tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367296273511467142.post5999653548436790210..comments2024-03-19T22:19:20.357+00:00Comments on Captain Ahab's Watery Tales: Painting Narrowboats - PreparationAndy Tidyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297448211000021970noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367296273511467142.post-81029566973223960492012-09-08T09:51:00.683+01:002012-09-08T09:51:00.683+01:00I have just cleaned the bottom of my narrowboat wi...I have just cleaned the bottom of my narrowboat with one of those rotoblaster things. Much to my surprise it was excellent, nearly as good as shotblasting and in the same time! i knackered 1 by ignoring Captain Ahabs advice and attacking the rubbing strips first but even so it removed all old paint, scale and rust leaving gleaming silver steel behind (heavily pitted unfortunately but that is another story)I used to be a steel fabricator and have not come across a gizmo better suited to this jobMan1nvannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367296273511467142.post-17038547730946563592012-05-22T19:15:20.576+01:002012-05-22T19:15:20.576+01:00Steve
You are right to worry about using an angle ...Steve<br />You are right to worry about using an angle grinder to strip the old paint. I have used one but only to flatten some raised welds - and I did dig into the steel a bit.<br />Try a RotoBlaster:<br />http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/tercoo-rotating-blaster.html<br />They cost £40 but do an excellent job without abrading the steel. You can see in in action here:<br />http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/stripping-and-bare-bottoms.html<br />A whole boat is a big job so ther is no harm in doing it in bite sized chunks - the roof is a good place to star and work down. You dont even need to do both sides at the same time as you can only ever see one side at a time!<br />Good luck - I saves loads of money and if you ding it you know you can always touch it up.<br />AndyAndy Tidyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05297448211000021970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367296273511467142.post-5970965164913142612012-05-21T21:02:46.987+01:002012-05-21T21:02:46.987+01:00Hi Captain Ahab,
I've just purchased a narrow...Hi Captain Ahab,<br /><br />I've just purchased a narrowboat in need of some TLC, and am keen not to rush the job. But I'm struggling t find a yard that isn't booked up for the next 3 months.<br /><br />Do you thiink the finished result would suffer by doing the job in sections?<br /><br />Also, I'm worried about using an angle grinder to do the prep work in case I get too carried away and end up eating away at the steel and not just the old layers of paint. Is this a realistic possibility, or am I worrying about nothing?<br /><br />Many Thanks<br /><br />Steveoldsparkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06753573001240853465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367296273511467142.post-43423956815760207392010-08-10T18:58:42.192+01:002010-08-10T18:58:42.192+01:00Jane
I fear that a single week will be inadequate,...Jane<br />I fear that a single week will be inadequate, particularly in the short cold days of winter.<br />Preparation takes ages and be reall careful with an angle grinder or you will find you abrade scallops of metal away leaving an uneven surface.<br />My repaint started fron a sound base of the initial paint job.<br />Can I suggest that you try a test area first, maybe round the stern and see how long it takes to achieve a good finish.<br />Go for quality paint every time - good thick resin and high pigment content - something like Craftmaster or Rapidpaint.<br />My top tip would be to avoid doing it all as a single project. Do a bit, get it finishd and move on. Maybe the roof then one side and then another.<br />Taking it in chunks minimises the likelihood of you losing heart and doing a quick job that leaves you dissatisfied.Andy Tidyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05297448211000021970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367296273511467142.post-65144556083289701052010-08-10T13:35:31.344+01:002010-08-10T13:35:31.344+01:00Dear Captain Ahab - we have been reading your narr...Dear Captain Ahab - we have been reading your narrowboat painting posts with interest as we are about to embark on a paint job of our forty foot nearly forty year old traditional stern narrowboat. She has had a serious number of paint jobs in her time, but given that, is not badly rusted, just pitted from repair with the current cheaper paint job pealing away. We are planning to borrow an angle grinder from a friend for a thorough rubbing down and smoothing - and probably have a week maximum to do the whole job, at least for this winter, including to top coat . If we work all day, assuming good weather, how long do you think the sanding/cleaning part of the work will take, and do you have any tips with the angle grinder, and do you think we can do it? - many thanks, Sophie and JaneJanenoreply@blogger.com