Painting

Currently my girlfriend is working on a model, and she just started spraying the body, now i went through all the procedures with her and everything, but i've noticed that, even after letting the car dry for multiple days, the body is sticky like the paint is still wet. She didn't put on think coats just light mists' is this normal?

Turbosaturn,

All depends on the type of paint that was used. If it is enamel it will take some time to dry fully, like a week or two. Also you may not have been leaving enough time between the coats to allow it too dry properly. First question to answer is what paint are you using?

Ciaran

Its model master enamel and we waited about 3 hours between coats.

Turbosaturn,

I think you might need to leave the coats longer, although when I have used enamel I didnt but it just means that the last coat will take even longer to dry. I have noticed it can take 3 to 4 weeks for Enamel to dry and cure properly and even then it can still be soft. I believe there is something called Enamel Hardener that can be bought in Car shops that when added to the paint helps to dry it quicker and obviously harden the paint more.

Ciaran

But how would i go about applying the hardener, when im spraying from a can?

Originally posted by TURBOSATURN
But how would i go about applying the hardener, when im spraying from a can?

The only way to add the hardener would be to airbrush the enamel rather then use a spay can.

Ciaran

So in other words im stuck waiting for it to dry?

Unfortunately yes...thats the joys of using Enamel for the body...sorry

Ciaran

So what kind of paint does everyone one else use from rattle cans?

Tamiya TS range dries very quickly you can re-cost in about 10 to 15 minutes and should be cured in about a week. Any Lacquer based paint wil dry quickly but you must be careful as these paints are referred too as 'Hot' paint. So you must make sure that you primer all parts that will be covered in the lacquer. Some guys use automotive paints because you can get an exact match for the car that you are modelling but again a primer must be used before hand.

Ciaran

I think it is best to leave the paint to dry, until the model doesn't smell like paint anymore, thats how I go about it and I haven't had any serious problems before. Most enamel paints I have used take about 1-2 weeks to dry.

Good luck! :bigthumb:

Where are you? Weather condiitons play a huge roll in drying time. For instance I am in Colorado and we have no humidity so my stuff dries fast, however somewhere near the ocean or some god awful swesty place like Fort Worth ( sorry all you Texans ) it will take forever. I know guys who use a food dehydrator to help speed the drying process:cool:

unfortunately im in Utah, so similar weather to you.
I told my girlfriend, and she got all mad, she anxious to get the model done!

AH but patience is a virtue and a clean paint job is well worth the wait. But I hear where she is coming from, I have messed up many a paint job because I could not wait to handle it and put it all together.
I mostly use Auto Lacquers now so it dries faster

yeah yeah.... patience is important.... even the pro here think that patience is a very important aspect....

i used Tamiya spray can.... recommended i think

ok as we are on this topic, i have a quick question.
how many days usually does it take for the duplicolor automotive spray can paint to cure so i can start polish or clear coat?? i usually only wait 4-5 days and wonder if i should wait a bit longer. The weather is quite dry here in Auckland, NZ most of the time.

An old rule of thumb was if you can still smell the paint it's not dry...

I push the drying on my paint a little and I've cleared cars after only a day but I do wait at least a week before I polish the body.

BTW: Hi Dag!

:tongue:

Sorry I didn't read the posts.

But perhaps if you have a food dehydrator you could speed up drying time.

If not your stuck.

Tell her while she is waiting she could jsut work on the rest. :smile: