by Davies Hood, Executive VP, Induron Coatings
I remember repeating that phrase vividly while taking 3rd grade “timed tests”, answering those tricky multiple choice questions on college exams and walking to the line of scrimmage every time our quarterback ever said “on two” in the huddle. At Induron Coatings we stress it during all product R &D. The salesmen want to push product to market, but all of the kinks must be worked out and performance testing completed. It’s a message we stress up and down the operations line from pigment addition in production to final color tinting before shipment. “Do it right the first time” because you don’t always get a “do over.”
In our world of industrial coatings, doing it right the first time typically separates quality from just quantity. That’s true in making our high-tech chemical products. It’s also true during application of these products. The article titled “Taking the Pain out of Paint” from thefabricator.com provides a good glimpse into some fabricators views of protective coatings. They range from a necessary evil to problematic. This article not only points out a potential problem, but also makes suggestions to help streamline the painting process which, when done correctly just might transition a perceived problem into an opportunity.
The suggestions for improving the painting process in shop environments are: create Shop Certification Programs, follow Specifications for Surface Preparation and adopt “best” Industry Practices. Certification programs by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the Society for Protective Coatings (SSPC) are mentioned in the article. As the manufacturer of Protecto 401 Ceramic Epoxy, I know from 30 years of experience without a documented service failure that having a stringent “Certified Applicator Program” reduces error. In fact, our certification process which requires 3rd party independent inspection and annual audits is a significant part of the magic that allows our ceramic epoxy to have such a good reputation and long history of corrosion protection in a very severe environment.
As far as following surface preparation standards and adopting best industry practices are concerned, this article goes into depth describing some of the more common standards and pitfalls of shop painting. Of particular importance from a paint manufacturer’s standpoint is adequate surface profile. A profile preferably created with a rough grit material instead of rounded recycled shot. Shot typically provides a peened surface like the moon surface or that of a golf ball designed to slip through the air. Grit provides an angular surface that paint can better grip. Grit also provides a greater surface area so that the chemical bonds necessary for the best adhesion to occur.
In closing, certified applicators and strict adherence to surface preparation standards can help turn a necessary evil into a value added by reducing the number of “call backs” and reducing the overall number of paint jobs a structure needs during its lifetime. Do it right the first time… That’s a message we can all get behind!