Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I promised a post on this stuff. I finally got around to it. Long post warning!!

I stumbled on Emtek in another post when I was looking for an alternative to varnish. I am an impatient guy, and varnish is just too slow for me. I considered clearcoat, but that stuff is a bit too demanding for me. I wanted the perfect blend of fast, easy, and tough. Emtek fit the bill.

Emtek is a "polycarbonate urethane," whatever that is. I usually stay away from anything containing "poly" and "urethane" due to a bad experience 30 years ago. A long time to hold a grudge, I know.

I brushed the roof with a china bristle brush. Used 1 part retarder to 10 parts Emtek due to the extreme temps I work in here in AZ. Also tried a foam brush but got lots of bubbles. Was able to lay on 8 coats in 3 hours on about a 5 by 7 foot area. Not bad.

The brush strokes show, but can be sanded level with 1000 grit and polished up. I used a buffing compound (Turtle wax) and glaze (Magyars) that I got at the local Auto Zone to polish the Emtek and it worked well. Cheaper than Menzerna, the mfr's recommendation, and available locally.

I sprayed the sides, front, and rear with a relatively inexpensive turbine gun from Eagle (some people pay thousands for their spray rigs, this sold for about $350 and I got it for a lot less than that). In addition to retarder I had to thin the Emtek a bit with water, but then it had thickened a bit waiting for me to get around to using it, so thinning may not normally be necessary. Put on 6 coats in 4 hours. Got a little orange peel and some overspray, but again this polishes out nicely.

It hardens quickly and is clear as water. You can add dyes to it if you want to impart the warm, varnished, glow. As for me, I like clear.

Cleans up well with soap and water as long as it hasn't hardened.

So how does it hold up? I dunno. It has seen a day of AZ sun, 200 miles, and a 1 inch in 1 hour rain storm. No problems yet. Tune in next year, same time, same channel, for the next episode. Based on what I know now I strongly recommend this stuff.

I brushed the roof with a china bristle brush. Used 1 part retarder to 10 parts Emtek due to the extreme temps I work in here in AZ. Also tried a foam brush but got lots of bubbles. Was able to lay on 8 coats in 3 hours on about a 5 by 7 foot area. Not bad.

The brush strokes show, but can be sanded level with 1000 grit and polished up. I used a buffing compound (Turtle wax) and glaze (Meguiars) that I got at the local Auto Zone to polish the Emtek and it worked well. Cheaper than Menzerna, the mfr's recommendation, and available locally.

I sprayed the sides, front, and rear with a relatively inexpensive turbine gun from Eagle...

Pics of the results or it didn't happen.

Aside from the spray gun hardware, can you give us a estimate of cost to cover a traditional teardrop size? Do you expect any seasonal maintenance procedures?

Um, did you try my album?

Sorry, no pics of me brushing, so I guess that didn't happen. But it sure shines nice. Oops, no pics buffing either. Dang. Must have fallen into an alternate dimension.

As far as cost, Emtek lists at $70 per gallon, cheaper than I could find a high quality marine varnish, and retarder is $48 per quart, so maybe on par with Epifanes if you want to compare cost. They frequently have a 20% off offer, though. I went through 1-1/2 gallons of the stuff. Compound and glaze is maybe another $20.

Time, however, is the real factor here. I could lay on 6 coats of Emtek in a few hours. 6 coats of varnish will take about 2 weeks.

I must be having a google goof night. Anyone have a link to Emtek online?

http://www.targetcoatings.com/

My shortest post ever.

Thanks a heap for the post – looks like nice stuff. NO problems getting it out of the equipment then?

Well, when my brush crusted up after what I thought was a thorough cleaning I did a complete teardown when I cleaned the gun. A gun cleaning kit is a big plus. If you consider that no trouble, then it was no trouble. It does not clean up as easily as lacquer, but it does clean up with soap and water.

The trailer has been on the road for a week now and through some very heavy rain. No chipping or peeling. I am still very pleased with this stuff.

Well, when my brush crusted up after what I thought was a thorough cleaning I did a complete teardown when I cleaned the gun. A gun cleaning kit is a big plus. If you consider that no trouble, then it was no trouble. It does not clean up as easily as lacquer, but it does clean up with soap and water.

The trailer has been on the road for a week now and through some very heavy rain. No chipping or peeling. I am still very pleased with this stuff.

Well, when my brush crusted up after what I thought was a thorough cleaning I did a complete teardown when I cleaned the gun. A gun cleaning kit is a big plus. If you consider that no trouble, then it was no trouble. It does not clean up as easily as lacquer, but it does clean up with soap and water.

The trailer has been on the road for a week now and through some very heavy rain. No chipping or peeling. I am still very pleased with this stuff.