Ron Joseph - expert in sprayguns / spraygun, spraybooths / spraybooth, powdercoating applications

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Ron Joseph, Coatings Editor. Ron is a coatings editor for Metal Finishing Magazine. In that capacity, he has contributed numerous articles and keeps abreast of state-of-the-art technologies related to the surface coatings industry.

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Ron Joseph, Coatings Editor

Metal Finishing Magazine provides information resources for professionals in the metal finishing field. Subjects covered include anodizing, blasting, buffing, cleaning, electrocoating, mass finishing, painting, phosphating, physical vapor deposition, plating, polishing, powder coating, vacuum coating, and related processes. The information is intended for personnel in custom and job shop finishing plants and in the finishing departments of manufacturers involved in the production of aerospace, airline, appliance, automotive, electronic, furniture, hardware, jewelry, medical, plumbing, and other products and components.

The Metal Finishing Guidebook and Directory offers technical articles on all aspects of finishing and a listing of industry suppliers of products and services.

Ron has contributed many articles to this Magazine over the years on a variety of topics.

For a complete listing of his articles, with synopsis, follow this link: Ron's Articles. We do not have the full length articles available on this web site at this time. For a full-length copy of an article, send request to Ron Joseph.

RON'S ARTICLES

Ron has contributed many articles to Metal Finishing Magazine over the years. Following is a listing with synopsis of article and publication date in Metal Finishing.

At this time, we do not have full-length copy of articles available on line. For your of full-length copy of an article, contact Ron Joseph.

