Johnstones Aqua - still the best?

[footprints]

Thanks. I did see a reference to floetrol on the pistonheads forum and took note .
Like you, I want to like w/b paints because I like Pandas too
And my kids moaned like **** last night coz the smell of onions cut in half was as bad as the smell of o/b gloss... Took me right back to my own childhood!

Spare a thought then for the Queen they used to say she thought the whole world smelt of fresh paint!

 

[opps]

Thanks. I did see a reference to floetrol on the pistonheads forum and took note .
Like you, I want to like w/b paints because I like Pandas too
And my kids moaned like **** last night coz the smell of onions cut in half was as bad as the smell of o/b gloss... Took me right back to my own childhood!

I have only tried the onion trick once. I got the impression that it just overpowered the smell of the paint.

You may want to try this

http://www.tesco.com/direct/brush-mate-aroma-10ml-removes-paint-smell/152-6111.prd

I haven't used it but I do use their BrushMate containers.

Adding some Terebine to the paint may reduce the duration of smell. It is an oxidising agent. I use it religiously since they messed up paints in 2010.

http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/t/TEREBINE_DRIERS/

 

[dilalio]

Spare a thought then for the Queen they used to say she thought the whole world smelt of fresh paint!

And now it just smells of mothballs and wee

 

[footprints]

Spare a thought then for the Queen they used to say she thought the whole world smelt of fresh paint!

And now it just smells of mothballs and wee

Bang goes your Knighthood!

 

[dilalio]

Bang goes your Knighthood!

I dunno mate... She seems to give em out to all sorts these days!!!

To update on the decorating... I've opted to go for o/b Dulux trade satinwood for the top coat: the wet towels over the banisters got me thinking... Our hallway is a high traffic area: 3 kids, us, dog covered in s**t after a walk, cat, deliveries, bikes etc etc... Gonna need a finish we can wipe down!
The bedrooms however, are next and I'll be going the aqua route on those as I'd like to try it out amongst the quick dry, low odour benefits. Thanks for all the input guys.
Deano.

 

[HumpyD]

I undercoated 3 doors and frames on Saturday with Johnstone's Aqua. Generally pleased but I have a couple of runs on one of the doors. I didn't spot them until I'd finish the door so didn't try to brush them out. Would I be able to sand the run out with a bit of fine sandpaper and then re undercoat? I presume if I'm not too heavyhanded I should be able to just undercoat the sanded area rather than the entire door?

 

[footprints]

I undercoated 3 doors and frames on Saturday with Johnstone's Aqua. Generally pleased but I have a couple of runs on one of the doors. I didn't spot them until I'd finish the door so didn't try to brush them out. Would I be able to sand the run out with a bit of fine sandpaper and then re undercoat? I presume if I'm not too heavyhanded I should be able to just undercoat the sanded area rather than the entire door?

Should be fine for undercoat, as it will be top coated.

As it happens I used some on my bathroom door recently and after finishing noticed a tiny run, brushed it out but too late. It left a slight smudge on an otherwise perfect door so I thought, what the heck and let it dry for a day then used T Cut, it worked! OK I can still see the area but you have to look for it anyone else is unlikely to notice.

 

[SJRSJR]

I'm only a DIYer and had been put off water based gloss years back but after all the yellowing stories I decided to give it another go a couple of years ago. After trawling through comments on here I chose Johnstones Aqua Gloss using it on a mix of new wood, stripped wood and old wood). I used Zinsser 123 before the undercoat but I don't know if that's absolutely necessary. Definitely use the Aqua undercoat and at least a couple of top coats.

It's fine on areas that don't take a beating but I notice it has chipped in a few places especially where there were layers of old paint (not surprising I suppose- maybe I didn't sand it down well enough). I noticed the staircase handrail didn't stand up too well - it looked a bit grimy and worn after a few months although it is a household of mucky pups. The good thing is you can easily repaint or touch up in parts - there was no obvious mismatch in colour, it dries quickly and there was no smell so I did it without anyone even noticing. I'm sticking with it.

 

[Chud]

I'm only a DIYer and had been put off water based gloss years back but after all the yellowing stories I decided to give it another go a couple of years ago. After trawling through comments on here I chose Johnstones Aqua Gloss using it on a mix of new wood, stripped wood and old wood). I used Zinsser 123 before the undercoat but I don't know if that's absolutely necessary. Definitely use the Aqua undercoat and at least a couple of top coats.

It's fine on areas that don't take a beating but I notice it has chipped in a few places especially where there were layers of old paint (not surprising I suppose- maybe I didn't sand it down well enough). I noticed the staircase handrail didn't stand up too well - it looked a bit grimy and worn after a few months although it is a household of mucky pups. The good thing is you can easily repaint or touch up in parts - there was no obvious mismatch in colour, it dries quickly and there was no smell so I did it without anyone even noticing. I'm sticking with it.

The yellowing issue is for solvent based paints - they removed a lot of the VOC's from them and cocked them up. Water based ones in my experience stay white but can be tricky to apply in terms of getting a good smooth finish.

 

[dilalio]

Well, like I mentioned above, if it's a high traffic area and you want to be able to wipe it down to remove marks then o/b is the way to go I think - they seem to have got a better, non-yellowing formula nowadays. For bedrooms and the like w/b is ideal because it shouldn't get such a beating and you can always touch up without the odour!

 

[HumpyD]

I need to start painting all the spindles and handrail soon - what's the best way to rub them down? Basic sandpaper? I have read about a abrasive cloth that would 'fit' around the spindles better. What kind of brush for the spindles? I'm a little concerned that a normal brush might struggle a bit with the 'roundness' of the spindles; would a round brush fair better?

 

[Chri5]

Try a sash brush 25mm.

As for sanding, pads (a bit like a decorators version of a pan scrubber pad) work well, more so if it just a little key required.

http://www.sandingshed.co.uk/shop/siafleece-152-x-229-mm-hand-pads/

(Link was a Google search, there might be cheaper suppliers elsewhere)

 

[HumpyD]

Thanks Chri5, I'll give them a try.

Another question. Glossed a door over the weekend (that had been undercoated with Johnstone's Aqua) but was slightly disappointed with the finish as it has quite a few air bubbles in the finish. The only thing I did differently was that I shook the tin rather than stir it - could this introduce more air into the paint and cause the bubbles? I normally stir the paint but for some reason decided to shake it!!!