Seriously annoyed....

[Greatscott]

I am trying to figure out where I screwed up in my paint job...

Here is the body...

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

I took all of the paint off using stripper and sanding, I wiped it down with stripper wash, I primed it with three coats (sanding), I put four coats of paint on (sanding between coats), then three coats of clean gloss enamel. Seems like I checked all of the boxes and the paint should be durable... nope...

The paint is already starting to come off with just adding in the electronics and handling it. I look at it wrong and it scratches. At this point I am looking to disassembling it again and redoing the whole thing. But, without knowing what I did wrong the first time I'll likely repeat my mistakes.

Any ideas of where I screwed up?

[Gula]

Paint can go bad sometimes. What was the ambient moisture when you painted? If it's too humid, paint often wont stick well or cure properly

[dungeonracer]

It's possible you didn't get all the stripper off even with the wash.

Also, are the primer and the paint from the same brand? Sometimes different brands don't go well together.

[Zukiiholic]

Being it's a metal body, did you use Self-Etching metal Primer?

[HumboldtEF]

And to add how long was the paint allowed to cure?

[tjohanne]

Personally I would have used a metal primer, then acrylic silver, then acrylic varnish, then the main colour. Then scratches would reveal the silver, which looks realistic.

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[TooOldForThis]

Originally Posted by HumboldtEF

And to add how long was the paint allowed to cure?

This is a good question. Some enamel paints can take a surprisingly long time (a week or more). Get up close and give it the sniff test. If you can still easily smell the paint then it's not done curing.

[Greatscott]

Originally Posted by HumboldtEF

And to add how long was the paint allowed to cure?

The primer coat was on for about a week before the primary color, the primary was on for about four days before I hit it with the enamel.

[JatoTheRipper]

Paint sucks! When I take my time, force myself to have patience (which is like asking a 3 year old to have patience ) it usually turns out horribly. Humidity or cold temps seem to be the main causes of shit paint for me.

[Browneye]

Originally Posted by Zukiiholic

Being it's a metal body, did you use Self-Etching metal Primer?

^^This. You have to etch metal if paint is going to stick to it.



IMO enamel is the wrong product. Unless it's acrylic enamel with a cross-link hardner like automotive enamel. If you're rattle-canning it it's just going to flake and peel.



Epoxy also works, different priming regimen for that.



Even lacquer sticks better, but hard to get glossy, and is not nearly as durable as automotive enamel. Out of a rattle can probly best choice.



And yeah, it may well just not be cured enough yet. It can take from a week to a month.

[Greatscott]

Yup, used a self-etching primer....

[Mike Flea]

Originally Posted by Zukiiholic

Being it's a metal body, did you use Self-Etching metal Primer?

x2

Originally Posted by Greatscott

The primer coat was on for about a week before the primary color, the primary was on for about four days before I hit it with the enamel.

After the Self-Etching Metal Primer,(which is usually an enamel), did you use a similar composition enamel primer on top, either grey or damp-proof red, before applying the color coat. Enamel is a fast drying paint, and application of the final coat (color coat)(s), on metal, is best done when it is almost dry or still tacky for best adhesion.

Humidity over 60%, or temp below 45* can also be a factor. Use of a 60w bulb(s) aimed at the body while curing the final color will also aid in proper curing.

[Greatscott]

Thanks for the input guys....

I am thinking at this point I'll get everything on this rig put together, take a crap-ton of pictures take it all apart, then send it out for someone to paint up properly.

[4wd4ws]

Media blast it. Either the original paint or the stripping process is the problem.

[CM9000]

its bad paint. find an old can of duplicolor. spray it once, let it dry, spray it on itself one time.. and watch bad paint sucks.. its been the wreck of a few of my on the cheap spot jobs.

[Greatscott]

Originally Posted by CM9000

its bad paint. find an old can of duplicolor. spray it once, let it dry, spray it on itself one time.. and watch bad paint sucks.. its been the wreck of a few of my on the cheap spot jobs.

That sucks... It was a fresh can from home Depot too.

[CM9000]

I thought I bought some fresh cans once.. paint has shelf life. I bought bad paint from the get go.

[mikemcE]

Its not bad paint. Proper prep is the key. Clean and degrease, self etching primer next, you need for this to cure properly, if more than 60% humidity, bake it with lamps or in a car trunk in the sun.....200 degrees will work fine. I will always suggest using Duplacolor automotive lacquers on metal, its made for cars. When paint is dry, it still needs to cure.Too rapid, flakes and chips will occur. Paint also has a recoat window, make sure same brand and type is used.....Lacquer/Acryllic/enamels/WB.

Are problems just with color coat or all the way to metal?

[CM9000]

It was bad paint for me. I know how to prep.

The paint wrinkled on itself.

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