Projects I did the unthinkable
- Thread starter murankar
- Start date
murankar
Staff member
That last color sucked. I like this color option better.
So for the paints I used some basic craft store acrylic paints. The color are all metallic. The colors are Ice blue, berry and amethyst. The last one is my birth stone.
I still have to clean up some of the masking lines and some over spray. Other than that it's about done.
So for the paints I used some basic craft store acrylic paints. The color are all metallic. The colors are Ice blue, berry and amethyst. The last one is my birth stone.
I still have to clean up some of the masking lines and some over spray. Other than that it's about done.
Smoggie
Well-Known Member
You might regret the acrylic Uri.. It takes an age to dry in my experience. It feels dry to the touch after minutes but seems to never fully harden. Acrylic clear cote is worse of all. I painted a guitar with it and after four weeks it would still leave finger marks where you held the guitar. Possibly if you apply several very light 'mist coats' allowing plenty of time between each coat, it would dry better but then you are left with a dusty finish and it takes an age to apply.
I ended up stripping the acrylic off down to the wood and going with '2K' auto paint. 2K paint gives a MUCH better finish because it's solvent free so doesn't shrink when it hardens like all solvent based paints do, and it dries super hard and very quickly. Down side is you can only get it from specialist auto paint suppliers and in quite large quantities (so it's expensive).. and you need a spray gun to apply it, it's too thick for a modellers air brush. It's also quite toxic so you need a good mask.
I ended up stripping the acrylic off down to the wood and going with '2K' auto paint. 2K paint gives a MUCH better finish because it's solvent free so doesn't shrink when it hardens like all solvent based paints do, and it dries super hard and very quickly. Down side is you can only get it from specialist auto paint suppliers and in quite large quantities (so it's expensive).. and you need a spray gun to apply it, it's too thick for a modellers air brush. It's also quite toxic so you need a good mask.
murankar
Staff member
Actually this stuff is drying rock hard for what it is. This is my second attempt on the radio. I was not pleased with the first colors. It took me almost 4 days to get the paint and clear coat off without using a power sander. Eventually I switched to 90% IpA.
For prep on the plastic I sanded the heck out of it with 1000 wet dry. Then I cleaned it with the same IpA.
I would not touch the paint for at least 24hours after painting. It does not stick well prior to curing. It will peel right off. It took the better part of 4 days to get all three colors on the radio. I double coated the whole radio. Its been about a day and half since the last color when on. It's about fully cured for the clear coat and touch ups.
My thinner is made by testors and is designed for this paint medium. I was using water but decided to change.
For prep on the plastic I sanded the heck out of it with 1000 wet dry. Then I cleaned it with the same IpA.
I would not touch the paint for at least 24hours after painting. It does not stick well prior to curing. It will peel right off. It took the better part of 4 days to get all three colors on the radio. I double coated the whole radio. Its been about a day and half since the last color when on. It's about fully cured for the clear coat and touch ups.
My thinner is made by testors and is designed for this paint medium. I was using water but decided to change.
Smoggie
Well-Known Member
Good that the Acrylic seems to be working for you Uri. The stuff i was using was out of rattle cans, so it wasn't a thinners problem. I've used acrylic before and it worked ok back then but that was spraying very light coats out of an airbrush. I think the problem on the guitar was putting on too much looking for that deep glossy finish (that you really want on a guitar body). Seems like you cant do that with acrylic, you just have to mist it on and leave plenty of time between coats. Put on too much and it never dries.
The 2K being a two component system dries no matter how thick you apply it so you can get a really deep gloss.
The 2K being a two component system dries no matter how thick you apply it so you can get a really deep gloss.
Smoggie
Well-Known Member
I've seen 2k advertised clear cote sold pre-catalysed in rattle cans. You probably cant store it for long once the catalyst has been added but it's worth thinking about if you do want that deep wet-gloss look. If you spray outside and stay upwind you can do without the fancy mask.
After the experience with the guitar I'd personally be very reluctant to use acrylic clear coat again... But hope it works out for you if you do go that route.
After the experience with the guitar I'd personally be very reluctant to use acrylic clear coat again... But hope it works out for you if you do go that route.