March 2006	Ensuring Fire Protection in Powder Coating Booths Is Benzyl Alcohol a VOC? Removing Stain in Painted Surface Quantifying Metallic Colors Airless Spray Gun for Painting an Aluminum Boat
February 2006	Can Overpainting affect Car Prices? Green Paint and Solvent Technology Painting Polyurethane Over Decals Intumescent Coatings Hazardous Waste Disposal of Paint
January 2006	Determining The Airflow Rate in a Down-Draft Spray Booth Fire Retardant vs. Intumescent Coatings Converting From Solids by Weight to Solids by Volume Removing Paint from Plastic
December 2005	Spray Applying High Solids Coatings Lifting or Peeling of Lacquers Lifting of Powder Coating on Aluminum Railings
November 2005	Epoxy Coatings Lose Their Luster Water Entrapment in Topcoat Clearcoating Aluminum for Exterior Uses
October 2005	Iron Phosphate as a Friction Surface Federal Standard 595B Meeting Fire Protection Demands for a Powder Coating Booth Determining the Dry Film Thickness of Inorganic Zinc Rich Primer Calculating VOC Compliance for Navy Antennas
September 2005	Wash Primer Improves Paint Adhesion on Aluminum Extrusions Calculating Retained Solvents in Paints Flammability Specs for Paint
July/August 2005	How to Thin Spray Applied High Solids Coatings Color Conversion for Anodized Parts
June 2005	The Art of Applying Reflective Paint Protection Against Galvanic Corrosion Booth/Oven Split Calculating Emissions
May 2005	When Do You Need a Spray Booth? Respirators for CARC Polyurethanes Why Does Paint Run on a Cold Surface (Substrate)? Zero VOC Coatings: Solvent and Waterborne
April 2005	Converting RAL and Pantone Colors to CIE Color Coordinates Elastomeric Coatings Airless v. Air-Assisted Airless Spray Guns Painting Aluminum
March 2005	Understanding the Flammability Requirement for FED-STD 595A Wash Primer Improves Paint Adhesion on Aluminum Extrusions TT-E-527 Enamel Replacement Volatile Compounds
February 2005	Calculating Paint Coverage Converting Dry Film Thickness to Wet Calculating VOC Content
January 2005	It’s 2005: Do You Know What Your Lab Testing Costs are? Advice on Spray Booth Filtration VOC Solvents in Paint & Coatings
December 2004	The Lowdown on Peelable Coatings Specs and Usages Questions & Answers Do Zinc-Rich Coatings Melt at High Temperatures Corrosion of Fume Hood
November 2004	Questions & Answers At Issue: AAA vs. Airless Spray Guns VOCs and HAPs Defined Water Damage from Water-Wash Sray Booth
October 2004	Questions & Answers Exempt Solvents Airflow (Velocity) in Spray Booth and HVLP Spray Guns PCBTF for Solvent Washing Dry Film Thickness (DFT) Of Paints and Coatings Avoiding Tiger Striping or Striping of Paint Finish
September 2004	Questions & Answers Painting Stainless Steel and Aluminum in Contact Spray Booth Air Velocity (Flow Rate) for Dust Control Camouflage Paint Coatings – Pantone Colors
July/August 2004	Questions & Answers Poor Salt spray Resistance of Epoxy Coating Strong Odors from Painting Operations When Can One Speak of a No-VOC Coating? Chemical Analysis of Paints Difference Between Primer and Paint
May 2004	Air Flow Analysis with a Vane Anemometer
April 2004	A Collection of Calculations Determining VOC/HAP flow rate by mass or volume Transfer efficiency values for paint spray guns Recoating time for chemical resistant coatings Measuring the pressure differential in spray booths Paint spray booth floor paper
March 2004	Calculating VOC from MSDS
February 2004	Looking Beyond the Obvious Solvent evaporation from paint Does Transfer Efficiency of paint application affect paint quality?
December 2003	Film Thickness Calculations How can I predict dry film thickness from wet film thickness? Measuring dry film thickness on aluminum sand castings Applying epoxy primer over wash primer Improving efficiency of automotive paint spray operations
November 2003	Spray Booth Pressure and Air Flow Spray booth pressure and air flow rates Environmental permits for automotive painting MIL specs not available for all coating types
October 2003	Where the Rules Get Blurred Do Regulations ban the use of conventional siphon-fed spray guns? Is disposal of aerosol paint cans considered hazardous waste? Lead paint health and safety Gravity-fed HVLP spray guns vs. non-HVLP guns Preventing solvent and moisture blisters in baking paints
September 2003	Specifications for Spray Booth Filters, EPA Approval for Paints and Coatings, and Lead Paint Hazards Comparison of UV-resistant paints Transfer Efficiency of paints from aerosol cans Opening new automotive paint refinishing paint shop
July / August 2003	The Difference Between NESHAP and MACT Standards; And the Meaning of Solid Gallons
