Alexseal vs. Awlgrip

Thanks Colin, I was hoping you'd chime in. Great to hear from you. Yes....it appears there is a big swing towards Alexseal. Which is why I'm considering shooting these next two boats with Alexseal.
I've also loss my wholesale pricing for Awlgrip and paying retail makes it so much less appealing. Have heard mostly good things...and the not so good things were caused by people who tried to spray it like Awlgrip and ran into trouble. Which makes me a little apprehensive being a Awlgrip guy, my only saving grace is my limited exposure to a single paint product. I have been spraying a Imron industrial paint for the last 3 or 4 years.

Do you have any insight into the application differences between the two, other than the extra reduction?

Thanks again Colin, looking forward to your response.

TonyG.
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Hey Laurance, That sure is a beautiful yacht. You're a lucky man to be able to spend so much time aboard.

TonyG

 

Hey Tony

I imagine if you have been spraying Imron, then you won't find Alexseal a problem. It is better to spray Alexseal slightly thicker every coat than Awlgrip. We always sprayed a 3/4 coat then waited. Once tack free, we did a cross-coat (just top to bottom then back top again). Then wait an hour or so and repeat. But this will depend on your tip size and thinner. You will never get the correct DFt without heavy peel in 2 coats. You always need 3. You can do 2 if you are applying onto sanded showcoat (topcoat).
It will not flow out immediately off the gun like Awlgrip but within 15-30s or so no problem. Sorry, for being vague. I imagine Lionel Messi can tell me how to play football like him but it won't make me play for Barcelona. So long as you have a gun well set-up ie the correct tip and the right amount of clean air, with a reasonable technique you will get a decent finish. iIdon't know what colour you are painting. The light white shades very very 'sticky". We sometimes added clear to the last layer to help flow. The light greys and creams were way better for some reason (different white pigment perhaps?). The blues were less sticky. Personally I always preferred to use clear in the last coat if the opacity was good enough. Gives more flow and better gloss...and makes any polishing easier. Don't believe what they say about it being polishable. It is but you will have to keep polishing and waxing every few months. It is not a acrylic type polishable. ps i have good things about International Perfection. This is brushable as well (good brushable). It may be cheaper?