 |
|
Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive by Ron Joseph September, 2009 Calculating Paint Waste Q. We paint structural steel using a 73% solids zinc rich epoxy primer onto a blast prepped surface, normally H or I beams using a graco xtemix plural pump with a 313 reversible tip. How do I calculate wasteage for the purposes of pricing jobs? A. Transfer efficiency is a measure of the amount of paint that is deposited on a surface, relative to the amount of paint applied. In the case you describe the transfer efficiency of the zinc-rich primer application can be as high as 70%, or as low as 25%. TE is a function of the technique the painter uses to apply the coating, and is also a function of the shape and size of the H and I beams. The are many more factors that affect TE, but the ones I mentioned have a significant affect on how much paint will be wasted. Regards, Ron Joseph |