The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-07-28
alsrfnl aud Curious.
PAINTING TIN ROOFS.

Thu roofs, as every one knows who has them
on any part of his premises, are n constant care
and yexation. Eternal vigilance is the price of
their preservation. Even when kept well paint
ed, they have . way of "giving out' here and
there in eccentric and unexpected fashion. 1t
would seem, indeed, that the ordinary methods
of painting them are at fault, and that some Of
the ''metallic paints and other compounds ne
commended for the purpose, though well enough
50 far rs outward appearances are concerned, are
not suited to preserving metals from civilization.
correspondent Of the California .irrhifecf gives
some facts and hints on this subject, which are,
in our opinion, well worthy Of consideration.
The following is the practical portion Of his ar
ticle:
All fine preparations of the earbonates and OK
ides of lead or copper unsuitable for this pur
pose, for the reason that pure oxide, when ap
piled to other metals will assist in the action of
the elements to oxilize the metals they cover.
The vehicle of all good paints is boiled or raw
linseed oil, and this, when thickened with pig
ments, covers a less given space; and the mate
rial being an oxide, holding more oil than is i'm
parted to the surface to be painted, soon throws
off its share, and is ready to absorb the air and
convey it to the body of the metal, where natural
eorroson will take place, aud then the two oxides
unite chemically. In other words, all paints In
the absence of o solvent, which time soon re-
leases them of, act upon iron or tin ~ q filter,
feeding the porous spots with moisture, like
porous plaster of rust; and as like produces its
kind, the decomposed metals work like happy
family, and roll in beds of rust. This fact is OBJ
servable Hat surfaces, or in CUTTERS where in
CAPABILITIES occur, Here the fine dust or powder
collects, aud keeps tho water In them until the
oil Is decompasedl then tho work OF oxidation
commences,
There is another fruitful source from which
rust on the uppor under side of roofing tin
comes and that is mixing paints in common,
cheap oils of kerosene, containing sulphuric acid
This oil never dries. II may harden the Aim, or
all fnat. fs.
rode the tin, and the best paint in the world on
the opposite side cannot prevent the acid-eaten
holes from coming through; and judge the effect
where both sides happen to receive the same
potent mixture.
The best paint for tin or iron il COMPRESSED Of
pure nseed oil and earthly oehres, red or yellow.
The coaIser graduated pawders are the best as
pigment, as they offer less air holes, and give
firmer hold for the oil on the grits, and thus
bend them to the metal. The oil in this manner
gets close to the metal, and Offers resistance to
the air in removing the atoms from its cohesion,
Beware of all metallic oxides or mineral paints,
especially on lofty towers or inaccessible cayer-
ing of metal,
Roofing tin should, when laid, be kept clean
from windfalls of dust, and painted once in
every two or three years, by the day-never by
contract. Metals applied in the angles of roofs
as Hastings, where shingles are laid behind par
apet walls, should be well painted on both sides,
and the exposed crevices between the laps put
tied and painted, and thus cut of leaks in cor
ners (which no TELLER can find ont"
woodworks never should be allowed to close
down on the metal, hut instead space of one or
two inches should always lie left, so that paint
he easily applied to all Hastings ON all sides,
and where the dust can he easily swept ont.
Many troublesome leaks occur from the base Of
balustrades shutting down close that dirt is
completely imprisoned, and consequently in time
decomposition sets in, and the metal coverings
are ruined. Bay windows with balconies, or