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Floetrol

Water-based paint conditioner to eliminate brush and roller marks

from 36 reviews
New Floetrol packing 1L and 500ml
  • Use in all water-based paints
  • Improves the flow and maintains the wet edge - paint without effort
  • Improves the finish - maintains the inherent quality and characteristics of the paint
  • Suitable for interior and exterior use and great for special effects
  • Eases application of painting in difficult conditions
  • Great for acrylic paint pouring

Floetrol is a water-based paint conditioner that helps improve paint flow and workability of paint. Floetrol makes interior and exterior emulsion and acrylic paints (including coloured wood stains) work more like oil-based paints. Not only that but, it also allows the paint to adjust to more difficult conditions such as hot, cold and humid environments.

Arguably the most important attribute of Floetrol, it helps to eliminate brush and roller marks. It does this by improving the flow of the paint enabling for a more professional finish. The improved paint flow also allows you to make progress quicker.

Unlike damaging paint thinners or water, Floetrol does all this without affecting the inherent qualities of the paint or colour. When used in a paint sprayer, Floetrol allows up to 20% reduction in pressure without affecting the spray pattern or performance and helps to prevent clogging and wear and tear on tips.

Floetrol can also be used as a medium for acrylic paint pouring art. Its composition helps to create the highly sought after strong, well-formed cells most artists are looking for without compromising the colour of the paint. We have a Q&A blog post about using Floetrol in your artwork which can be found here.

floetrol-effects-on-paint

Ideal Uses for Floetrol

  • Exterior painting in hot, cold or humid weather
  • Using a paint spray gun – Floetrol helps to extend it’s life by reducing wear and tear
  • Helping paint to flow with no brush and roller marks
  • Reducing roller pressure and preventing paint build up at the ends of the roller
  • Providing a spray-like finish when rolling

Restrictions

Floetrol is milky white in colour and as such cannot be used in clear varnishes.

Do not add Floetrol to oil or alkyd based paints including glycerophtalic paint, for these paints use Owatrol Oil to achieve the same results.

Always read the Floetrol Product Information before using and follow the instructions carefully.

Surface Preparation

Prepare surface as per instructions on your paint/finish can. As part of this please ensure that you have removed all loose and flaking material. You should also treat any organic growth (mould etc.) with a fungicidal solution or a mix of 1 part water to 1 part chlorine bleach (allow the bleach solution to sit for 15 minutes), rinse thoroughly and allow to dry.

Application

Stir your paint thoroughly and begin to apply in the normal manner. If paint the pulls, sets too fast, does not level or flow properly, add Floetrol until the paint spreads smoothly, easily and provides sufficient ‘wet-edge’. Allow the brush, roller or sprayer to be your guide.

To add Floetrol first shake the container well. Then add the Floetrol following the guidelines below and stir the mixture thoroughly. Now apply your paint and Floetrol mixture to your surface in the normal manner.

Using Floetrol with a Brush or Roller

Add approximately 7-10% per litre of paint. If the paint is thick, or in extreme temperatures, more Floetrol may gradually be added, up to 15% per litre.

Using Floetrol with an HVLP & Cup Gun sprayer

Add 5-10% per litre of paint. The amount depends on the consistency and flow properties of the paint. If the paint seems to thicken, add a tablespoon of water per litre of paint to thin it.

Using Floetrol with an Airless sprayer

Add up to 10% per litre of paint.

Using Floetrol for Faux finishing

Add 20-25% per litre of paint. Do not add too much conditioner for vertical surfaces as the technique may sag or vanish.

Clean Up

Clean all tools and equipment with soap and water.

Things to Remember

  • Cover everything you do not wish to paint
  • Always mix a small amount with Floetrol first to test compatibility
  • the amount of Floetrol added will not change the colour of matt or semi-gloss emulsion or acrylic paints. Floetrol may reduce the sheen in gloss paints.
  • Do not use in clear varnishes
  • Do not use Floetrol in oil-based paints – instead use Owatrol Oil for the same effects

1 star reviews for Floetrol

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  1. Avatar

    Dave Burns Verified Owner

    Anyone who has used Plastidip’s HCF (hard coat finish) water based acrylic and especially the black colour will know that you can’t apply it by brush and not leave brush marks (and I’m using Purdy brushes at that) this paint does however cover extremely well with a single coat, you just can’t get shut of brush or even roller marks and as such you can imagine it is very resistant to running even banged on heavy, so I saw this Floetrol stuff and thought I’d give it a whirl and found it not to help much, and at the recommended ratio not at all so I give this product only one star relating only to it’s affect with Plastidip HCF, it may well do a good job with other water based paint and going by the other reviews is very likely to be the case, just don’t buy it for HCF from Plastidip.

    • Owatrol Team

      Owatrol Team Verified Owner

      Hi Dave,
      We are sorry that you have had a negative experience with Floetrol. Unfortunately we would be in agreement that it sounds like Floetrol is not compatible with your specific coating. Unfortunately we cannot test it in every water-based paint on the market, so it will be trial and error with certain paint. It is good that we know about this now and thank you for bringing it to light to inform future customers. We hope you are able to have positive results with Floetrol in the future with a different coating.
      Many thanks,
      The Owatrol Team

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Coverage: Coverage will vary
Tools: Brush, Roller, Airless, HVLP or Cup Gun Sprayer
Suitable for: Exterior & Interior use
Clean up: Soap & water
Drying Time: As per paint manufacturer’s instructions
Additive for: Water-based coatings – Emulsion, Acrylic, Vinyls
Suitable Coatings: Paint, woodstains, varnishes (not clear)

Technical Data

Read the full technical information for Floetrol on our corporate website.