[Hallicrafters] Alligatoring

[TC Dailey]

I stumbled across this in a copy of "Boatswain's Mate 1 & C"  (US Navy pub) that I have here.  (I was a Radioman, but enjoy the texts).  It references "alligatoring" in the section on painting, which is a very important part of ship's maintenance.  It hit home, on how it was most likely done, or at least how it occurs:

ALLIGATORING

Alligatoring and checking of a pain film exists when the outer layer of paint cracks and presents a pattern similar to alligator leather.  This condition occurs when relatively hard finishing coats are applied over relatively soft priming or underlying coats.  Under coats which are too rich in oil, or which have been allowed insufficient drying time, cause this softness.  Expansion and contraction of the painted surface, where paint coats have this unequal flexibility, causes alligatoring and checking.  To avoid this failure, allow under coats to dry sufficiently hard before applying the next coat.  Under coat materials should dry harder than top coat materials.  Do not add too much oil to priming materials.  To remedy this condition, scrape and wirebrush to remove loose scale, sand to smoothness, and repaint.

Tom - former USN