Window putty and painting

[fryups]

Hi,

As i understand if you are painting window putty, normally you need to leave it to cure a fair while - weeks/months with modern paints.

However I did read somewhere that If you are painting with Linseed oil paint (as I am) then this can be painted on fresh putty? Does anyone know if this is so? Or if not how long it should be left?

Cheers.

 

[Feltwell]

It's not that fussy really, especially if you're using linseed paint.

I've painted brand new putty with linseed paint and it's been fine, but the paint takes an age to dry.

Ideally I'd leave it for a week just so the linseed oil in the putty on the surface has started to go off a little bit, then paint it - putty is just linseed oil & powdered chalk I believe.

Don't leave it unpainted for too long or it will crack. And don't forget to paint the glazing rebate with shellac before you putty the glazing in - especially on softwood frames - helps stop the linseed from the putty soaking into the wood too quickly and cracking the putty.

Good luck!

 

[middi]

As already suggested it is better to leave the putty to form a " surface crust " before painting. This is even more so if modern " non flexible " paints are used . If these paints are used on "fresh" putty the inevitable shrinkage will crease and crack these "more rigid" paints.
If more flexible linseed based paints are used the cracking may be eliminated but the inevitable shrinkage will still cause creased putty.
It is, therefore, advised that a surface putty " solidity" has occurred before painting ( usually a couple of weeks is enough )

Middi

 

[fryups]

thanks, suspected as much. Basically am getting them glazed on Wednesday (all being painted (base and 1st coat) and drying in our barn at mo), and trying to decide if i can sneak the 3rd coat on before fitting them a week later or if i will have to paint the 3rd coat when they're all installed, its seeming the later - the paint is linseed from histocolour but think the glaziers are using "multipurpose putty from hodgsons, which although has linseed content is probably not a true linseed putty.

 

[DJH]

The formation of a "surface crust" can be accelerated by brushing the putty with cold clean water...

Doug

 

[Feltwell]

the glaziers are using "multipurpose putty from hodgsons, which although has linseed content is probably not a true linseed putty.

The first lot of timber I repaired here, I used the posh pure linseed putty from Holkhams as a filler, as recommended by them, before painting with their paint.

Ever since, I've used the Hodgsons putty, which is considerably cheaper, easier to obtain and works just as well. Never given me any problems. It does have linseed but you're right, it has plasticiser and some white spirit in it too according to their info.

 

[CliffordPope]

I gave up using putty years ago. Car body filler sets in minutes, can be sanded or scraped if necessary, and can be painted immediately.
Also it sticks, unlike putty.