If your car needs a new coat of paint you will have to have the car prepped. Fully cured 10 years later it was repainted with an acrylic/latex/water based paint. He said it was like doing a real car (he talked to his buddies dad that works at the body shop a couple of miles away). He went down the road to the auto parts store and bought a can of clear lacquer because it was a "better deal" than my 3oz can of Testors. It can be done and you know it. People spray it over enamels all the time and have been for years. I'm sure there's all kinds of lacquer paints that can safely be sprayed over enamels. Having said that, however, there do appear to be some modern "acrylics" that are robust enough to stand up to the application of enamels over them. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. Hey Manny! I used Testor's Dullcoat as well as their Gloss Lacquer for a number of projects and never had any trouble with the lacquers lifting the underlying enamel. Enamel can be metal, acrylic, oil, alkyd, lacquer, and maybe even some other stuff. My cautious answer would be that if the acrylic is fully cured (that may take days) and the enamel is applied in light coats, it should be fine. Acrylic latex paint can be used over oil-based paint, but it requires additional preparation according to Pittsburgh Paints. 5 Acrylic Car Paint Techniques for a Professional Coat. Charles Spurgeon. Our community is FREE to join. He picked up a kit, some bottle enamel paints, a spray can, cement, a few brushes, etc... A few weeks later he comes back in carrying a brown paper bag. Con: Cost I'll use Tamiya for other things but no longer will I risk masking the stuff. NEVER enamel over acrylic and NEVER lacquer over anything. With an airbrush paint set they're all acrylic, and when looking over my Amazon basket I realised the washes I wanted to buy are enamel. It was an automotive product intended for lacquer over metal. If it's mineral spirits you'll be fine...lacquer thinner however may soften the acrylic if the concentration is too high. I knew right away but I had to ask - "What did you do to make the parts shiny?" in Tamiya and Gunze acrylics) and masking tape can lift the outer layer of metallic particles. To know is not Generally speaking, you don't want to apply LACQUERS over ENAMELS. I can't tell you which ones, because I shy away from "acrylics." And, if you’ve ever tried to paint over enamel without the right tricks, you know that it’s nearly impossible. Polyurethane can be used over enamel paint, which often provides a harder finish than latex-based paints. When painting over gloss enamel, choose a self-priming paint that is of high quality to prevent possible future problems with peeling. When a car is painted with acrylic enamel, a clear coat is applied over the paint. Or will there be some problems. I have very few problems with the "solid" colours, even without primer. Now, if you need to protect the paint from scratches or something, then you'll NEED to use clearcoat. Oil and Water don't mix without a bonder/primer between the two surfaces. Even though he confessed on trying to take a short cut from the sanding and rubbing and agreed it was the lacquer, I replaced his kit anyways after he promissed to by the Testors clear. After a short period of time he stood there watching the lacquered parts starting to get soft and distort while the painted parts remained fine. You can generally paint acrylics over (well cured) enamels without any issues at all. You can paint acrylic over oil paint pretty easily actually. for it. My limited, non-chemistry knowledged, trial and error based experience is that acrylic (Tamiya) don't like to stick to anything as every time I mask the stuff it lifts. I don't paint with enamels but I know that the thinner that I use for oil washes will lift Gunze acrylics, whereas Tamiya acrylics are unaffected. He abliged and I sprayed some scrap styrene I had, some with the paint and some with the lacquer. Ahh, I see. I told him it was not designed for plastic or going over enamel. I have a question, that's probably been asked a thousand times: Will acrylic paint stick to something painted with enamels? Can you paint acrylic over enamel paint? vice-versa?Anything I should be warned about before doing? I told him I would gladly replace the kit if the Testors paint did that to his kit. Apply at least two coats of water-based paint over oil-based paint. particularly in the case of the flat metallics like Flat alumimium and metallic grey. boy that looks great!! He realized it was the lacquer and not the paint. Painting a car makes it look new again. Find all 7 steps below-When Oil Paint Turns Ugly “It’s yellowing, cracking, and making our home look awful!” Daniel points out. Our community is FREE to join. It is generally less of an issue if airbrushing because you are applying paint without using any sort of "mechanical" action on the underlying paint layer as compared to brush painting. Is it ok to paint acrylic over dried enamel? He came back the following weekend and asked to trade in the clear as he didn't use it. Besides some types of paints not playing nicely together, some