Digital BW, The Print

About two years ago, many people were experimenting with Hydrocote Polyshield 
Clear Satin. Some users applied it with a "Mayer Rod," while others used brushes 
and rollers. "Joe D" had success with spraying. Here's part of his post to this 
group from August 7, 2003:

"For those who would rather try an what I believe to be an easier and more
consistent method this is my workflow with some caveats:

I use the Satin Hydrocote from

Hood Finishing Products, Inc
61 Berry St
Somerset NJ  08873-3506
Ph.  732-828-7850
Cost:  $51.94 which includes shipping.

I had my own  compressor to provide the air.  It's a Campbell-Housfeld 5hp 20
gallon.  I believe you would not need as big a compressor as you only need
30 pounds of pressure.  I'm no expert on compressors but mine works very
well .

The biggest problem I had to begin with was the gun.  The one that finally
worked  was  the Badger Touch-Up gun model 400 with a medium tip.  You
can find the cheapest one on the net at : http//www.dixieart.com  and the price
is $74.95.  I was not charged shipping but there was a little delay in shipping
and they may have waived the shipping charges.

Now the workflow:

I tape two  sides of the print  (top and bottom) to be sprayed to a piece of
cardboard four or five iches bigger than the print on all sides.  The cardboard
works fine but one might one to use formica board or something else.  The
cardboard I've  use bends a little but it hasn't caused me any problems.
When I first got the Badger,  I read the instruction sheet and adjusted the gun
to their recommendations.  Works fine.  I take the cardboard with the taped
prints (or cardboards with taped prints) out into the garage because there is a
little overspray.  Placing the cardboard with the print taped to it, I spray a 
first
coat of material over the print moving from side to side smoothly overlapping
just as the Badger instruction sheet says to do.  I put a thin first coat and 
then
let dry for about five minutes.  If you try to put a full coat onto the print, 
the
material soaks into the print and and causes it to buckle and that occasionally
causes problems.  I had the same problem with the Mayer rod and the
problem with the Mayer is you can't just go over it again.  It's got to be the 
first
time or nothing with the rod.  But the light coat of spray is not enough to 
cause
any buckling or wrinkling.  After it dries, it has now given you a nice
waterproof coat upon which to put on your second coat of Hydrocote.  I allow
the second coat another five minutes and then put on the final coat.  Every
print I've produced so far has been entirely satisfactory.  I'm spraying 13x19
prints and various sizes smaller.  I have done several at a time which helps
production.

Caveats:
Use removable scotch tape not the regular tape.
Don't try spraying if your work site is hot, i.e 85-95 degrees.  Comfortable
temperatures work fine but the material seems to dry a little too quickly in a
hot garage.
Important!  When you prepare to do your spraying, thoroughly mix your gallon
of Hydrocote by hand.  There seems to be some settling of some of the
material and one paint expert told me that failing to mix well could influence
how the material lays down.  So mix thoroughly.
Important!  Use a water filter close to the Badger.  When I didn't use a water
filter, I occasionally got little drops of water onto a print and in my opinion
makes the print unacceptable.  You can see them  by looking carefully.  Once
I started using the water filter (about $8) I haven't  had a problem.
Important!  Get some paint filters (they're cheap) and filter your material into 
a
clean dust-free container and then pour from that container into the Badger
container.
These caveats are important!  Once I followed the workflow above,  my prints
started to be just what I hoped for:   Prints with a clean beautiful coating 
which
substantially increases D-max and improves the quality of the print
immeasurable in my opinion.  Plus, they are waterproof and tough.

I need to mention that I am using Epson's Enhance Matte and have no
experience on any other paper.

Cleanup is simple.  I just take the badger to the sink and thoroughly rinse out
the cup.  I leave a few ounces of clean water in the cup and re-hook up to my
compressor and spray out a couple of ounces of water to make sure the
needle and other parts are clean.  This whole clean-up takes about two
minutes.
That's it!"



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