the essence of good paint work is good preparation
Since 1902, Epifanes has been setting the highest standards of paint quality in beauty, preservation and performance.
We develop and manufacture the finest marine coatings possible. No other finish is required to look as beautiful, and perform as well, in such an adverse environment as yacht coating. We strive to develop products which exceed these demands...read more
Welcome
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
BEST PAINT RESULTS
Thorough surface preparation is time consuming. Make sure your surface is well prepared. Proper degreasing and sanding are critical.
Surface preparations often take more time than the actual painting itself. For best results, however, they are essential. The first thing to determine when painting or repainting existing paint systems is whether to use a one-component or two-component finish.
This choice depends primarily on the type of substrate to be coated, the existing paint system in the case of maintenance, and to a lesser extent the working conditions under which the paint has to be applied (temperature / relative air humidity).
Areas of Painting
Painting Fiberglass
Preparation of Fiberglass above the waterline
Fill small irregularities above the waterline with Epifanes Fiberglass Filler. Larger repairs can be filled with Epifanes Epoxy Filler. Sand inside cracks and scratches before filling to give the surface some “tooth” for better mechanical bonding. Immediately after the filler has dried, sand with 320 dry, degrease with Epifanes Fiberglass Prep Cleaner and apply a 15% thinned primer or topcoat.This thinned...
Painting Steel
Preparation of Steel above the waterline
The steel surface must be cleaned of rust and mill scale, preferably by sandblasting to SA 2.5. If sandblasting is not possible, sand the entire surface manually or by machine using 60-80 dry abrasive paper. All welding spots/drops must be removed and sharp edges must be rounded with a grinder. Areas where rust removal is difficult should be prepared with a dependable rust remover. After cleaning...
Painting Wood
Preparation of wood above the waterline
Solid wood and overlapping/ lapstrake constructions in wood are flexible by nature. A one-component paint system provides sufficient flexibility to allow for the expansion and contraction of solid wood. Two component paint systems, i.e., epoxy paints and poly-urethane topcoats, should be applied on dimensionally stable woods like plywood and laminates. Because of their hardness and inflexibility, two-component systems are less...
Varnishing
Preparation of wood surfaces for varnish.
Epifanes varnishes contain highly effective UV filters and inhibitors. A well applied Epifanes varnish system with sufficient film thickness will keep its high gloss and provide long-term protection against UV radiation. Periodic maintenance, however, is necessary on any exterior wood surface, even when coated with Epifanes varnish.
