Quality/Durability Of Acrylic Paints

[sprattz30]

Anyone with experience using acrylics, what's the good n bad brands. I've had a test panel sitting for close on a month in hi temp dry conditions, and it doesn't seem to be hardening right.

now I know acrylics aren't as tough as 2pak but I don't expect to be able to leave a fingernail impression with a soft prod. The panel feels hard and running your hand over its def dry ok, just a bit soft.

the brand is 3m premium acrylic laquer, and all prep was done correctly.

I've seen a job done with septone acrylic, and it was much tougher.

Can't see the point In spending weeks sanding straightening and filling and then laying a crap brand down.

Any pointers/advice?

[cinky]

i just painted my boat in ppg acrylic. turned out well. only problem i had was it some times came out of the gun a little stringy. mostly because i wasnt exactly sure on how to set the ratio's on the gun.

ive found it very scratch resistant so far, how ever i only painted it two weeks ago. I'm sure a few hot days in the sun light will really give it a test. and it was a fair price, guy from the paint shop even offered to come help out with preping and painting

[snot35]

I haven't done much painting yet, so I'm sure someone more expert will chime in, but it really sounds like it hasn't been applied properly? I would have thought 3M would be fine, so you might not have more luck with a different brand. How thick was it going on, and what were the conditions when you painted (temp, humidity) and what mix of acrylic with thinner etc?

[Twinky]

I only use Protec paints and have never had any trouble with them. I have even painted my rims with protec and it was good for over a year, still had it's gloss.

I have since sold the car but I'm sure the paint is still fine. With the softness issue some paints require hardeners to set them off. But I have only had to do that with acrylic clear coat.

The normal acrylic protec does not require a hardener. Setting up the gun can be difficult, but the stringy effect could be caused by three things.

 

1: not enough thinners, don't use normal thinners, use premium thinners. (second most likely)

2: Air temp could have been hot, therefore paint was already starting to dry. (least likely)

3: Air to paint ratio (most likely)

 

It could also be all three at once causing that effect. I usually set up a mixture where I add thinners untill the paint is like water, I then

dip in a metal rod and watch as the paint drips off and it should leave a see through coat of paint and drip off very quickly. It does take another coat or

two in the long run when spraying but I have always had my best results doing it that way.

[sprattz30]

ok well I think it maybe the clear coat causing the problem. I experimented on an old panel to get the gun adjustments right. Tricky business that. It doesn't mention anything about hardener on the can, but I'm sure its just the clear coat that's soft. I put alot of coats of clear on (6) with a 5minute flash time between coats. The clear was laying nicely wasn't dry.

 

gonna try mixing a small amount of clear with the base colour next time, might set harder and still give a nice gloss. The gloss with 6 clears is crazy even before cut & polish.

[sprattz30]

I only use Protec paints and have never had any trouble with them. I have even painted my rims with protec and it was good for over a year, still had it's gloss.

I have since sold the car but I'm sure the paint is still fine. With the softness issue some paints require hardeners to set them off. But I have only had to do that with acrylic clear coat.

The normal acrylic protec does not require a hardener. Setting up the gun can be difficult, but the stringy effect could be caused by three things.

 

1: not enough thinners, don't use normal thinners, use premium thinners. (second most likely)

2: Air temp could have been hot, therefore paint was already starting to dry. (least likely)

3: Air to paint ratio (most likely)

 

It could also be all three at once causing that effect. I usually set up a mixture where I add thinners untill the paint is like water, I then

dip in a metal rod and watch as the paint drips off and it should leave a see through coat of paint and drip off very quickly. It does take another coat or

two in the long run when spraying but I have always had my best results doing it that way.

Cheers mate I'll try this thinning method as i followed the 3m instructions and it did seem a little thick. When thinning like this, did you get much Orange peel?