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Everbrite South Africa

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT EVERBRITE, PROTECTACLEAR AND METAL RESTORATION

  • For painted surfaces, you can test the surface to see if it can be restored. Clean an area and observe it when it is clean and wet. If the color and luster come back when the surface is clean and wet, then that is how the surface will look refinished with Everbrite.
  • Sometimes Formica and other surfaces are too far gone to restore. If the surface does not look the way you want when it is clean and wet, unfortunately, nothing can restore the surface.
  • Everbrite and ProtectaClear are unique, crystal clear coatings that are very user friendly and easy to apply.
  • Everbrite and ProtectaClear are one part, clear, protective coatings made up of a blend of polymer resins in a solvent base with additives to protect metals from oxidation and U.V.
  • There are several formulations of each coating – formulations that can be mailed by air and formulations that are low-VOC and comply with even the most stringent environmental regulations. These low-VOC formulations are considered “green” coatings.
  • Each coating comes in a Clear Finish and a Satin Finish.
  • Both Everbrite and ProtectaClear have excellent adhesion on all types of metal and some types of plastics, vinyls and other substrates.
  • They are homogenous, one part coatings so there is nothing to mix and the coatings will not separate.
  • Everbrite is suitable for internal, external or submersed use as a non-toxic, anti-corrosion protection for ferrous and non-ferrous metals, galvanized, anodized and painted surfaces. It can also be used on concrete, stone, wood and fiberglass. ProtectaClear is recommended for metal that gets a lot of use like railings, jewelry or metal exposed to salt or chlorine.
  • Everbrite coatings have indefinite shelf life in a closed container so there is no waste. Satin formulations can settle and need to be mixed completely before use.
  • Everbrite and ProtectaClear are non-conductive coatings and will prevent corrosion caused by dis-similar metals.
  • Everbrite and ProtectaClear will remain flexible so they will not chip, crack or peel. They will not discolor or yellow with exposure or heat.
  • Everbrite will refinish faded surfaces and restore the original color and protect from sun fading, salt air oxidation, moisture damage, tarnish, acid rain and other damaging elements. ProtectaClear has extra resins that are highly resistant to salt corrosion.
  • Everbrite and ProtectaClear are self annealing, the coating will blend to itself and can be maintained indefinitely.
  • Everbrite Coatings are NOT like lacquers or urathanes that will yellow and discolor with exposure to the sun.
  • While other clear coats may be U.V.stable, many do not have the U.V. absorbers in them that protect the colors behind the coating like Everbrite. Everbrite has U.V. absorbers and Anti-oxidants to protect the metal or paint behind the clear coating from discoloration and corrosion.
  • Sun can cause paint to fail, causing chalking and fading. Salt air can corrode metal causing rust and ugly corrosion. Acid rain can cause permanent damage to metal and stone. Metals like copper, brass, bronze will tarnish, stainless steel will rust and corrode.
  • Everbrite refinishes faded and dull surfaces to look like new again and protect them against sun fading, salt air corrosion, acid rain, tarnishing, moisture and other damaging elements for years. Protected surfaces will be much easier to keep clean as dust and dirt cannot penetrate the paint or hang on the oxidation. Graffiti can be cleaned off of the protected surface and the paint will remain protected. Everbrite is formulated for exterior metal or painted metals as well as most interior metals as well. Use Everbrite on any metal that is exposed to alcohols, even hand sanitizers.
  • ProtectaClear prevents tarnish and oxidation on plated metals, copper, brass, silver, anodized steel, stainless steel, etc. The metal must be polished or cleaned first, all traces of polish residue must be removed and then ProtectaClear can be applied to seal the surface. ProtectaClear is formulated for metal that gets a lot of use like sinks, counters, hand rails or jewelry. ProtectaClear is also best for mirror polished or highly polished metals. ProtectaClear has resins that are highly resistant to salts and chlorines. ProtectaClear keeps unpainted metal looking like it is freshly polished. Metal polished to a satin finish will retain the satin look.
  • Yes, ProtectaClear is safe on skin and is used by many jewelery designers and manufacturers. ProtectaClear is practically invisible on polished metal and is used on polished metals and even metal with patina on it.
  • ProtectaClear is tough and scratch resistant once it is cured and will protect the skin of the wearer from discoloration as well as protect the copper.
  • You can visit our jewelry information page to read more about ProtectaClear and also the reviews with comments our happy customers sent in.
  • Everbrite or ProtectaClear can be applied by painting on with a natural bristled or solvent rated brush, gliding it on with an applicator pad or a lint-free cloth, rolling on with a high-density foam roller, spraying on the coating or dipping the object into the coating.
  • Refinishing with Everbrite Coatings is a simple 2 step process. First, the surface is cleaned and any polish or cleaner residue is removed. Second, the Coating is applied to refinish and protect the surface.
