This story reviews the physical properties and benefits of Penetrol® Paint Conditioner.
By Jim Hingst @hingst_jim
Since the days of the depression, house painters and sign painters have used the paint additive called Penetrol®. Comprised of a blend of oils and alkyd resins, Penetrol® was developed by Earl Flood, an enterprising painting contractor in Cleveland. Originally, this paint additive was intended as a rust inhibitor. Soon, those using this homemade concoction, realized it was much more.
Once the product was commercially
available, painters quickly recognized that Penetrol® lowered the viscosity of lettering enamels and
other oil-based paints. This improved the flow out of their paint and extended
its open time. As a consequence, painted graphics were leveled out better with
fewer brush marks. Penetrol® also improved paint adhesion to primers and
substrates, which minimized peeling problems. As an added benefit, Penetrol® extended paint coverage, which lowered a
painter’s material cost.
Although many painters will refer to
Penetrol® as a thinner, it is more accurately classified as a oil paint
conditioner. When mixing up their paint, many pinstripers will add equal amounts of turpentine and Penetrol® up
to 10% of the total volume. This eliminates any drag on your brush that you may
experience when striping or lettering.
Regardless of what type of painting
you are doing, when using Penetrol® begin by adding 10% to your paint. If you
paint is especially thick, you can gradually add more up to 20%. Beyond that
amount, you will probably experience some loss of paint gloss. Do not add more
than 30%.
Adding Penetrol® works especially well
on those sweltering hot summer days, when the paint tacks up too fast. Acting
as a retarder, Penetrol® slows down the drying time as well as help the flow of
the paint.
Note: Just like paint, Penetrol® can
develop a skin on the surface. For this reason, you may want to pour your Penetrol®
into an 8oz. plastic squeeze bottle and store it upside-down so that any skin
that forms is on the bottom of the bottle.
About Jim Hingst: After fourteen years as Business Development Manager at RTape, Jim Hingst retired. He was involved in many facets of the company’s business, including marketing, sales, product development and technical service.
© 2015 Jim Hingst
Penetrol® Benefits.
Penetrol® Paint Conditioner provides
the following benefits:
- Improves paint flow out for a smooth finish.
- Reduces brush marks.
- Increases intercoat adhesion preventing peeling.
- Improves paint penetration on wood surfaces.
- Works as a rust inhibitor.
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Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer. Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.
Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 150 articles for publications, such as Signs Canada, SignCraft, Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 325 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published.
© 2015 Jim Hingst
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