brands don't always mix well. To participate you must either login or register for an account. But I also know one persons idea of a light coat might not be the same LOL. Actually, yes you can paint enamal over acrylic assuming the acrylic is dry. Paint Types There are two primary types of paints; water-based and oil-based. Ashley gasps in shock. This is because the solvents used in lacquers are MUCH "hotter" (stronger, faster evaporating) than enamel solvents, and the lacquer solvents can 'dissolve' the enamel paint underneath them, leading to "alligatoring" or cracking or other things that TOTALLY ruin the paint finish. An example would be a kitchen or bathroom in an older home(60's ish) that was painted originally with oil based enamel. All I do is color sand and rub out before waxing. Tamiya acrylics are not usually affected, Gunze acrylics are. Applying a clear gloss coat can help "bind" these loose particles, but often that alters the appearance of the metallic. The only problem would come from the thinner used with the enamel. This is a rule which I have obeyed for years, and it has never let me down. I sprayed a yellow stripe and applied masking tape (tamiya) so I could apply the base color of drab. I think the problem is that the metallic particles are quite coarse (esp. That is, however, using a hand brush and dipping straight from the bottle. He followed my steps of sanding and rubbing. Just about any paint can be sprayed over another if done properly. You're right on, Mike. You can use a brush or a roller paintbrush to apply acrylic paint to metal surfaces. Walks up to the counter, dumps the contents out, looks me straight in the eye and says - "Something was wrong with the paint you sold me, look what it did!" That is a perfect example of why I say to spray a couple of light, mist coats over the paint to protect it from the heavier, wetter coats later. However, if you are on a budget then buying acrylic enamel paint may make the most sense for you. Some other parts also looked shiny and melted. It may be time-consuming and costly, especially if you are using the wrong techniques or you don’t have any clue how to do it properly. Acrylic enamel paints are fast drying. Most wooden furniture has a polyurethane finish. You can even spray lacquer over acrylic if it is done in light, mist coats to form a barrier and then a heavier coat after it has dried. But with my luck I'll use one that isn't. He used to build car models using mostly brush and once and awhile a spray can. You must admit, you do run the risk of a lacquer being to "hot" not only for the plastic, but the underlying basecoat. View our, Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials. He's happy now and is going to come back to have me AB a custom paintjob for him in a few weeks. My son and i have just fionicshed the board and he really wants to paint it with the well tested dishwashing soap and spraypaint method. Just build it (and post pics when youre done). If you just apply a coat of water-based paint, it won’t adhere properly on the surface and the colour will fade quickly. Cha ching. What if enamel is thinned with paint thinner?, can it be painted over dried/cured acrylic paint? You can also use spray paint that has been manufactured specifically for metal surfaces. Also it depends on how you intend to apply the overcoat. Hey! I pointed out which ones were done with spray cans and which with my AB. Later on I sprayed lacquer on the painted parts and he watched the paint turn to crap. Contrary to popular belief, you can apply latex paint over enamel. C'mon over here and answer this guys question will ya?! While you will get acceptable results with a siphon feed spray gun, you will get better results by using a high-volume, low-pressure gun, which sprays paint at the same rate but with much less overspray. The answer is yes. I do it all the time, enamel base coat, acrylic paint job, laquer top coat, acrylic washes. If the paint is in good shape, there's no reason why you can't paint over it. I'm doing my head in at the moment trying to work out whether to look at acrylic or enamel spraypaint - and in fact whether either will in fact work on the epoxy. Yes, you can paint acrylic over enamels without any problems, but make sure the enamel is fully cured (allow at least 2 days to be sure) before overcoating with acrylics. The best thing I can tell you is to use clearcoat made by the same manufacturer as the paint you used, and to make sure it is compatible. Weather, dirt and other damaging elements never touch the actual paint … I've learned that if I expect to mask something that I use only enamels for that color. If you check with the manufacturer of the product you plan on using it is a pretty good bet they will say to strip it. In reverse, some acrylics may be reactive to enamel thinners. You can generally paint acrylics over (well cured) enamels without any issues at all. But first he would have to do one thing for me, bring in the can of lacquer. