Professional Tips for Coating Large Areas,
Tables & Bar Tops!
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Large areas, tables & bar tops often require special
application procedures when applying Envirotex Lite. The following information
and tips will help you achieve professional results. Familiarize yourself
with the following procedures by practicing on a small sample first. |
Required tools:
- Measuring cup & straight sided, flat bottom disposable paper
or plastic pail. Mixing container must be 50% larger than mix to allow
for an adequate area for mixing. Do not mix in a wax coated container,
as the wax coating may break free contaminating the mixture.
- Stirring paddle must have a straight edge, such as a paint paddle,
to allow user to constantly scrape sides and bottom of mixing container.
- Plastic spatula, cardboard or business cards work well to help spread
Envirotex Lite over large areas.
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Coating area conditions:
- A clean, dry and dust free room is a must.
- Humidity: All polymer compounds react to high humidity. Using Envirotex
Lite in a room where humidity is below 50% will give best results. High
humidity can cause an oily looking film on the finished surface that
can be repaired by re-coating in a room at the correct humidity. Placing
an inexpensive weather set in your coating room will help you with knowing
room temperature and humidity. The lower the humidity, the faster and
harder the cure. If high humidity is a problem, the use of a dehumidifier
in your coating room will help remove moisture in the air.
- For best results, coat at temperatures between 70° Fto 80°
F. Higher room temperatures after pouring will help to speed up cure
rate as well as hardness. We do not recommend temperatures above 100°
F. For optimum heat control, use a small electric heater. Do not use
propane heaters since a byproduct of burning propane is moisture vapor.
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Surface - The surface to which Envirotex
Lite is applied to should be:
- Dry and free from dust, dirt, oil, grease, etc.
- Level
- Elevated to allow the Envirotex Lite to flow freely off the sides
of the item to be coated. Use paper or plastic cups to elevate the item.
Place 2" to 3" from sides so excess fluid does not run under
and glue the cups to work piece!
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| Sealing New Surfaces & Preparing
Old:
- New Wood Surface: Requires a thin seal coat of Envirotex
Lite prior to flood coating. Mix approximately 1/4 the amount you would
use to flood coat. Spread thinly over entire surface then scrape off
all excess with a piece of cardboard or plastic spatula. This puts a
thin film down over air passages and seals them off. This thin seal
coat will allow the air to escape freely while effectively sealing the
wood surface. If a thick seal coat is applied, escaping air will be
trapped and will result in a large number of bubbles that are difficult
to remove, especially on Oak! Should this occur, do not attempt to remove
the bubbles with a torch as this will heat up the wood surface resulting
in the release of more bubbles. Instead, scrape off all excess Envirotex
Lite so that the bubbles can freely break on their own! Allow the seal
coat to cure for 5 hours, and you are ready to flood coat. Note: Occasionally
a second seal coat is required. To determine if this is necessary, check
the first seal coat. The surface should have an overall shiny appearance
to it. Dull spots are an indication that the surface is not effectively
sealed. These dull spots must be sealed with a second seal coat. Note:
Due to the porous nature of Oak, a second seal coat is a must!
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Pictures, Prints, Puzzles, Fabric, etc.:
- Glue these items down with white glue that dries clear. Apply a generous
amount of white glue to back of your picture, print, etc., then place
on work surface. Using a brayer or squeegee, remove excess glue and
air bubbles from under picture, print, etc. Using a foam brush or paint
roller apply two seal coats of white glue over your work surface. Allow
glue to dry between coats. Do not use spray adhesives. Spray adhesives
will not hold under Envirotex Lite
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Painted, Previously Finished Surfaces
and Plastic Laminates:
- These surfaces do not require seal coats but must be sanded for adhesion,
then cleaned prior to coating. Note: All wax and polish must be removed
from previously finished surfaces with wax remover.
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Large Wood Slabs & Preventing Warpage:
- Moisture content of wood must be 15% or less to coat with Envirotex
Lite. Once coated, seal underside of slab to prevent moisture from migrating
in or out of wood. To check moisture content, use a moisture meter or
drill small test holes into the backside of your wood slab. Check the
wood shavings for moisture. The wood shavings must feel dry!
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Table & Bar Top edges, etc.:
- Both the top and bottom square edges should be slightly rounded with
sandpaper or with a router and ¼” cove bit. The result
of this will be a smooth professional looking edge requiring fewer coats
of Envirotex Lite.