May 2003	Viscosity Measurements; and Business Comes Before Relationships
April 2003	VOC Abatement Control Devices and Calculating VOC from MSDS Exceeding solvent concentrations in catalytic oxidizer Solvent recovery using adsorption abatement controls Calculations of VOC from MSDS
February 2003	Aerospace NESHAP; Booth Airflow; and Coating Specification Are 3-stage filters necessary for the aerospace NESHAP? What are the requirements for airflow through a spray booth? Specifications for painting and coating processes – Case Study
January 2003	VOC MEASUREMENTS AND CERTIFICATION OF SPRAY BOOTHS Measuring Exempt Compound PCBTF - Standard Test Method for Acetone, etc. , Method 24, ASTM D 2369 Difference Between VOC Content (LB/GAL) and Solvent Density (LB/GAL) Who Certifies Spray Booths? - OSHA and Aerospace NESHAPS
Nov./Dec. 2002	VOC ANALYSIS, LOW-VAPOR-PRESSURE COMPOUNDS Latest Version of EPA Method 24 Analysis for VOC Dealing with Low-Vapor-Pressure Compounds Definition of Hazardous Air Pollutants
October 2002	DETERMINING VOLUME SOLIDS, CONTROL STANDARDS, AND RETROFITTING SPRAY BOOTHS Relationship Between Volume Volatiles and Volume Solids Air/Force Dry Liquid Coatings Thermoset Liquid Coatings that Cure in High-Temperature Ovens and Radiation-Curable Coatings EPA Method 24 - Analysis of VOC Abatement Control Standards for Surface Coatings Retrofitting a Spray Booth
September 2002	VOCs and HAPs FOR AIR/FORCE DRY PAINTS
August 2002	UL APPROVAL FOR SPRAY BOOTHS; VOC AND HAP FOR WATERBORNES; "TRUE" SOLVENTS Spray Booth with UL Approval - How to determine this. Where to find CAS Numbers VOC and HAP Information for Waterborne Coatings - If an MSDS gives only one number for the VOC or HAP content of a coating, is this given in terms of lb/gal or lb/gal, less water ...? EPA Method 24 and MSDS - Does an MSDS have to state the lab test method used ...? Origin of Word "Smog" True Solvents in Coatings - Strength of solvent with regard to surface coating applications
July 2002	SMOKE FROM POWDER COATING OPERATIONS; OPEN PAINT CANS - ARE THEY HAZARDOUS?
June 2002	CHANGING SPRAYBOOTH FILTERS
May 2002	LEAD IN PAINT; WASH PRIMERS; CALCULATING PARTICULATE EMISSIONS FROM SPRAYBOOTHS Lead in Paints & Coatings - Why was lead used as an additive in paints? Can one expect current paints to contain lead? Pretreatment Wash Primers - Are low-VOC pretreatment "wash primers" available? Is on-site thinning common? Particulate Chromate Emissions from Spraybooths - How does one calculate chromate particulate emissions from a paint spraybooth without performing a stack test?
April 2002	LABELING REQUIREMENTS AND SYNTHETIC MINOR AIR PERMITS Getting more information than is on an MSDS - What must the paint vendor report to the user on the MSDS? Explanation of the units % w/w and % v/v - More info. What is a synthetic minor permit?
March 2002	MSDS, VOC, and HAP INFORMATION AND TERMINOLOGY; CALCULATING TRANSFER EFFICIENCY Detailed VOC and HAP information - Form to complete for EPA. MSDS information for VOC and HAP- State laboratory test method used for determining VOC. MSDS Terminology - % w/w: what does it mean? Concept of specific gravity of solvent Permits for painting operations- Combining sites or not? Terminology for expressing VOC data How does one calculate Transfer Efficiency?
February 2002	VOC-EXEMPT COMPOUNDS, CONVERSION COATINGS AND PENCIL HARDNESS Where to find information on exempt compounds on the web? - There is no definition for "exempt compounds". Rather, the list falls into the definition of "Volatile Organic Compounds." Cleaning spray guns under the aerospace NESHAP - Using 2 or more of the four listed techniques. Status of Oxsol 100 (PCBTF) Pretreatment conversion coatings - Definition. Complying with the MMPP MACT - Metal and plastic parts. Measuring hardness of a coating - Pencil Hardness.
January 2002	Q&A DEALING WITH COATING POROUS CASTINGS, SELECTING ABATEMENT DEVICES, AND UNDERSTANDING PAINT THINNING INSTRUCTIONS Are Glycol ethers HAPs? Oven-baked coatings that are applied to castings - Coatings that bake at high temperatures and "out gassing". Where to find VOC compliant coatings - Check with paint vendors. Corrosion inhibitive primers? - What do chromates, molybdates, and similar pigments do in corrosion resistant primers? Is it permissible to specify non-compliant coatings for a project? We are frequently required to apply non-compliant coatings for a customer. What is our responsibility in this regard? Selection of abatement control devices - What common control devices for VOCs are used in industry today, their efficiencies and costs? Understanding paint thinning instructions
