Industrial Painter Course

Lesson 1 • Reading Specifications and Work Orders

Teaches interpretation of coating specifications, data sheets, and job documentation. Accurate reading prevents costly application errors.

Lesson 2 • Workplace Safety Fundamentals

Covers hazard recognition, personal protective equipment, and regulatory compliance basics. Safety principles underpin every practical task in the course.

Lesson 3 • The Industrial Painting Trade

Defines the trade's scope across manufacturing, infrastructure, and marine sectors. Establishes context for all subsequent technical learning.

Lesson 1 • Abrasive Blast Cleaning

Introduces blast media, equipment, and profile measurement for industrial steel prep. Students select media and verify anchor profiles against specifications.

Lesson 2 • Chemical and Water Cleaning Methods

Addresses solvent wiping, detergent washing, and high-pressure water jetting for contamination removal. Connects chemical prep to coating compatibility.

Lesson 3 • Hand and Power Tool Cleaning

Covers wire brushing, grinding, needle scaling, and disc sanding for localised prep. Students achieve specified cleanliness grades on steel substrates.

Lesson 4 • Substrate Assessment and Documentation

Teaches inspection of prepared surfaces and recording of results for quality assurance. Documentation skills support traceability throughout the project.

Lesson 1 • Coating Components and Functions

Breaks down binders, pigments, solvents, and additives and their roles in film formation. Provides the chemical foundation for product selection decisions.

Lesson 2 • Product Data Sheet Interpretation

Trains students to extract mixing ratios, pot life, DFT ranges, and recoat windows from data sheets. Accurate reading prevents application defects.

Lesson 3 • Coating System Design

Explains primer, intermediate, and topcoat roles within a multi-coat system. Students build systems that meet corrosion protection and aesthetic requirements.

Lesson 4 • Generic Coating Types

Surveys epoxies, polyurethanes, alkyds, zinc-rich primers, and specialty coatings. Students match generic types to service conditions and substrate requirements.

Lesson 1 • Stripe Coating and Detail Work

Focuses on pre-coating edges, welds, bolts, and rivets before full coat application. Stripe coats prevent premature corrosion at high-risk areas.

Lesson 2 • Brushing Technique and Stroke Patterns

Teaches laying off, cross-hatching, and tipping techniques for even coverage. Students practice on flat and curved surfaces to build muscle memory.

Lesson 3 • Film Thickness Measurement

Introduces wet film and dry film thickness gauges and their correct use. Students verify applied thickness against specification tolerances.

Lesson 4 • Roller Application Methods

Addresses nap selection, roller loading, and W-pattern rolling for large flat areas. Connects roller technique to achieving specified dry film thickness.

Lesson 1 • Plural-Component Spray Systems

Introduces two-component and heated plural systems for fast-cure epoxies and polyureas. Students manage mix ratios and flush procedures to prevent equipment damage.

Lesson 2 • Conventional Air Spray Systems

Covers HVLP and pressure-feed guns, air supply requirements, and fluid needle adjustment. Students set up and spray test panels to specified finish quality.

Lesson 3 • Airless Spray Systems

Addresses pump ratios, tip selection, pressure settings, and hose management for airless spraying. Airless systems are the primary production tool in industrial painting.

Lesson 4 • Spray Technique and Gun Movement

Teaches overlap percentage, gun distance, speed, and triggering for uniform film build. Consistent technique eliminates dry spray, runs, and sags.

Lesson 1 • Inspection Tools and Methods

Covers holiday detectors, adhesion testers, gloss meters, and visual inspection techniques. Students select and operate instruments appropriate to each inspection task.

Lesson 2 • Adhesion and Intercoat Failures

Examines delamination, lifting, and intercoat contamination resulting from poor prep or recoat timing. Links failure modes back to preparation and product chapters.

Lesson 3 • Defect Repair Procedures

Provides step-by-step repair methods for each defect type, including feathering and recoating. Correct repair restores system integrity without full reapplication.

Lesson 4 • Common Application Defects

Catalogs runs, sags, dry spray, pinholes, and holidays with their root causes. Recognition is the first step toward prevention and correction.

Lesson 1 • Concrete and Masonry Coating Systems

Addresses surface preparation, moisture testing, and coating selection for concrete substrates. Expands student capability beyond steel to common civil structures.

Lesson 2 • Cathodic Protection via Coatings

Explains sacrificial zinc protection in zinc-rich primers and its interaction with topcoats. Students specify zinc-rich systems for high-corrosivity environments.

Lesson 3 • Corrosion Science Fundamentals

Explains electrochemical corrosion, galvanic couples, and environmental accelerators. Provides the scientific basis for all protective coating decisions.

Lesson 4 • System Specification and Service Life

Teaches how to write a coating system specification aligned with corrosivity category and service life. Students produce a complete specification document as a practical exercise.

Lesson 1 • Environmental Compliance on Site

Covers VOC limits, waste disposal, spill containment, and regulatory reporting obligations. Compliance protects the environment and the contractor's operating licence.

Lesson 2 • Site Coordination and Subcontractor Management

Addresses interface with blasters, scaffolders, and other trades on multi-discipline sites. Students practice coordination techniques that maintain schedule and safety.

Lesson 3 • Material Estimation and Procurement

Teaches theoretical coverage calculations, waste factors, and ordering quantities. Accurate estimation controls material costs and prevents mid-project shortages.

Lesson 4 • Project Closeout and Handover

Guides students through final inspection, documentation compilation, and client handover procedures. A thorough closeout protects against warranty disputes.