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Application:
- Before measuring Envirotex Lite, ensure that the resin & hardener
bottles are slightly warm to the touch. (70° F). If not, place both
bottles In warm, not hot, water for 5-to-lO minutes prior to using.
As a result, the resin and hardener will measure easier and mix better
with fewer bubbles.
- Measure the Envirotex Lite in exact amounts by volume.Do not guess
at the proper ratio or just empty the twobottles into your mixing container.
Unless you measure equal portions of resin and hardener, your ratio
will very likely be inaccurate, resulting in a soft sticky coating!
Determine the amount of fluid to be used by measuring the top and sides
of your project. On average use 4 -to- 6 ounces of Envirotex Lite per
square foot. Envirotex Lite will not level correctly if spread too thin!
- Mix measured resin and hardener in a clean, straight sided, fiat bottom
container. Stir until thoroughly blended. Scraping sides and bottom
continually while mixing is a must! Mixing should be completed after
2 minutes of vigorous mixing. To ensure a thorough mix, have two mixing
containers ready. Begin mixing in the first mixing container. After
one minute of vigorous mixing, transfer contents into second container
and continue vigorous mixing for two minutes. Improper mixing will result
in soft or tacky spots that will not cure! We do not recommend mixing
more than one gallon of fluid at a time.
- Pour, do not wait! Pour as soon as thoroughly mixed. Pour over surface
an a circular pattern. Start close to the edge and work towards the
center of your work. This will allow the Envirotex Lite to level from
the center out to the edges of your work surface. Help spread where
necessary with a stiff piece of paper or plastic spatula. Be careful
not to spread too thin resulting in a wavy surface. Use a helper for
mixing and pouring large objects. One person can mix while the other
pours the coating. Caution: If Envirotex Lite is left in the mixing
container, it will become hot and set up rapidly!
- Working time with Envirotex Lite: If you pour mmediately after mixing,
you will have approximately 25 minutes of working time at 70°. Less
time for warmer temperatures.
Removing Bubbles: Within 10 minutes of pouring, air bubbles created
while mixing will rise to the surface and begin to break. Exhaling across
the surface at this point will break bubbles. However, on large surfaces
the use of a small propane torch is the easiest and most effective method
of removing air bubbles. The reasons for this are that Envirotex Lite
contains no flammable solvents, and carbon dioxide rich exhaust gases
from a propane flame effectively release trapped bubbles. With a moderate
flame, pass the torch over the surface with a swift, even, sweeping
motion. Never hold torch closer than 3 to 4 inches from surface. Sweep
past the ends of your work so that the torch never stops on your fresh
coating! Avoid over torching which may scorch the surface. Warm room
temperatures will result in better bubble release. Note: We do not recommend
the use of a hair dryer for removing bubbles. Hair dryers will blow
lint from the surrounding air onto your work! Caution: Although Envirotex
Lite contains no flammable solvents, the objects you are coating, as
well as surrounding table covers, etc., may be flammable.
- Cover your work: Use a plastic drop sheet to keep dust and lint particles
off while Envirotex Lite sets.
- Flat straight edges: After a number of Envirotex Lite coats, wide
flat edges can become slightly wavy. Sand the wavy edge flat using 120
grit paper. Wipe edge clean and apply your final flood coat Do not sand
In your clean coating area.
- Drips: Drips that have accumulated on the bottom edge can be removed
by sanding after the Envirotex Lite hardens. To easily remove drips,
apply 2 wide plastic tape to back of project along edge prior to coating
surface. Do not use masking tape. Press firmly to work out trapped air.
Once surface is coated and cured, use a sanding block and sand through
coating on bottom edge. Then peel tape off removing drips!
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Surface Care:
- Furniture polish will prolong the life of the surface and remove smudges,
etc. Heavy objects, when left for a period of time may leave impressions
on the Envirotex Lite surface. Once the objects are removed, the impressions
will disappear in a few hours at normal room temperatures.
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Satin Finish:
- Use Pumice or Rottenstone polishing powder and a wet sponge. Lightly
wet the Envirotex Lite surface, then sprinkle with polishing powder.
Apply a firm, slightly wet sponge and move in small circles until the
entire surface gloss has been removed. Wipe surface clean and polish
with paste type polish.
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Questions? Call Our Technical
Support Hotline: (212) 367-7561 |