Opinions on latex in areas that have cold seasons?

Hey all, Getting hammered on an ennis price increase on solvent traffic paint this year, the only options in my area are switching to Sherwin Williams promar, or water based traffic paint. Those that use latex in areas that experience winters, how does the paint hold up compared to solvent based? Does the temperature affect the paint at all when attempting to spray late season when the temp drops? Maybe its time to love the environment a little more and switch to latex, I've just always heard negative things about the straining and the temperature performance and tips wearing out faster etc etc...

Also curious about winter storage, my stripers sit in an enclosed trailer outdoors all winter, will water in the lines freeze and have an adverse effect on the machines?

We use S W Propark water base in the summer mos and on new sealer. Early spring and fall we use the acetone base for fast drying in cool temps. Their number is 5712 for white and 5713 for yellow. Don't remember the number for blue. Have had good luck with all of it. Wear depends on what the winter brings. Here in Colorado it can be severe. Do not leave water in a machine in freezing weather. We leave paint on our machines all season but clean and winterize with thinner. We. Do store in trailers.

Only thing latex is good for , is painting inside of houses. Pay the extra, and save yourself a lot of aggravation.

I hate latex......Just saying......

latex and winter do not mix , not in NC anyway.

Here in Dallas, the Winter has been very mild. We have had temps up to almost 80 degrees. The weather then will hover from 58-28 degrees at any given time. However lately it has been warm enough to stripe. I have done jobs in 52* degree weather with both latex and solvent based paint. In all my experience I had primarily been a Latex striper. It's easier to handle and you can clean quickly with water. Latex compared to Solvent based paint is night and day. Latex takes a long time to dry and properly cure in temps below 55*. Latex at the micro level is like a honeycomb, meaning it has crevices, this is why tracking occurs and why latex get's dirtier because materials get caught in latex. If you have sunshine this helps dry quicker. The ground temp if in shade can be very difficult to work with because of the cooler temps. It will take hours if cold and in the shade, especially if using latex. I use the pump armor every time I finish cleaning. I keep my machines constantly clean. I have not yet run toluene in my latex machines. I keep my latex tips stored in the a toluene jar. Then prior to use I spray with high pressure to clean the tip with the water left in the pump/hose when last cleaned. I've heard 2 different opinions with regard to whether Latex or Solvent based paints "wear out a machine" usually in respect to the packing's, the pump, and etc.. with a machine. I prefer running Graco. One guy claims the solvent based paint keeps everything more lubricated. He stores Toluene in his machine, however has recommended that in long time use it is better to flush and store with a mineral spirit. However a Rep for a another company other than Graco claimed that water based paints are much easier on a machine because it is not a "hotline product". Just be sure to keep your seals and everything properly lubricated with TSL and various products to prevent wear and tear. A manual on a Graco 3400 or 3900 can quickly get you acquainted with these processes. If you ask me which I prefer to use because of ease/safety with regard to doing the labor, it would be Latex. However when it comes to which is the superior product, depending on your brand of paint, for me when it comes to Solvent, 100% Acrylic Aexcel, then you would see the quality, durability, and over all look from the new paint. With a better product, comes higher costs. I give my customers a breakdown of the different paints and what they can expect from the results based on the overall factors that will affect their lot. I ask if they have seen lots with very bright, durable paint vs. paint that wears away quickly.

I prefer oil base and do feel it last longer and easier on pumps and packing and tips. Having said that it is not to be used on most new seal coat jobs hence waterborne. The climate her in Colorado is totally different than Texas so different needs apply. We run three machines that spray nothing but waterborne and one that is for oil base only. We have experenced less problems by not interchanging. This year I intend to enjoy the Texas winter. Going to pack the motor home and head for the Texas hill country when we shut down for the season in Nov. Had enough of this snow and cold to last me forever.

I try to stay away from latex as much as possible, esp when temps are getting below 60. anything lower than that and you will have to thin an already inferior product just to get it to spray. in my experience the alkyd products hold up much better than the latex paints, im glad I can still use alkyd in my area. as Milt stated, the biggest draw back the alkyd paints have for me is coal tar based sealer.

I can only get Latex here is Ohio and it is gonna be down to 0 degrees tonight. I have yet to receive any calls that my lines I painted this summer are popping off as fast as the temps are dropping. I keep paint in my machines all summer long only rinsing out when I need to or when I will not be striping due to weather or lack of work for more then 3 days. In the winter time i just keep straight pump armour in the lines.

i don't think anyone mentioned dried paint coming up in low temps LOL

I have been using an acrylic latex for the past 3-4 years and sometimes switch to solvent in the winter, like allstripe, I am in Texas. The biggest difference for me between solvent and the acrylic we've been using is drying time and not as much with durability. We have been using the traffic paint made by Pioneer out of Cleveland Ohio it has methanol as well as water and dries faster than regular latex with mostly water. It will dry slower in lower temps but still dries. I haven't had to paint sit in the last 4 years with early morning striping like I had with other latex products. We used solvent based on a high traffic rail area and fortunately so, the quick drying time came to our rescue. As far as striper wear, I still have LL II (first machine) probably 18 years old and still stripes as good as the newer ones. The only issues I remember is when I left Lacquer thinner in one of the machines and the packing seemed to dry out faster but haven't had to repack very often. frf....have you tried the pioneer paint we also use their athletic paint on sports fields.

Also, lineskills where are you that you leave your machines in the triailer outside all winter long....

I have not but I need to look into it. I just bid a restripe on an outdoor track.

I wouldn't use latex, even if it was free!

One of the great things about this business is, there are many ways to deliver quality and everyone has their own personality and freedom to be successful the way that fits them best.

wise words.