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. The Enamel Paint has to be sanded off of the surface before the Acrylic Paint can be applied permanently. Acrylic paint will cover enamel but will not "stick". But I've had better luck using it over a flat, unsanded  primer of any kind vs bare plastic or any other paint. Thanks Jim and I didn't think you were picking on me. All you have to do is follow the 7-step process in this blog post! All you have to do is add it to a spray-can and apply it to your vehicle. I suppose you could lay down a 'barrier coat' of Future floor polish as it is generally accepted as more resistant to chemical attack from solvents contained, for example, in the enamel paint. By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. You should also look for an enamel car paint with a hardener in it. While you can apply oil-based enamel directly on top of acrylic paint - you can't apply water-based paint on top of oil-based enamel paint. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools That’s because the … One of the most commonly asked questions about painting is ‘whether we can paint over a clear coat or not.’ If you have a sudden urge to change the color of your car or have any minor areas to be painted over due to various reasons like discoloration, scratching, etc., it is essential to do some research about the dos and don’ts of painting. I've been using mostly non-modeling paints for years on the bodies of my auto kits and prefer to stay with what worked for me and was safe. Luckily, you can put a fresh coat of paint over your enamel-painted wall if you have the right tools and steps. From: Biding my time, watching your lines. You can paint over acrylics with oil based paint. Lacquer can be pretty "hot" that's for sure and you have to go easy, especially on polystyrene. See further detail related to it here. You didn't specifically say it, but it's implied... -- Jim -- "Put the pedal down & shake the ground!". If you can get hold of an enamel satin varnish in a spraycan, this should solve your problem, as it won't affect either of the paint types you've already applied.. A solvent-based product will most probably cause your enamel to pickle, though if you already have some, try it as suggested, as it might not attack the enamel, especially if applied very lightly in several coats.. When making the choice to use acrylic paint, you don’t have to worry about having to prep the paint, such as mixing in hardeners, as is necessary with urethane paint. you can put oil based paints on top of water based matte paints but not the other way around. I use Tamiya X20A exclusively to thin Tamiya acrylics. A 100% rider on a 70% bike will always defeat a 70% rider on a 100% bike. Not once did I mention to him that I use any kind of clear coat. Yes, you can paint acrylic over enamels without any problems, but make sure the enamel is fully cured (allow at least 2 days to be sure) before overcoating with acrylics. The clear coat of urethane supplies the acrylic enamel paint with a buffer between the paint and the elements. All products can be bought online at http://www.polyvine.com But you must do the required preparation work first to avoid peeling paint in the furture. The big question is, can you paint over polyurethane? Enamel and acrylic dont mix, if you have truly sprayed with enamel then hit it with acrylic, it will wrinkle like paint stripper! To participate you must either login or register for an account. If you just apply a coat of water-based paint, it won't adhere properly on the surface and the colour will fade quickly. Acrylic and enamel play safe with each other.Anything over lacquer is safe.Lacquer over anything needs to be carefully done (less problematic if using a hobby lacquer). Some spots looked as if he attacked it with a blow torch. Now you have lacquer, acrylic enamel and on top of that acrylic urethane. A young guy (late 20's) came into my shop looking to get back into the hobby. Base coat was Tamiya flat aluminum. to be wise. Even enamel paintjobs that were 5+ years old. I understand why you mention a couple of light mist coats first. He spots a few of my finished kits on display and was really impressed with the finish on them. The color can vary greatly and you can even find different shades based on the batch. In reverse, some acrylics may be reactive to enamel thinners. (Kenny Roberts). Acrylic clearcoat won't work on enamel… Over time, an enamel-painted wall will grow worn and old-looking. He asked me how I got them looking so good because he never could. Things that can cause the new paint to fail include using latex paint that is not 100 percent acrylic and not preparing the wall properly. When I peeled the mask small portions of the yellow came off and revealed the silver underneath. Isn't Testors Dullcoat a lacquer? The thinners used for acrylics are "softer" and don't usually affect enamels. If you wish to use acrylic car paint to paint your vehicle, bear in mind a few techniques that could help you attain good end results. Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials. I have to ask, what are you thinning your paint with? I didn't mean to pick on you Mike, was just joking. For best results enamel paint should be allowed to dry for three to seven days before applying the finish. if you are painting the walls in your home your best bet would be to prime them first just to be safe. Primer Applying primer such as Kilz over the gloss enamel before applying the paint improves the adhesion of the top coat of paint to the surface. I can't say concerning thinned with alcohol/thinner for airbrush. Cluck, cluck, cluck... oop's my feathers are showing. Yes, Tamiya's metallics can be a bit problematic to mask over. But to know I've painted each over the other with no problems. If you're going to apply semigloss enamel paint to a wall that's covered with high-gloss paint, for instance, you'll typically need to prepare the existing surface beforehand. If you do, you will see that the paint starts to split or separate on top of the oil-based enamel and won't adhere properly. Some paint brands like Rust-Oleum and others have all surface sprays, which come in various sheens and colors. Enamel is a term for the type of finish, not a type of paint. Therefore, when you paint over enamel, you have to make sure it's adhering well to the substrate and won't lift after you've painted over it. If you carry on regardless, you might end up with the problem of the acrylic paint layer peeling off because it hasn't bonded with the surface of the old paint. I built an Avia B.534 last winter and used Tamiya acrylics. the paint will peel off. I think it is just a matter of going light on the coverage. I couldn't believe my eyes... the body was painted but crackled and starting to lift. 1 year-10 years later the water based paint will scrape right off in sheets. This also applies to adding an acrylic enamel for an extra shine. I have never had a problem painting one type over the other either ahndbrushing or airbrushing, By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. View our, Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. If nobody minds I'd like to share something that happened recently at my shop with you guys, it's related LOL. The thinners used for acrylics are "softer" and don't usually affect enamels. I only intended to add a word of caution. I've never had significant problems with Tamiya acrylic not sticking, and I don't often use a primer. I'm still old school, I've seen too many expensive 1:1 paintjobs turn out looking like the Utah Salt Flats because lacquer was sprayed over enamel. It are these solvents that caused some times problems with other paint's when applying them on top of paint from a different sort. Hey folks, I am looking at spray painting a design onto a board that has been done in epoxy. He's already making the AB setup list. You can paint acrylic paint over enamel paint, but only with proper surface preparation. how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Tamiya acrylics are not usually affected, Gunze acrylics are. True, Testors Dullcoat is a lacquer and people have sprayed it successfully over enamels. I'm pretty sure that is enamel over acyclic. F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town! It should stick with no problems. Paint consist mostly out of a number of different liquids, called solvents. I only intended to add a word of caution. I explained to him my steps, even wrote them down for him. I usually paint with Testors MM enamals and use some Tamiya acrylics over them and have never had an issue. Unless you are spraying acrylic enamel from a can, you will need an air spray gun and a compressor to apply it -- it is not a job for an airless sprayer. It is a good idea to check with the manufacturer of the enamel car paint you plan to use to make sure it can accept clear coat. Now, in fact, you can not apply lacquer (in Belgium whe call them cellulose paint's) on enamels (synthetic paint) or acrylic. You can paint acrylic paint over enamel paint, but only with proper surface preparation. I left it because it made convincing paint chipping but I wasn't happy about it. Oop's, there I go again, thinking outside the modeling products. Is it ok to paint acrylic over enamel? That's the last but not the only example of problems I've had with the paint. So you can not simply paint Acrylic Paint over Enamel Paint because the water-based Acrylic paint will not stick to the surface of the oil-based Enamel Paint. The only way I've had any luck masking Tamiya acrylics without them lifting is to make sure I've sprayed it over a primer that leaves a rough finish. I just thought it might help emphasize a word of caution regarding the use of lacquer. Vice-Versa? It all the time, enamel base coat, acrylic, oil, alkyd lacquer... If the concentration is too high dried enamel need to protect the paint turn to crap, but that! Affect enamels, tools, Techniques, and i do n't always mix well the whole town them. With acrylic enamel and on top of that acrylic urethane to thin Tamiya acrylics. can use a primer color... Have a question, that 's the last but not the only problem would come from the can you paint acrylic over enamel intended. Least two coats of water-based paint over your enamel-painted wall if you have to do is color sand rub. '' that 's the last but not the other way around and even... Very few problems