Now that I have been using Breathing Color’s Chromata White Canvas Paper in combo with their Timeless Satin Coating for over a year now, it seemed like a good time to write a post, specifically, on my experience with the Timeless product.

First, I would like to commend Breathing Color for their excellent customer service whenever I have had issues with any of their products. They have always been willing to help me troubleshoot problems and, when necessary, replace defective product, which has only occured once.

My spray environment is not a professional spray booth. I use my garage with all the doors open, coverings on the walls and also on anything within 3-5 feet of the spray area. My air compressor is a Craftsman 20-gal, which handles spraying 3-4 prints before it refills. The canvas prints are all taped to large cardboard sheets while being sprayed. I have found cardboard to be more durable then using foam board. It is also less expensive.

When using Timeless, I follow the manufacturer’s directions in storing, stirring and prepping the product. I have also used their Glamour 2 finishing product on my work, but honestly, I don’t have time to create my own satin mixture, so I was determined to make Timeless work for my business and the following tips help me get near perfect results every time.

Rule 1: Invest in a quality HVLP Spray Gun
I recognize many people out there may not do enough volume to warrant the spray gun method, but if you do, get a good one. When I upgraded from my Husky Pro Spray Gun ($99) to a DeVilbiss Finishline FLG-654 Spray Gun($199), the difference was immediate and apparent. This gun even and consistent coats.

When using the Husky Pro, I would often get latent air bubbles appearing in the coating (read previous post), but when using the DeVilbiss, it has reduced the air bubbles occurrence to almost never. If it does occur, it is when applying the Timeless to heavy and too quickly.

Rule 2: Use the proper size fluid tip
Oddly, I have never seen this mentioned anywhere, but the size of the fluid tip can be a big factor to successful coating. When I bought the DeVilbiss gun, it came with three different sized fluid tips, 1.3, 1.5 and 1.8 mm. I started off using the 1.5 mm, since it was the closest to the 1.4 mm I was using with the Husky Pro. This size worked fine, but it seemed to take a long time to apply a sufficient coat.

I switched out the 1.5 mm tip for the 1.8 mm to experiment and the results were exactly was I was looking for. Finally, I could pass the spray gun swiftly back and forth to coat a print in seconds. The coat was heavy and fairly even.

Three coats covers the majority of my smaller size prints (anything 16″ x 20″ or under) sufficiently. The larger prints usually require a fourth coat. I’m not sure why, but Timeless is more prone to leaving an uneven finish on larger pieces. This additional coat seems to ensure a more even sheen on the bigger pieces, but its not always perfect. Try to stick with the recommendation of “spilling a glass of water on the print”. Three coats applied in this fashion, usually do the trick.

Rule 3: Clean your gun frequently
This is just common sense when using a tacky substance like Timeless. Upon completing a round of spraying, I always spray warm, soapy water through the gun for a minute or two to cleanse it. After this, I break down the gun and clean it thoroughly. The best cleaner I have found for the job is Aceton. However, you can also use Goo Gone for a less volatile cleaner.  This citrus based cleaner is easy on your skin and has no fumes. You may have to use several applications to remove more stubborn areas with Goo Gone, but it will restore your gun to a like-new condition. Q-tips are helpful in reaching the tighter areas. 

I will also occasionally soak the spray nozzle and fluid tip in Acetone to remove any interior buildup. If you find your gun spraying inconsistently, often a good cleaning will remedy the issue.

Other Tips
Be sure the small air hole located in the lid of the spray gun cup is open. Timeless can often get splashed onto the inside of the lid and dry quickly. The closed hole can result in unpredictable bursts and uneven spray from the gun due to improper ventilation. I usually poke a small nail through the hole before each spray session.

Check and recheck the pressure valve on your compressor. Different, hoses, connectors, valves, etc. can all affect the final output of the spray. As suggested by Breathing Color, you want to make sure the spray penetrates the surface of the canvas. Typically, my compressor drops in pressure after the first round of spraying and needs to be nudged back up. It usually only requires this once, but if you find your spray diminish during a session, this is a good place to check first.

In Closing
Timeless is helping my artwork reach its full potential. Since upgrading to a higher quality spray-gun, this coating has been performing the way I need it to. My prints look beautiful, cracking in the folds in minimal and the satin sheen is fairly consistent. The results are durable works of art that I’m proud to pass on to my customers.