  • Everbrite Coatings can be applied by rolling the coating on with high-density foam rollers, spraying, dipping, painting on with a natural fiber brush or a poly sponge brush or simply applied on the surface with an applicator.
  • Everbrite Coatings are one part coatings so there is nothing to mix. They are self leveling and are very easy to work with.
  • Surfaces like metal siding or metal buildings or roofs can be power washed but hand scrubbing is recommended to remove chalk, dirt, any wax or grease, or any other contaminating or dirtying agents. Storage doors are normally hand washed because people have their cardboard boxes stacked right up to the edge of their space and the seals are not tight. Remove all chalk and oxidation, rinse well and make sure that water does not bead up on the surface. If it does, that means there is still soap or wax or oily residue on the surface. The water should sheet off of a painted surface and not bead up.
  • Click here for cleaning directions for metal buildings and roll-up doors.
  • Surfaces such as brass, silver, copper or other non painted metals should be cleaned or polished and must be neutralized if cleaned with an acid cleaner. Then the cleaned, neutralized metal should be wiped with xylene or denatured alcohol to insure all contaminates are removed. The solvent for the final wipe cannot be shipped from Everbrite and can be found at hardware stores. Xylene or Denatured Alcohol are clean solvents that do not contain oil or other substances. Lacquer thinner is not recommended because it can contain oils that can contaminate the surface.
  • IF THE SURFACE IS CLEANED WITH AN ACID CLEANER, THE SURFACE MUST BE NEUTRALIZED BEFORE APPLYING THE COATING. Use AluPrep Cleaner & Neutralizer or calcium carbonate or a baking soda wash to neutralize the acid. Water rinsing will not remove all of the acid. The acid can react with the solvent that is the carrier for the resin coating and will create problems such as black streaks.
  • Xylene is a medium grade solvent cleaner that is used to remove residue from copper, brass, and other unpainted metals before coating. Xylene can also be used to remove Everbrite or ProtectaClear coatings from metal surfaces.
  • Dentatured alcohol can be used instead of xylene for the final solvent wipe prior to coating bare or polished metals but it is not strong enough to remove the coating in most cases
  • Disposable foam brushes and pads cannot really be cleaned effectively. It is best to discard them.
  • To clean solvent rated brushes or other equipment like sprayers, you can use xylene or lacquer thinner. Spray tips can be soaked in solvent to clean them
  • Everbrite and ProtectaClear have an indefinite shelf life in a closed container. Unlike 2 part coatings which are wasted if not used in a short time once mixed, there is nothing to mix. This means that if you get interrupted while applying the coating, simply pour the unused Coating back into the container, put the top on and you can resume where you left off at another time. ***Do not pour contaminated coating back into the original container. Do not allow the coating to freeze.
  • On exterior applications on painted metal, Everbrite will need to be reapplied when the surface starts to look dull. Depending on the elements and U.V. exposure, this will be about 5 to 10 years. On homes where awnings or foliage shade the home, only the sides exposed to the sun would need to be refinished.
  • On fiberglass, Everbrite will have to be reapplied every 1 to 3 years. The number of years of protection vary by the intensity of the damaging elements and use of the surface.
  • On brass, copper, bronze, stainless steel etc. the length of time will depend on the usage and elements it is exposed to. On interior applications, the metal will not need re-application of ProtectaClear for many years unless it gets a lot of wear. (For example, copper sinks or counter-tops will need more frequent applications than lamps).
  • In many cases, metal surfaces are repainted simply because they have become dull and faded. Refinishing with Everbrite is less expensive, faster, easier and achieves more permanent results than repainting.
  • Because many of the additives that used to make paint last (like lead) have been removed from paint, it will not last as long as it used to. Many times, paint will start to fade again in just a year. Saving your baked on paint or stopping the paint maintenance cycle with paint will save you many hours and dollars as well.
  • Just repainting metal cannot protect against salt air corrosion. Repainted surfaces will fade faster than baked on paint, and may crack, peel, blister, chip and ruin the look of your property. Unless it is absolutely necessary to paint, it is much better to refinish your baked-on finish. If the surface are already repainted, you can now seal them with Everbrite Protective Coating. preventing moisture and sun damage
    • Everbrite and ProtectaClear coatings can be applied in temperatures from approximately 40° F up to 100° F. The temperature of the metal is more important than the air temperature. Touch the metal with the back of your hand. If the metal is warm but not hot, the temperature is fine for application. If the metal is too hot, the solvents in the coating will flash off before the coating can self level.
    • At 65°F air temperature, the metal can reach over 100°F in direct sunlight while in the shade, the metal will be around 75°F. DO NOT APPLY Everbrite or ProtectaClear on metal with TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 100°F. The coating will flash off before it can self level and will fail. If the metal is too hot to comfortably hold your hand on it for more than a few seconds, it is probably too hot for application of the coating.