December 2001	HIGH- VS LOW-SOLIDS COATINGS AND VOC COMPLIANCE High-solids versus low-solids coatings - Difference in product quality and appearance when comparing high- vs. low-solids coatings Relationship between vapor pressure and VOC - Vapor pressure and smog-forming tendencies of solvents are not related. Spraybooth air velocity and capture efficiency - How does reduced air velocity affect the capture efficiency of the spraybooth? Check your design! Calculating potential to emit for a batch chemical process - How to calculate when no two batches (of resins) are the same or residence time in the reactor the same. Quick and dirty method to determine VOC compliance - Is there a short and simple method for determining if a mixed coating is likely to have been over-thinned by the painter?
November 2001	CHOOSING POWDER OR RADIATION-CURABLE COATINGS AND WHAT IS CARC? Choosing between powder and UV/EB curable coatings - Which parameters will affect decision? What are CARC coatings? - Chemical Agent Resistant Coatings - High performance coatings.+
October 2001	DAILY RECORD KEEPING AND COMPLEX VOC COMPLIANCE CALCULATIONS Daily record keeping - What does "daily" really mean? Calculating VOC (lb/gal, less water and exempt solvent for a mixture) - Advanced VOC problem - try it!
September 2001	Q&A DEALING WITH SPRAYBOOTHS AND SPRAY GUNS Air flow in spraybooths - Overspray avoidance via airflow? Spray guns - orifice size and paint type, gun lubrication and gun trigger Spray gun pressure - Hose size and constant pressure, hose size vs. length Mixing table and dust contamination in spraybooths - What is the best place to locate the mixing table inside the booth? Does wetting down the booth help with dust?
August 2001	Q&A DEALING WITH HEAT-RESISTANT COATINGS, VOCs IN TWO-PART COATINGS, AND OTHER TOPICS Painting electronic components with heat-resistant coating Creosote in coatings Asbestos in coatings Painting bath tubs Disposal of solvent-laden rags Is PCB in paint? Calculating VOCs for two-component coatings
July 2001	Q&A DEALING WITH VOC, UNIVERSAL WASTE, PAINTING ALUMINUM, SPRAY BOOTH AIR VELOCITY VOC content in aerosol paints and coatings - Refer to Regulation 8, Rule 49, Section 301, for California, Bay Area regulations - www.baaqmd.gov/regs/rulereg.htm. Hazardous waste versus universal waste - What is the difference? Painting aluminum trim - Key to painting aluminum successfully is surface preparation! Calculating VOC from electrodeposited coatings - Colloidal suspensions deposited on metal surfaces, containing propylene glycol. Should we use Method 24 to calculate VOC? Spraybooth air velocity and lower flammable limit - What are EPA requirements regarding 100 fpm? NESHAP vs. OSHA regulations concerning airflow in spraybooths.
June 001	Q&A DEALING WITH SPRAYBOOTH LIGHTING, PERMITS FOR AIRLESS GUNS, AND HEALTH PROBLEMS Using glass for outside walls and ceiling, how to be sure the "natural light" design will pass and be compliant - Check the NFPA 33 document Pretreatment of zinc die casting - proper specification Paint & Coating Permits for using airless and air-assisted airless spray guns in Ohio Address health problems to lawyers and toxicologists: Many internet sites will help you find a lawyer specializing in paint operation issues: expertpages.com, law.com, lawinfo.com are just a few.
April 2001	SPRAYBOOTH DIMENSIONS AND FILTERS Designing the Facial Dimensions of a Spraybooth: Things to take into consideration: maximum part size, part design, conveyor line size and speed, hook spacing, filters size, time needed for painter to coat the part. When to change filters in a spraybooth: Using gauges to determine filter life taking into account blower variable.
March 2001	SOLVENT-BORNES ON WATER-BORNES, TRANSFER EFFICIENCY, AND OTHER TOPICS Solvent-borne Topcoat on Water-borne Base: how to apply Measuring VOC Content: Importance of determining VOC per EPA Method 24 vs. VOC data based on ingredients used in paint formulation. Odor-Causing Paint Constituents: possible alternatives Transfer Efficiency of Air-Assisted Airless Spray Guns: TE from air-assisted airless vs HVLP guns. When to use one or the other. Using Scales to Determine Coating Usage: How to accurately measure coating usage using weight. Hints.
January 2001	MIXING SUBSTRATES, MIXING PAINTS AND WHAT ABOUT OILS Painting Steel and Aluminum Substrates in the Same Shop: Bad practice or acceptable practice. When to and when not to. Are Oils VOC or HAP? When are rags laden with oils considered hazardous materials? Mixing Table and Dust Contamination in Spraybooths: Reasons to position a mixing table in the back of the spraybooth near the air intake.
