Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am doing a test using the oil base paint #4.
(Per a recommendation form a fellow tearer, who gave us the information and a link to a short article on the topic.)
In the can it does have pigment and color is like very week coffee with milk.

On red oaks strips I have 2 coats so far.
Looks great, dries clear, gives a slight hint of amber, much like varnish, but actually even less.
A third coat goes on tomorrow and then I take the sample back to the dealer who insisted it wouldn't work and would look like a thin whitewash.

They were snickering at me as I left with the paint base.
Ye of little faith!

Come on Eric.....

Will do after I have 3 coats on and dry.

absolutsnwbrdr wrote:Come on Eric.....

Way cool!
how fast does it dry to the touch?

desertmoose wrote:Way cool!
how fast does it dry to the touch?

It seems to be touch dry in 3-4 hours, they state to re-coat in appx 8 hours. My temps are a bit low so both seem to be a little retarded.
I just gave it a 3rd coat, will post comparative pics tomorrow. LOOKS GREAT btw.

3 coats Oil Paint base #4
Put on as you would shellac.
Wood strips, red oak.
Others have tested this and found it has more weather resistance than spar varnish and polys etc...

It will be the finish for my Woody Tear
FWIW

Is that top strip untreated? Looks like that works very well, with little discoloration. Good to know.

Yeah, top piece is raw.
The finish couldn't be much clearer or less color changing.
I like it a lot and it will be the finish for all my Tear sides.
Most likely Oak, but I am not 100% married to it yet.
At this time the side panels will be Woody style and the roof panel will be painted white to match my TV white color.
(GM Summit White.)
I have not decided what finish or even what wood product will be on the interior yet.

absolutsnwbrdr wrote:Is that top strip untreated? Looks like that works very well, with little discoloration. Good to know.

that looks pretty good.

What brand did you use?

Benjamin Moore.
But I suspect any name brand will be the same.

TJinPgh wrote:that looks pretty good.

What brand did you use?

So you are using a tinting base with no colorant?

Big Dave wrote:So you are using a tinting base with no colorant?

Yes I am using base #4 and I like it a lot.
Right now I am just finishing the deck of the utility trailer (oak ply)
But I will be using it on the wood portions of my Tear as well.

Just got a 3rd coat on the utility deck this morning.
I will post a pick under my build in a couple of days when I get the deck mounted.

That's a very interesting idea. I'm going to have to try that out.

I used to be in the paint manufacturing business. Our oil base paint started with a combination or soya and alkyd resins. Read Varnish. The pigments in your paint are translucent so that less colorant is needed to obtain the color you want. What you have is a pigmented varnish.
Steve

I believe the the #4 base refers to the amount of paint in the can. A very light color would need just a little colorant, so a #1 base. A very dark color would need a lot of colorant, so in a #4 base they put less paint in the can so it doesn't overflow and you still end up with a full gallon after the colorant is added.