Paint for Tree Tubes

S

strum456

Oldtimer
I know this isn't the kind of thing we usually discuss around these parts, but here it goes anyway...

I have a lot of unfinished fiberglass tree tubes. These are not the kind you buy. They are bare glass tubes that I am using as tree tubes. Anyway, I want to keep the glass from blooming and getting all fuzzy. They are already on trees scattered around acres. I am planning to use an airless house paint sprayer and a generator to move around the farm and paint the tubes.

The question is, what kind of paint should I use? White epoxy is one thought. I have no idea how it would go through a house paint sprayer or if I would be able to clean it out of the sprayer when I finish. Epoxy could also get to be a bit expensive, because I have a lot of these to do. Does anyone know of any house-type paint that would work on fiberglass? I was also considering some white alcyd enamel (tractor paint). Suggestions are welcome.
 
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How much is Limco per gal? It looks to me like cheap acrylic enamel isn't all that cheap - around $100 for a kit that would make a little over a gallon.

That kind of pricing is making white epoxy look much better. I doubt anything would hold up as well. I was hoping to find something in the $40 per gallon range.
 
First please tell me what a tree tube is and what it does.
$40 or so a gallon is mostly going to be alkyd oil base or acrylic latex, I.E. house paint.
 
They mostly keep deer from eating the trees. After the trees get big enough, I will eventually cut them off. In the mean time, I am just trying to avoid having the fiberglass bloom due to UV exposure. If left uncoated, it will look ugly and will be a hazard for anyone that may rub against it.
 
Barry said:
Trailer supply stores, a gallon of enamel is 12 -20 dollars.
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That's the route I was leaning towards. I just figured I see if anybody had any better ideas.


Has anyone ever tried spraying anything other than latex house paint out of one of those airless sprayers?
 
I used cheap h freight airless to coat 3 caddy bottoms with fluid film.
Worked but guessing airless that costs more then $32 would've got job done much quicker.
Epoxy i vote for endurance. Reduce it for more coverage?
Or cheap compressor to run off gen & use real spray gun.
My 2c
 
I would think rolling or brushing some exterior house paint would work best, maybe with a coat of Killz first.
 
shine said:
they are just a fluid pump. no air . will not atomize paint .
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Do I need to atomize the paint? Rolling or brushing would take a very long time considering the shape of these (tubular) and how many I have to do (over 100). I know that some guys paint entire houses in a very short time using airless sprayers. The tree tubes don't have to be a smooth finish either. I just don't want to get shards of fiberglass in my arm every time I accidentally rub against one of these tubes. After this batch of trees gets large enough to fend for themselves without tubes, I'll cut the tubes off the trees and wire them back together to protect more trees.
 
i like idea of exterior house paint if tubes are on trees which don't like solvents.
Airless works. Check some videos. The $32 hf airless had no fan pattern, just round.
 
Speaking of trees- cut me down this bunch today.
Tree only had a few leaves which determines quantity. Sweet in 3 weeks.
Wind put a hurting on my trees.
IMG_0163.JPG
 
Very cool. I wish I had a banana tree. Oranges wold be nice too. Do you find that your bananas are a lot better than store bought? I can taste the difference with pretty much everything we grow. I've never had a fresh banana.
 
Much sweeter. Gotta be over 50 varieties out there. Plus mass produced for stores don't over ripen where the hand comes together like mine. They probably wax them cause mine have to be seperated when almost ripe or they start rotting where they come together before whole thing ripens. And can smell mine from feet away when ripe. They good!
 
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