December 2000	CHANGING FILTERS IN SPRAYBOOTHS - ANOTHER APPROACH This week I visited a large facility that has numerous large and small spraybooths. On touring each booth, my host pointed out how badly the filters were plugged with overspray .... (yet) the pressure differential across the filters ... hardly registered more than 0.5 in. water column. Spraybooths with a Variable Frequency Drive: How does the previous situation compare with a spraybooth blower that is operated by a variable frequency drive?
November 2000	Q&A DEALING WITH PAINTING OPERATIONS Maintaining the Spraybooth Manometer: Rubber tubing on the manometer on outside wall of spraybooth tends to clog with overspray Spraybooth Filters: Do all three filter stages on our spraybooth need to be changed when the pressure drop reaches the threshold recommended by filter vendor? Airflow in Spraybooths: If ceiling lights are frequently covered with overspray, can this be avoided by increasing airflow through the booth? Respirators and Polyurethanes: Can you wear half-mask respirator when spraying polyurethanes? Spray Guns: Does orifice size of the spray gun also depend on type of paint sprayed? Spray Gun Pressure: Why does hose size and length matter when using an HVLP gun?
October 2000	PRESSURE DROPS ACROSS SPRAYBOOTH FILTERS Do not confuse actual pressures in the booth and exhaust section vs. the pressure drop or pressure differential across the filters. Various scenarios are reviewed. Using Filter Changeout Tables Provided by Vendors: The decision to change second and third stage filters is based on several factors. The only regulatory condition is that the system pressure drop must never exceed the limit placed on you by your vendor.
September 2000	AVOID MISTAKES WHEN SPECIFYING SPRAYBOOTHS It is surprising how many spraybooths are inadequately equipped, either because the vendor has not properly pointed out the advantages or disadvantages of a particular feature or because the customer is loath to spend the extra money to do the job right. I visited two separate spraybooths, both lacking some major essentials.
August 2000	CHAMELEONS AND CAMOUFLAGE Camouflage coatings formulation.
July 2000	TWO-COMPONENT COATINGS AND TRANSFER EFFICIENCY Inspection of two-component coatings: How do inspectors do it? Back to Transfer Efficiency: Important parameters that affect Transfer Efficiency.
June 2000	TRANSFER EFFICIENCY REVISITED The Scenario: Quiz to test your true understanding of transfer efficiency Relationship Between Transfer Efficiency and Emissions: How to calculate transfer efficiency. Factors that Affect Transfer Efficiency: Transfer efficiency as the most advantageous pollution reduction factor. Sensitivity of Transfer Efficiency to VOC/HAP Emissions, Hazardous Waste, and Costs: Relationship between transfer efficiency and VOC/HAP emissions Spray Guns and Transfer Efficiency: What is the most important parameter for maximizing transfer efficiency?
May 2000	EPA REGULATIONS CAN AND DO CHANGE There is a common misconception in our industry that EPA regulations are cast in concrete and cannot be changed. The Aerospace NESHAP is one regulation that refutes this perception ....
April 2000	TIPS ON BOOTH FILTERS AND MIXING OF TWO-COMPONENT COATINGS Two New Pointers Concerning Spraybooth Two-Stage Filters: Vendor must demonstrate that his second-stage pocket filter meets or exceeds requirements of EPA's Table, 40 CFR Part 63, Sections 63.745(g)(2)(i)(A). Mixing Two-Component Coatings - Two Similar yet Different Procedures: To stir or not to stir, that is the question!
March 2000	OPTIONS FOR PAINTING HYDRAULIC TUBES Powder Coating the Tubes: Advantages and Disadvantages Electrostatic Liquid Coatings: Advantages and Disadvantages HVLP Detail Gun Dip Coating: Advantages and Disadvantages
February 2000	DOWN-DRAFT SPRAYBOOTHS Using Manometers to Determine when to Change Filters: Three manometers were fixed to the inside wall of the spraybooth, one to measure pressure drop across the exhaust filters, one to measure the pressure drop between inside and outside of the booth, one to measure the pressure drop across the intake filters in the ceiling of the booth. Noise is Also Pollution: Hearing protection must be provided when noise level exceed 86 db. When Pollution Prevention Takes a Wrong Turn: Be careful with cumulative process changes; they can alter P2 goals so that prevention is no longer achieved.
