How Much Penetrol and Floetrol Do You Add?

[MarissaJude]

Hey All,

I am wondering what your ratios are for adding Penetrol and Floetrol to paint.

I'm using Benjamin Moore Aura exterior waterborne paint for topcoating and I'm not sure how much Floetrol to add, if any.

For the interior, I am priming with Benjamin Moore Enamel Underbody and then using Satin Impervo alkyd enamel for the finish coats. Do I add Penetrol to the Enamel Underbody primer as well as the Satin Impervo? Or just to the Satin Impervo? And how much should I add?

Thank you guys muchly! You all have been my project savers on many occasions!!

[Sombreuil_Mongrel]

Hi,
M paint guy advised me last week that Aura has its very own special-formula "extender". Since Aura is an acrylic/oil emulsion and not a pure acrylic, this may be something to consider before addin floetrol.
Casey

[MarissaJude]

Oh thank you for letting me know this!

[Sombreuil_Mongrel]

Clarification: Exterior Aura is the oil/acrylic emulsion; I have no idea about the interior mixes.
Casey

[jade mortimer]

i purchased ben moore's extender just to make certain i avoided any issues...the folks who make floetrol (flood) say you can use it with ANY latex paint...ben moore says to use their product...probably all marketing hype but we still have both products in the shop...

both penetrol and floetrol have the mix ratio on the instructions...to be absolutely certain, give them a call...i have found them to be helpful in the past...caveat: most (not all) folks who work in paint shops are salespeople and don't know a whole lot about the products they sell...paints have changed considerable over the past decade...best to go directly to the manufacturer and speak to someone in the tech department...

...jade

[lisascenic]

The newer Ben Moore products vary regionally (I believe). So your mileage may vary.

What are you using an extender for?

I really love love love Modern Masters extender. It's confusingly labeled as extender for rolling metallic paints. Just ignore that. I haven't tried it with Aura, because the whole point of Aura is a fast drying time.

[jade mortimer]

i use an extender to help with the flow of the paint...aura is well known for its dragging effect, more so than your average latex/acrylic paint...with sash painting, make one stroke across a rail or stile and go back to smooth out the flow--it's already drying and dragging...another reason i prefer oil paints--longer 'open' time...

[lisascenic]

I need to go reread the MSDS for Aura. I'm so surprised that it is supposed to be an acrylic-oil hybrid.

[jade mortimer]

i know ben moore just came out with a new oil/water emulsion paint...thought aura was acrylic only...who knows...why can't they just leave the paint alone??? they use all these pretty green leafy pictures on the labels of new 'eco friendly' paints...it's plastic for crying out loud!

...jade

[MarissaJude]

Hey All!

Thanks again for all the advice! I was wondering about the Floetrol and Penetrol for exactly what Jade said....to get a smoother flow and less brush strokes.