + Writing, Varnishing, Gilding, Enamelling, + Marbling, Graining, Paperhanging, etc., etc. + + Many Miniature Stencils which can be submitted + to clients for their selection and afterwards + be increased in size. + + Ribbons for Church Decoration. + + Defects in Painting and how to remedy them. + + Colours and how to mix them. + + Hints on Practical Geometry and setting out of + work. + + Symbols and Emblems in Church Decoration, + on Flags, in Heraldry, etc. + + Poisoning and remedies. + + Concise Dictionary of terms used in Painting, + Building, Architecture, Art, Applied Chemistry, + etc., etc., with many illustrations. + + Hints on Paperhanging. + + Tables for Wallpapers, English, French, and + American. + + Table for ceiling papers. + + Table of superficial yards. + + Table of materials required according to the + surface to be painted. + + Roman Numerals. + + Table for calculating the price of Linseed Oil + and Turpentine. + + Wages Table. + + The Orders, Greek and Roman. + + Table of Prices. + + Table of discounts and percentages. + + Colours and Pigments, permanent and otherwise. + + Linseed Oil--percentage required for grinding + dry Pigments. + + How oils are sold. + + How far paints will spread. + + Mensuration. + + English and American gallons. + + Specific gravity. + + Table of Thermometrical degrees. + + Superficial contents of squares of glass. + + Ready reckoner. + + Notes of Insurance. + + Table of Pigments, etc., etc. + + THE TRADE PAPERS PUBLISHING CO., LTD., + 365, Birkbeck Bank Chambers, + HIGH HOLBORN, W.C. + +PRACTICAL BOOKS FOR PAINTERS. + + Post Free. + + PAINT AND COLOUR MIXING. A Practical + Handbook for Painters, Decorators, Artists, and all + who have to mix colours. Containing 300 samples + of actual oil and water colours. By Arthur Seymour + Jennings 5/4 + + HOUSE PAINTING AND DECORATION. A + popular guide, by Arthur Seymour Jennings 2/3 + + PRACTICAL CHURCH DECORATION. A guide + to the Design and Execution of Decoration of + Churches, Chapels and Ecclesiastical Structures. + By Arthur Louis Duthie 3/3 + + SCUMBLING AND COLOUR GLAZING, illustrated + with 48 examples of glazed work. By Andrew Millar 3/3 + + ZINC OXIDE AND ITS USES. By J. Cruickshank + Smith 2/3 + + PRACTICAL GILDING, BRONZING, LACQUERING + AND GLASS EMBOSSING. Illustrated + by actual examples of Gilded and Lacquered Relief + and other Decorations. By F. Scott-Mitchell 3/3 + + THE PAINTERS' AND BUILDERS' POCKET + BOOK. By Arthur Seymour Jennings. Consists of + 252 pages, containing a large amount of information + of the greatest use to Painters and Builders 3/3 + + DECORATORS' SYMBOLS, EMBLEMS AND + DEVICES. By G. C. Rothery 3/3 + + GRAINING AND MARBLING, THE PRACTICAL + ARTS OF. By James Petrie. Each plate measures + 17-1/2 × 11-1/2 and gives the different stages of the work. + Published in 14 parts at 2/6 each, or bound volume + 25/- + + Office of "THE DECORATOR," + 365, Birkbeck Bank Chambers, + High Holborn, London, W.C. + +PRACTICAL BOOKS FOR PAINTERS. + + Post Free. + + STENCILS AND STENCILLING. For all purposes, + Artistic and Decorative. 154 pages of designs. By + Arthur Louis Duthie 3/3 + + PAINT AND PAINTING DEFECTS, their Detection, + Cause and Cure. By J. Cruickshank Smith 3/3 + + PAINTERS' BUSINESS BOOK. A manual of up-to-date + methods of obtaining business, submitting + Estimates, Book-keeping, Buying and Testing + materials, etc., with many tables. By C. E. Oliver 3/3 + + CLARK'S BOOK OF ALPHABETS, two parts. + For Signwriters, Designers, Decorators, and + Draughtsmen, each 1/2 + + HEWETT'S DISTINCTIVE LETTERING AND + DESIGNS 1/2 + + KAEMMERER'S LETTER BOOK. Containing + several hundred alphabets in 140 plates, together + with descriptive text 18/6 + + THE ART OF SHOW CARD WRITING. By C. J. + Strong. Contains many beautiful Designs 10/- + + STRONG'S BOOK OF DESIGNS. Invaluable to + the Signpainter, Show Card Writer, etc. Containing, + in addition to Posters, Show Cards, Ribbons, etc., + 33 pages of ornamental work in Colour 20/- + + ATKINSON'S SIGN PAINTING, replete with original + Designs, Colour Combinations, etc. 12/7 + + GRAINING, ANCIENT AND MODERN. By Wm. + E. Wall 12/4 + + Office of "THE DECORATOR," + 365, Birkbeck Bank Chambers, + High Holborn, London, W.C. + +THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF + + The London Association of Foremen Engineers. + The Leeds Association of Engineers. + The Stoke-on-Trent Engineers' Association. + +Sixpence a Copy. + +_THE_ + +_"Managing Engineer."_ + +Five Shillings a Year. + +PUBLISHED BY + +THOMAS TOFTS, 93 & 94, Chancery Lane, London, W.C. + + + + + Transcribers Notes: + +Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected. + +Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. + +Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. + +Fig 125. Design for Show Card is wrongly shown to be on page 223 +in the list of illustrations. This has been corrected to page 233. + +In the index 'Sheets Metal Dipping 40, 58', has been altered to 38, 58. +Page 40 was a blank page and page 38 is near and in context +but maybe an inaccurate alteration. + +Both middle and modern decimal points are used. + +Italics are shown thus: _sloping_. + +Bold type is shown thus: =shout=. + +Small capitals have been capitalised. + +The caret character (^) has been used to denote superscript. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Painting by Immersion and by +Compressed Air, by Arthur Seymour Jennings + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 57562 *** |
