Flat finishes are applied to great advantage, and, because of greater uniformity of surface, more closely resemble a rubbed finish than when brushed.
This spray offers perhaps greater advantages in the application of shellacs than with other materials. It is a matter of common knowledge that shellac is very difficult to brush, while, on the other hand, it sprays easily. Instead of cutting the gum 4 or 5 pounds to the gallon of alcohol, as for brushing, the material is used in the proportion of 2½ to 3 pounds of gum to the gallon. The sprayed coat of shellac is perfectly smooth and uniform, and requires practically no sanding compared with the work necessary to sand a brushed coat.
The Aeron is simple and easy to operate, and a week's work is sufficient to make an efficient and expert operator of the average man.
The work is clean, and, what is more, is healthful and sanitary, as all vapours and fumes are removed from the finishing room by the exhaust fan used with each outfit.
Cleaning the Aeron is accomplished by spraying a solvent through the nozzle instead of the finishing material, and the whole machine may be placed in a can of thinner overnight if desired. It is necessary to clean the Aeron but once a day if it is used more or less continuously. The whole operation of cleaning may be performed in a minute or two.
There is usually some loss in finishing material when the Aeron is used, though this is hardly noticeable except on small work, when it may amount to 15 or 20 per cent. In many cases there is no waste, in others an actual saving—where coats are eliminated by the use of the machine. On an average, however, there is some slight loss—largely of the solvent used in reducing the material. In any event, however, the waste is offset many times by the saving effected in time and labour, without taking into consideration the saving in floor space, the greater ease in handling the work, the better quality of the work done, the advantage to the workmen, and, finally, the general all-round convenience of the Aeron system.
Description of the Illustrations.
We will now give a description of the illustrations of the different parts of the Aeron. Fig. 40 shows the attached cup straight barrel Aeron, which can be fitted with either metal or glass cups. Metal cup is the standard equipment.
Attached cup Aerons can be furnished with four sizes of nozzles: F—.047" dia., E—.070" dia., D—.081" dia., and C—.094" dia. These nozzles are selected according to the nature of the work that is to be done.
Fig. 41 shows an attached cup angle barrel Aeron, a type of advantage in spraying work lying in a horizontal position.