Duplicolor acrylic enamel and fogging paint

[jmwallac]

Yet another paint question. Before it gets posted, yes I did search and no I didn't find anything like this before.

I'm spraying black duplicolor acrylic enamel from the can. The primer is the same brand and has been dried for weeks. I had the paint and the body out in the sun warming up before I used it. Allowed 30 mins between each coat. Used very light coats; after the 3rd coat, you could still see some primer. After 2 light-medium coats, to get a little gloss, the paint was shiny in some areas and foggy in others. This isn't metallic paint and it wasn't humid.

Here are my questions:
1) Can this be polished out or do I have to clear coat?
2) Can the paint be wetsanded after only 24 hours?
3) Should I decal the body, and hope clear fixes it?

I've had this happen with metallics and even the clear, but it usually clears up after anohter wet coat. Not so this time.

I swear this body is cursed. It's already been stripped 2 times. I don't think I"ll ever be able to paint a car black!!!

[freakray]

Originally Posted by jmwallac

Before it gets posted, yes I did search and no I didn't find anything like this before.

What did you search for?

Originally Posted by jmwallac

This isn't metallic paint and it wasn't humid.

Here are my questions:
1) Can this be polished out or do I have to clear coat?

THis has been covered plenty here. You must clearcoat a metallic before you polish it, polishing a metallic will remove the flakes from the top layer of paint effectively dulling the paint.

In response to your other questions, which have also been covered before, unless you're using some sort of drying assistance, wait at least 4 days before you start polishing paint. You could wetsand after 24 hours but I wouldn't recommend it unless you're planning on applying another coat.

I would clear the body prior to decals, then apply the decals and apply a final clear coat if you're going to insist on clearing over the decals.

[jmwallac]

Originally Posted by freakray

What did you search for?

"duplicolor acrylic enamel fog fogging"
and
"enamel paint fog"

I break into a cold sweat every time I post something because I know you'll be the first post and it usually reads pretty much like what you wrote. I did search and everything I came up with was ultimately blamed on humidity. As I stated in my original post, the conditions were not humid.

Originally Posted by freakray

THis has been covered plenty here. You must clearcoat a metallic before you polish it, polishing a metallic will remove the flakes from the top layer of paint effectively dulling the paint.

WTF? Did you not read what I read? You even quoted me in your response. This is NOT a metallic paint. This doesn't have flakes, i.e. non-metallic. I thought I was pretty clear about that when I said "this isn't metallic paint".

Originally Posted by freakray

In response to your other questions, which have also been covered before, unless you're using some sort of drying assistance, wait at least 4 days before you start polishing paint. You could wetsand after 24 hours but I wouldn't recommend it unless you're planning on applying another coat.

Didn't ask about polishing. I know better. I was asking specifically about wetsanding. I've read that many modelers wetsand between coats of paint.
EDIT: Ok, I did ask about polishing, but not how long to wait. I'm wondering if the polishing will, once the paint has cured for a week, clear up any fogging.

Originally Posted by freakray

I would clear the body prior to decals, then apply the decals and apply a final clear coat if you're going to insist on clearing over the decals.

I guess there is no way around the clear coat then.

[freakray]

OK, I admit I misread your post, for some reason metallic stuck in my mind.

Even if the paint isn't metallic, you'll want to wait before you either clear, wetsand or polish.

I could understand your bitching if I simply said 'try searching', but I asked what you searched for and then tried to post some useful info (even though it wasn't because I misread your post).

If you still want to take issue with me, feel free to use the PM feature.

[white97ex]

try searching just duplicolor. Not upset, but a lot of us have used and do still use duplicolor paints. the black is the worst of the lot and usually comes out foggy. A little tip. Skip the light and light to medium coats. The duplicolor in a spray can is directed at touch up and quick repairs so it flashes and can be recoated very quickly. I can do a duplicolor car within 24 hours from primer to clear with no ill effects. and 24 hours is actually too long. I would follow these steps

1. check for orange peel
2. If you have orange peel, wet sand and elminate
3. recoat with black
4. clear
5. polish.

You should be just fine and should be able to have that done from start to finish in 4 or 5 hours tops?

edit, I always clear. I feel it gives an extra level of protection to the paint.

[jmwallac]

I did do a search for just duplicolor and pretty much got the gamut on that one. I pretty much use duplicolor exclusively; I have over 40 different colors in the basement. I usually use the lacquer which I know can be worked with quickly. I too have gone from plastic to clear in under a day. The stuff I'm using is acrylic enamel. I figured since it was enamel, it might need longer between coats.

I'm off to try a clear coat...