January 2000	SPRAYBOOTH CLUTTER Spraybooths are often cluttered with unnecessary equipment such as gun washers, 55-gallon hazardous waste drums, .... All this material collects dry overspray, much of which will eventually deposit on freshly painted surfaces .... (so that) rework is required and .... increased pollution and costs. Painters Must Be Responsible for Maintaining their Own Spray Guns: Many paint facility personnel agree that one of the most frustrating causes of line stoppage, rework, and waste can be traced to improper maintenance of spray guns.
December 1999	Minimizing VOC Analyses and Maximizing Carbon Filter Life Minimizing laboaratory analyses Getting maximum life from carbon filters
October 1999	HVLP Spray Guns Do HVLP guns affect coating adhesion? HVLP guns must not be starved of air
September 1999	What is HAP-Free? Feature Article: Savings of 10-30% Pollution Reduction - Air and Hazardous Waste
August 1999	Changing Filters in Multistage Spraybooths
May 1999	Dealing with Solvent Cleaning Operations
April 1999	Filtering Aerospace Spraybooth Overspray Spraybooth filters Manometers to measure pressure drop
March 999	What You Might Not Know About Electrostatic Spray Applications Painting plastics and wood Cut the air velocity in the booth Paint robbers
February 1999	HVLP Guns Are Not Automatically Compliant
January 1999	Scales for Spray Booths - Coating usage by weight Calculations
December 1998	Environmental Coating Problems Plural-component mixing equipment for three-component epoxy Measuring pressure on HVLP spray gun When is a solvent a semivolatile
November 1998	Environmental Coating Problems Paint liners vs. nonstick coatings for pressure pots Getting a uniform DFT with a high-solids epoxy primer Fines for mixers? More on thinning
October 1998	Environmental Coating Problems Can one save on pollution by adding solvents to a coating? One of the best P2 strategies is to prevent paint failures from occurring
September 1998	Environmental Coating Problems Waterbornes can give great looking finishes - but it might take some tweaking
August 1998	Environmental Coating Problems Dealing with a touch-up spray gun Using substitute solvents to lower viscosity
July 1998	Environmental Coating Problems HVLP goes micro Capturing overspray from touch-up operations EPA clarifies definition of HVLP
June 1998	Environmental Coating Problems Keep the hoses short Recordkeeping and waterborne coatings Flush cleaning the fluid hose Do you want to be certified as an environmental professional?
May 1998	Environmental Coating Problems Ultrahigh fluid pressure Chromates in primers used as tie coats Get those spray guns closer to the part
April 1998	Environmental Coating Problems Ozone and particulate revisions
March 998	Environmental Coating Problems Using AP42 emission factors Emission reductions for compliance
February 1998	Environmental Coating Problems Abatement with compliant coatings Use of solvent recyclers under Aerospace National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) Reporting or not reporting entrapped solvent Overcoming orange peel while remaining compliant
January 1998	Environmental Coating Problems Spray booth lighting Spray booth airflow Spray booth maintenance Grounding in spray booth Moisture in compressed air line Volume of compressed air Mixing table and other equipment Weight of spray gun
November 1997	Environmental Coating Problems Purchase records vs. daily usage logs VOC vs. spray booth permit regulations Revisions to the list of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP)
October 1997	Environmental Coating Problems Exactly what is a Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP)?
September 1997	Environmental Coating Problems Twenty years of environmental change
August 1997	Environmental Coating Problems MACT standards on steel pickling - heads up
July 1997	Environmental Coating Problems MACT Regulations
June 1997	Environmental Coating Problems Shut down operations because of upset conditions Reopening a permit Record keeping Record keeping under NESHAP Opacity testing and certification
May 1997	Environmental Coating Problems Is ammonia an exempt compound Why does the EPA use 7.36 lb/gal as the default density for solvents? Do you need to report waste solvent? How does adding color affect VOC?
April 1997	Environmental Coating Problems Wash primers
March 1997	Environmental Coating Problems How to take responsibility when you have no control Chromate conversion coatings Painting outside of a spray booth
February 1997	Environmental Coating Problems Different formats for regulating VOCs
January 1997	Environmental Coating Problems Dip tanks
1993-1996	Environmental Coating Problems - Many more articles on various topics related to the painting and coatings industry

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Ron Joseph - Expert Coatings Editor for Metal Finishing