Industrial craftsmanship. Our production line extends almost the length of our factory, from production of the paint until it is ready to be sold.
The craft in the manufacture of linseed oil paint is to create a balance between the linseed oil and the paint pigment. All pigments have different properties that must be studied and learned. The craft consists of understanding and judging how different pigments work with the linseed oil. Pigments can be seen as individual substances that behave in different ways.
1. Color pigments are poured into a mixing vessel. 2. Thereafter, boiled linseed oil is added. 3-4. Pigments and boiled linseed oil are blended into a coarse paste in a planetary mixer, and then placed in a rolling mill where the mixture is torn (crushed) into smaller grains and distributed evenly throughout the linseed oil.
Paint dispersion
The rolling mill is the best method for dispersion of high-quality pigment pastes. The process is time consuming, but essential in achieving the desired result. To influence and alter the structure of a color pigment, the method of color dispersion has long been recognized as a way to process pigments so they can be used effectively in paints.
5–6. It looks like a piece of draped fabric, but it is the ultimate union of linseed oil with pigment. 8. In dispersion mixers, the pigment paste and linseed oil are whipped to achieve the correct thickness and evenness.
9. After mixing, we test the paint’s viscosity for the correct consistency. 10. After the final check, the paint is ready, and poured into tin containers.
Rheology
Rheology is the science of the deformation of fluids and solids. It is relatively easy to make linseed oil paint that works the same day it is to be used, but if the paint must be stored, more knowledge is required. The color pigments have an ability to sink through the linseed oil and fall to the bottom of the container; in the worst case, the pigment becomes a hard lump that makes the paint difficult to stir. It is called sedimentation, and to overcome this problem one must understand the science of rheology. This requires measurement of characteristics such as viscosity, elasticity, and yield strength. Today, we use advanced technical equipment for measurement, and we can significantly accelerate development of our paint recipes.