Application Guide

The Awlgrip Application Guide is divided into five sections:

Introduction & safety considerations

This guide is designed to supply the professional applicator with the necessary information required to apply our products. It is not intended as a ‘How To’ guide for the doityourselfer.

Surface cleaning

A clean, dry surface is essential to the success of any coatings application. Our systems include products and procedures which will enable you to obtain proper surface conditions.

Tack rags

Tack rags are used just before painting to remove the lightest dust or dirt from what would otherwise be considered a clean, ready to paint surface.

Taping & masking materials

Masking tapes are produced in various grades. Review tape manufacturers’ recommendations and then make your selection based on your working conditions and technique.

Compressors & compressed air

Clean, oilfree, dry air is essential for operating spray equipment, air power tools and blowing off surfaces prior to priming or painting.

Sanding & sandpaper

Read all health and safety information contained in Material Safety Data Sheets

Application equipment selection

Comprehensive guidelines including spray gun setups.

Painting environment

Cure cycles and other information when using Awlgrip topcoats.

Surface preparation & priming

There are many situations where repainting is needed but removing all the old paint is impractical. However, the cost of labor and materials for a sand and repaint is significant and there is no gain in painting over a system that is severely deteriorated or chemially incompatible with the Awlgrip Systems.

Surface preparation & priming - previously painted surfaces compatibility

Cotaings compatibility & adhesion tests for prepared or unprepared surfaces

Surface preparation & priming - fiberglass/gelcoat

Gelcoat/fiberglass surfaces are found in four basic forms.

Surface preparation & priming - aluminum

Preparation methods for anodized or non-anodized surfaces.

Surface preparation & priming - wood

Wooden boats seldom require any extensive filling or fairing.

Surface preparation & priming - steel hot & cold rolled

Information & guidance when blasting or grinding steel.

Priming

Before any coating work, carefully prepare the surface.

Priming - fiberglass/gelcoat

Information & guidance when priming fiberglass/gelcoat.

Priming - aluminum

Information & guidance when priming aluminum.

Priming - steel

Information & guidance when priming steel.

Priming - wood

Information & guidance when priming wood.

Fairing & surfacing

Fairing and surfacing are similar activities with subtle but specific differences.

Final priming & topcoating

The application of the final finishing primer coat and application of the topcoat completes the coating system.

Brightwork

Reducing brightwork maintenance without sacrificing aesthetics or cosmetics has been an elusive goal.

Below waterline systems - application

Information on antifouling systems.

All substrates (except aluminum)

Methods for applying antifouling on all substrates.

Renewing Awlstar Gold Label

Awlstar Gold Label that is wearing thin can be easily renewed.

Running gear & hardware

Surface preparation, priming & application guidance for running gear.

Overview

Most application problems are a direct result of poor or improper procedures, marginal housekeeping conditions, inadequate equipment, or a combination of these factors.

Orange peel & dry spray

A finish which has a textured, uneven surface like the skin of an orange.

Pin holing

Tiny holes in the finish caused by surface porosity or other imperfections in the substrate.

Solvent popping

Tiny open blisters that appear in the paint film very shortly after application.

Craters and Fish Eyes

Small, crater-like openings in the finish caused by contamination on the surface being painted.

Glossary of terms (A-C)

Ablative coating to Curtaining

Glossary of terms (D-I)

Dew point to Isocyanate resins

Glossary of terms (L-R)

Lacquer to Retarders

Glossary of terms (S-W)

Sheeting out to Wet film thickness

Tips for maintaining topcoats

Maintaining an Awlgrip, Awlcraft 2000 or Awlgrip HS Topcoat

Full guide

Download a .pdf of the full guide

Systems guides

View systems information

Video list

Awlgrip in action

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