Help a auto paint newbie

[cyberkid]

Like the title says... I'm a newbie regarding automotive paints.
Lately I sprayed Mr. Surfacer -> TS14 -> 2 part autopaint and all went well.
After the clear I sanded it down then noticed that the silver I used was irregular...
Reading about a simular situation, I sanded off the clear and misted another coat of the silver. Due to the fact that the 2 part clear I used was sXXX, I used Mr. Super Clear instead. Now here's where the major f-up occured. I obviously should have waited longer until the autopaint had cured, since the Mr. Super Clear ate right down to the TS14.. see pic:

This was 3 mist coats 2 medium and 1 heavy.
My questions:
How long should I wait before using normal hobby lacquer over an automotive paint? (This was done with about 10 minute intervals)
Is there anyway to strip automotive paint without harming putty work (Tamiya fast type)?

Thanks beforehand for any replies.
Steve

[MPWR]

Isopropyl or denatured alcohol 91-99% will almost definately safely strip the paint and leave your putty work alone.

As for the clearcoat eating the paint, it's a good idea to wait overnight between finishing colour coat application and beginning clearcoating. But I'd guess that what happened here is not a matter of not waiting long enough, but that the clearcoat was put on too heavy. A protective layer has to be built up slowly with 3-4 mist coats. I usually give 30 min betwen each. Only after that is it safe to apply heavier 'wet' coats- and give tham an hour or two in between.

[cyberkid]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Isopropyl or denatured alcohol 91-99% will almost definately safely strip the paint and leave your putty work alone.

As for the clearcoat eating the paint, it's a good idea to wait overnight between finishing colour coat application and beginning clearcoating. But I'd guess that what happened here is not a matter of not waiting long enough, but that the clearcoat was put on too heavy. A protective layer has to be built up slowly with 3-4 mist coats. I usually give 30 min betwen each. Only after that is it safe to apply heavier 'wet' coats- and give tham an hour or two in between.

Thanks MPWR, looks like I didn't give the clear enough time to gas out between coats.
A couple questions regarding the stripping with alcohol though as I've never used alcohol to strip before...
Should I go about it the same way I do with brake fluid? Soak overnight and scrub away?
Can I keep reusing the alcohol? Or does it lose effect after a couple of strips?

Thanks again,
Steve

[suicidehummer]

I dunno about Isopropyl, as I've never used it, but I use a great thing called "Scalecoat II wash-away" It takes 30 min. to strip paint. Same method, soak & scrub.

[MPWR]

Isopropyl will start to soften/disolve laquers instantly. You can certainly keep it in a sealed container overnight (and sometimes you need to) but if you have a tub you can dunk the body in and an old toothbrush to scrub wth, you can probably have the whole body clean in 10-15 min. Wear rubber gloves and goggles while scrubbing. The scrubbing will send small drops of thinned paint flying, so beware- I've ruined other projects by stripping on my workbench and splattering them with stripped paint.

You can use alcohol over and over. It will evaporate very quickly if you keep it uncovered, but it doesn't loose it's potency. I have a batch of 99% that I've had in the same covered container for two years now- still eats paint instantly (there's just less of it now due to evapration).

[cyberkid]

Lol, I have the same problem with brake fluid... I kinda try to keep the model submerged when scrubbing. Luckily, I only scrub/strip on my balcony.. only clean up need is oven cleaner and smoke... then wipe lol...

About the alcohol.. again 2 questions..
Do you filter it after each use? If so, how?
Where can I get 99% Isopropyl? I've only found 95% at pharmacies..

Thanks again!
Steve

[MPWR]

I suppose you could filter it, but I don't bother. It all sits in a sealable tub, and I do have a cm or so of sediment now.

95% should do the trick fine. 99% is availible in some grocery stores and drugists in the states, but anything above 90% will work. You can also try looking for it in hardware stores- they often have it for use as a paint solvent or fuel for alcohol stoves.

[klutz_100]

FYI in the future, Mr. Super Clear is a great clear and I love it but it is REAALY strong stuff (as you found out since it ate through automotive clear) - maybe enen more so than the infamous TS-13

It definitely needs slow build up but dries pretty quickly.

Mr. Top Coat (blue(?) can) on the other hand is a milder formula of clear and not so aggressive.

[cyberkid]

Hrm, thanks for the info Klutz.. strange thing is that this has never happened to me before... This isn't the first time I have used Mr. Super Clear, never had trouble before. Weird.
Anyways, ya live n learn...

Thanks for the replies everyone! Greatly appreciated!

Steve