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  • If applying to vertical services, watch for runs or sags if applying between 40° and 50°F or if the metal is cold to the touch. If you get sags, simply wipe them out with a applicator or clean, white, lint free rag wet with Everbrite. If you make a mistake, it can be fixed by removing the Everbrite with xylene and reapplying.
  • The best temperature to spray in is over 50°F. If you spray vertical walls or doors at lower temperatures, watch very carefully for sags or drips as the coating will dry more slowly and can run down the surface. If this happens, simply wipe them out with an applicator wet with Everbrite or a solvent like xylene or denatured alcohol.
  • Everbrite or ProtectaClear should not be applied if the temperature of the metal is above 100°F. If the surface is too hot, the coating will flash off before it has a chance to completely coat the surface. If you are spraying on a very warm day, it is best to NOT apply the coating in the direct sun where the temperature of the wall is too hot.
  • Do NOT apply Everbrite or ProtectaClear to soft rubber or soft vinyl (like umbrellas or soft awnings) as the solvent can harm them. Solvents will release the plasticisors and the soft vinyl will stay sticky. Vinyl decals or door numbers are fine to coat. Test any plastic in an inconspicuous place first.
  • Hard vinyl signs and vinyl siding have successfully been refinished with Everbrite. Always test a small inconspicuous area.
  • Everbrite or ProtecaClear cannot restore if the surface is already too damaged to be restored. For example, once salt air oxidation is so bad that the metal is extremely pitted or rusted, or if there is no paint left on the surface. Peeling paint must be repaired prior to being coated with Everbrite. It is best to protect property prior to extreme damage.
  • Everbrite will prevent acid rain damage but nothing can fix it once the surface is etched and stained.
  • Most new metal buildings or rollup doors are coated with a coating which will usually burn off in 2 to 3 years. It is best to wait until this coating is gone before refinishing and protecting with Everbrite.
  • The exception to this is if protection is necessary from salt air or acid rain. If it is necessary to coat metal with a coating, it is necessary to remove the coating for good adhesion of the Everbrite.
  • If a silicone based product (like Pledge) has been used on the metal, all silicone must be removed prior to coating or painting the surface

ProtectaClear is recommended for protection of the brass and other components on your clocks. Especially by the ocean where you get salt air corrosion, this is very important. Another benefit is that ProtectaClear is practically weightless and will not affect the performance. The weight of the dry film is 0.0003 lbs. per square foot.

  • If you mess up the application or get an Everbrite Coating on a surface that you didn’t mean to get it on like window glass, the coating can be removed with xylene or other solvents. Make sure to test an area of the surface to make sure that the solvent will not harm it.
  • The coatings can also be removed with lacquer thinner but if the surface is to be re-coated, a final wipe with denatured alcohol or xylene is necessary to remove the oil in the lacquer thinner.
  • If the aluminium or other metal was cleaned with an acid based cleaner and was not neutralized, the solvent in the coating reacting with the acid and can cause black streaks. Acid cannot be totally rinsed off with plain water. A solution of Neutralizer and water, or a calcium carbonate, baking soda wash must be used to neutralize it before any solvent based coating is applied. EZ-Prep Cleaner is also a neutralizer and is not as messy as baking soda and water.
  • ProtectaClear is food safe when it is cured. Do you use this cookware often or is it mainly decorative? If you use whisks or other metal utensils, any coating may scratch off. The cured ProtectaClear resin is not toxic.
  • For the outside of copper pans, ProtectaClear will protect your beautiful copper pots and will stand up to heat as well, preventing tarnish and darkening. Your copper pans will stay bright and shiny.
  • ProtectaClear will also protect your copper back splashes, copper bars, copper hoods, copper sinks and other copper in your kitchen, keeping it beautiful and easy to clean. Coated surfaces will clean up easily with mild soap and water.
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