The drying of the panels was noted every few hours and observations made to determine whether the paints were penetrating properly into the surface of the wood. A period of eight days was allowed between each coat in order that thoroughly hard setting might take place.
During the application of the second coat of paint to the panels, fresh cans of paint were used in every case so that fresh reductions could be made of the proper consistency. Full data were also recorded on the ease of application, working, and nature of drying shown, as well as appearance presented by each paint after each coat had been applied. New packages of paint were also used for the third coat, and, as a rule, the paint was applied without reduction or with full oil reduction, turpentine being eliminated in nearly every case for the third coat work.
Reductions. The single pigment paints, such as white leads, were reduced by the so-called ounce system, each ounce of oil added to 121⁄2 ounces of paste pigment representing one gallon of vehicle to one hundred pounds of lead. A complete report of the reductions, spreading rates, etc., used in the tests would take up three or four hundred pages of printed matter. The reductions shown on the following formulas are, however, fairly representative of the reductions used on the combination and single pigment paints.
Reductions on Formula No. 2
White and Yellow
1st Coat
Condition when opened—good.
Consistency when broken up—heavy.
Reduction recommended by manufacturer—none.
Reduction used—3 pints raw oil, 1 pint turps, 1 gallon paint.
Consistency after reducing—good, stiff.
Working—fair.
Drying—fair on pines; cypress—poor.
Penetration, pines—good; cypress—poor.
2nd Coat
Consistency when broken up—heavy.
Reduction used—11⁄2 pints turpentine, 1 pint boiled oil.
Consistency after reducing—good.
Working—good.
Hiding—medium.
Drying on pines—good; cypress—poor. One-half pint japan added to gallon of paint.
Penetration—fair.
3rd Coat