Topic: Painted car wrong, need help!

[aaronk]

I will try anything once, but I'm starting to regret trying to save the money and attempt to paint my car myself. I bought what I had been told was the right products, a white sandable primer (my car is white) and a can of aerosol body paint from NAPA auto parts that was mixed to the MFR colour of the car. Well, two weeks later, the paint still feels tacky - it never dried properly. I can smoodge it with my fingernail, and I know that's not right! Not to mention, dirt and crap is all getting mixed in with the overspray, and since the paint isn't really 'dry' it's just looking like crap.

I'm OK with sanding it back and trying again, but I don't want to make the same mistakes. So here's where I'm at:

1) What did I do wrong, why didn't the paint harden? *I was told later I used the wrong primer, I didn't use a self-etching primer...but would this prevent the paint from hardening?

2) What can I do to fix it next time?

Thanks!
Aaron.

[rrocket]

Was it hot where the car was drying?  Temp/humidity has a lot to do with curing...

[Brigitte]

Holy hell, that's not good.   

[PJungnitsch]

I know old paint will do that sometimes. You might have just got a bad batch.

[articsteve]

1) What did I do wrong, why didn't the paint harden? *I was told later I used the wrong primer, I didn't use a self-etching primer...but would this prevent the paint from hardening?

It wasn't the Primer.  The reason the paint did not harden was because it didn't have enough hardener in it.

Those made to order spray bombs are very iffy and every auto parts has some type of system and it's nothing but a PIA for the operator because complaints are many.  It's very hit and miss for them to get it right.  The only other alternative is to buy the paint, buy the reducer, and add the hardener yourself and then of course spray it with one's own compressor.  However, if your paying retail it's quite expensive.

Specifically, the only time that "self-etching" primer is mandatory is when you're painting aluminum.  I have done quite a bit of painting in my earliers years and I really hate it although I painted sections of my 944 S2 in black 3 years ago and it turned out PRO.  The auto body ppl tell me that currently the professional paints are now water based and easier to use.

[aaronk]

1) What did I do wrong, why didn't the paint harden? *I was told later I used the wrong primer, I didn't use a self-etching primer...but would this prevent the paint from hardening?

It wasn't the Primer.  The reason the paint did not harden was because it didn't have enough hardener in it.

Those made to order spray bombs are very iffy and every auto parts has some type of system and it's nothing but a PIA for the operator because complaints are many.  It's very hit and miss for them to get it right.  The only other alternative is to buy the paint, buy the reducer, and add the hardener yourself and then of course spray it with one's own compressor.  However, if your paying retail it's quite expensive.

Specifically, the only time that "self-etching" primer is mandatory is when you're painting aluminum.  I have done quite a bit of painting in my earliers years and I really hate it although I painted sections of my 944 S2 in black 3 years ago and it turned out PRO.  The auto body ppl tell me that currently the professional paints are now water based and easier to use.

Thanks for the advice, might have been a bad batch? Anyways, we'll see how the next one turns out I guess. I don't have access to much elaborate equipment, nor do I have space to perform a large paint project. If the next attempt is a sodding mess like this one, it's off to the body shop and see how much it costs to correct my attempts at saving money! 

[aaronk]

Holy hell, that's not good.   

Ha ha, I know eh?

[aaronk]

Was it hot where the car was drying?  Temp/humidity has a lot to do with curing...

I waited for a day that was warm, so yes it was hot but not humid. Can the sun/heat still play a role there? Would it still remain unhardened even if it cured too hot?

[articsteve]

They "bake" freshly painted cars @ up to 140 F so I doubt heat was your problem.

 

[rrocket]

They "bake" freshly painted cars @ up to 140 F so I doubt heat was your problem.

 

Yea, it's not the heat..it's usually the humidity.....

[Turbo Bob]

it's off to the body shop and see how much it costs to correct my attempts at saving money!

And this folks, is why I don't try and fix anything myself!

[PJungnitsch]

I think the very first can of paint I used on a car did that, just stubbornly sat there and refused to harden.

Wiped it off with lacquer thinner eventually and started over, never had a bad batch since.

[rrocket]

it's off to the body shop and see how much it costs to correct my attempts at saving money!

And this folks, is why I don't try and fix anything myself!

Sissy.  You don't give yourself enough credit....

[Arthur Dent]

I'd go down to the car wash and press wash off that tacky paint and try again. Beats sanding. That ain't right. Sounds like the paint wasn't mixed properly. Dunno.

[tortoise]

Shake the can longer?

[quadzilla]

it's off to the body shop and see how much it costs to correct my attempts at saving money!

And this folks, is why I don't try and fix anything myself!

Sissy.  You don't give yourself enough credit....

Or he only has so much credit.