Page:Cyclopedia of Painting-Armstrong, George D (1908).djvu/407

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PRACTICAL POINTS ON PAINTING
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Do not be in a hurry with the work. Do not apply the paint too heavily.

A well-brushed-out coat of the proper consistency and plenty of time allowed for its hardening through will more than repay in the after effects for the time spent.

There is a difference between paint drying and hardening. Paint may dry in a few hours, but takes days to harden.

Light and air are essential to the proper drying of paint.

With inside painting, do not tightly close the room and expect the paint to dry. It won't.

Good results can not be had on an old surface unless it is put in proper condition to receive paint and the paint prepared and applied according to the condition of the surface.

Paint when struck with frost before it is dry wrinkles and loses its gloss.

Heavy dews on paint not dry also destroy the gloss.

There are certain times of the year when outside painting should not be done if satisfactory results are to be expected.

Do not paint too early in the spring, as the surface is very apt to be full of frost and moisture.

More complaints of peeling can be traced to early spring painting than to painting done at any other time of the year.

All paints and oils are much heavier in cold than in warm weather. If applied in a low temperature, there is apt to be too heavy a coating.

Painting should never be done in extremely hot weather.

Better and more uniform results can be obtained if the full amount of paint required for each coat is mixed at one time.

Prevent the paint from skinning over as much as possible by keeping the mixing keg covered when not in use. The formation of skin robs the paint of its drier.