Why wont my paint dry?

Post by **hi_tower** » 02 Oct 2007, 21:36

Hi all,
done quite a few bits of paint spraying in the past but Ive never had this happen before. Sprayed the front of my beetle with gloss black cellulose paint about 6 weeks ago now. The finish is really good, brilliant deep shine. The only problem is the paint is still really soft, I can leave a finger print in it. Is there anything I can do about this? Put a heater on it? Its had to stay in the garage since I sprayed it cos the screen is out. Just wait for it to harden? Will it ever set or am I gonna have to do it again?

Post by **jamesc76** » 03 Oct 2007, 07:44

might sound silly but you did put hardener in the paint ????

Post by **hi_tower** » 03 Oct 2007, 09:07

I used cellulose paint. I didnt have a suitable place away from neighbours etc to spray 2k paint.

Post by **mig** » 03 Oct 2007, 10:16

How old is the paint?,If it has sat around for more than a couple of years un-used it may never harden properly

Post by **jamesc76** » 03 Oct 2007, 10:50

hi_tower wrote:I used cellulose paint. I didnt have a suitable place away from neighbours etc to spray 2k paint.

#oh i have only ever sprayed 2 pack so learn summit new there thought they all had hardeners!!!

Post by **Mariner Man** » 03 Oct 2007, 12:01

Did you build up the layers, too much on to quick and it will stay soft. The only way to resolve i think, if you dont have a bake facility is to wash it all off and start again.

Post by **hi_tower** » 03 Oct 2007, 12:20

I had a halogen heater heater on it all last night and got it pretty hot. Its only the front clip and windscreen surround/scuttle on a beetle so not a massive area. Hopefully I can harden it this way.

Post by **meggles** » 03 Oct 2007, 19:29

Spoke to my brother who is an ace paint sprayer and was a specialist in celly paints. if it ain't hardened now it's time to strip and respray. It will never have the durability of a spray job that dried/hardened straightaway. The other possibility, if it's a small area, is to overspray with acrylic aerosols. Hell of a chance of a reaction but if you spray it dry (hold aerosol away from panel) you may just get away with it and be able to polish back to a shine. If it's a small area you may get away with a couple of cans and it could, therefore, be cost effective. Worth a try? Your choice! Good Luck.

Post by **hi_tower** » 03 Oct 2007, 19:43

kthla wrote:Spoke to my brother who is an ace paint sprayer and was a specialist in celly paints. if it ain't hardened now it's time to strip and respray. It will never have the durability of a spray job that dried/hardened straightaway. The other possibility, if it's a small area, is to overspray with acrylic aerosols. Hell of a chance of a reaction but if you spray it dry (hold aerosol away from panel) you may just get away with it and be able to polish back to a shine. If it's a small area you may get away with a couple of cans and it could, therefore, be cost effective. Worth a try? Your choice! Good Luck.

Oh bugger

Post by **hi_tower** » 03 Oct 2007, 19:50

Thanks for the info kthla.