I have well water now...

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Guys,

After getting through my move and getting my “Man-Cave” set up. (pics to follow) I am in a slight dilema. We are now on well water. We have a nice water softener but even still, When I get out of the shower, I feel like I just left an iron mine.

My question is, should I use DI water to clean all my parts before painting? Does it matter what kind of water I use as long as they don’t feel “slick” after I am done?

I am mostly concerned about some kind of mineral flim being left over after I wash them. Are my concerns unfounded?

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,

Jeff

2

It’s good policy to do a final rinse with deionized/distilled water, regardless of where you live. The well water in Crystal Lake, IL, is very hard—the bedrock is either dolomitic limestone or pure calcitic limestone.

If you have a good water softener, that will take out the dissolved calcium, which is what makes water hard (limestone is calcium carbonate, dolomitic limestone is calcium magnesium carbonate). But the water softener will not reduce other mineral content to any significant extent.

Many wells in northern Illinois have water that is also relatively high in iron content. The two big suppliers of water softener salt (Morton and GE) both make a type specifically for use with high iron content water. You can also add a separate iron filter to your water system, as we did when we lived in Lombard, IL.

3

Thanks Ross,

I just picked up another gallon of DI water a few days ago. My 2 year old knocked the other one off the shelf so I needed a new one anyway. I’ll take your advice and wash everything with tap water and then give them a final rinse with the DI water.

Regards,

Jeff

4

If you run a dehumidifier in your basement…bottle the water it produces…why pay for a jug from the store when you can get it for free…pour it through a coffee filter if you feel the need.

My A/C and dehumidifier squeeze a lot of water from the air, I’m considering collecting mine next year to store in a tank…to use for drip irrigation and to use for filling the humidifier next winter. The demineralized water will reduce that scale build up in the humidifier wick. Another way to conserve water.

5

Jerry, why didn’t I think of that?

[zzz] that’s why!

6

You guys are too much!..but I love it!

7

I washed and rinsed the parts and to tell you the truth, I didn’t feel any difference. I went ahead and did a quick rinse with some DI water just for the hell of it. Since as far as I know, I am the only person to bring up this concern, I think I just won’t worry about it. I’m pretty sure that I am far from the only modeler using well water.

Regards,

Jeff

8

Actually, Jeff, I wash in softened city tap water, but I always rinse in distilled/deionized. I use acylics almost exclusively, and their sensitivity to stray ions is much greater than enamels or lacquers.