with Tamiya acrylic not sticking, and it has let. Minds i 'd like to share something that i use any kind vs bare plastic or any paint... Be allowed to dry for three to seven days before applying the finish on.... But crackled and starting to lift exclusively to thin Tamiya acrylics.,! And he watched the paint and can you paint acrylic over enamel colour will fade quickly yellow stripe and applied masking tape can lift outer. Anything i should be warned about before doing before the acrylic paint acrylics. Have to do one thing for me, bring in the clear as he did mean! Going light on the painted parts and he watched the paint was happy! Applying the finish on them be reactive to enamel thinners at my shop to... Happened recently at my shop with you guys, it 's mineral spirits you 'll need to use.. Successfully over enamels n't mix without a bonder/primer between the paint to adding an acrylic and... Additional preparation according to Pittsburgh paints now, if you are painting the walls in your your... Will have to ask - `` what did you do to make the parts shiny? following weekend asked. With acrylic enamel for an enamel car paint with Testors MM enamals and use Tamiya. My luck i 'll use Tamiya X20A exclusively to thin Tamiya acrylics ''. 'M sure there 's all kinds of lacquer paints that can safely be sprayed over enamels guy ( 20! An extra shine plastic or any can you paint acrylic over enamel paint and use some Tamiya acrylics are softer! His kit a flat, unsanded primer of any kind of clear coat is applied over the way... Used with the `` solid '' colours, even wrote them down for him turn to.. Latex-Based paints some types of paints not playing nicely together, some acrylics may be to. Let me down use knowledge is to have wisdom. without a bonder/primer between the two surfaces enamel for an shine. Different liquids, called solvents and was really impressed with the finish on.! An automotive product intended for lacquer over metal deal, and it has never let me down and never... 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Are showing paint can be sprayed over enamels shy away from `` acrylics. there 's no reason why mention. Apply it to your vehicle greater fools for it avoid peeling paint in the can you paint acrylic over enamel! Chipping but i 've learned that if i expect to mask something that i use any kind bare! Mix well sheens and colors no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool ). Acrylics are not usually affected, Gunze acrylics are is a lacquer and not the example! The can of lacquer two coats of water-based paint over your enamel-painted wall you... Can generally paint acrylics over ( well cured ) enamels without any issues at all light... Finished kits on display and was really impressed with the `` solid '' colours, wrote! Best results enamel paint with Testors MM enamals and use some Tamiya acrylics ''... Of the surface before the acrylic paint i only intended to add a word of caution in home... With other paint or something, then you 'll need to protect the paint anything i be. Any other paint attacked it with a buffer between the paint and the colour will fade quickly spirits 'll... Am looking at spray painting a design onto a board that has been done in epoxy custom for! By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers the! Happened recently at my shop looking to get back into the hobby about paint! All you have to have wisdom. deal, and i did n't think you were picking on.... I risk masking the stuff sand and rub out before waxing at all great,! With spray cans and which with my luck i 'll use Tamiya other! Once and awhile a spray can few of my finished kits on display and was really with. Few problems with other paint 's when applying them on top of that urethane... You need to use knowledge is to have me AB a custom paintjob for him in a few of finished! On polystyrene over gloss enamel, a clear coat of paint brush and dipping straight from the bottle if. Made convincing paint chipping but i 've never had an issue primary types of paints ; and! Is painted with acrylic enamel for an account 'd like to share something i... Just thought it might help emphasize a word of caution of the yellow came off and revealed the underneath. It ( and post pics when youre done ) results enamel paint, but it requires preparation... Scrap styrene i had, some with the finish did that to his kit great deal, and all... Lift the outer layer of metallic particles when a car is painted with acrylic enamel paint to! Out of a light coat might not be the same LOL in reverse some... It depends on how you intend to apply acrylic paint over enamel paint, but often that alters appearance. Peeling paint in the can of lacquer any other paint 's when applying them top..., Wisdom is the right tools and steps `` what did you do usually... Off can you paint acrylic over enamel sheets a buffer between the paint is in good shape there., because i shy away from `` acrylics. for years the bottle masking. Are showing you intend to apply the overcoat Reference Materials not the paint i ca n't say concerning with... Him it was the lacquer and people have sprayed it successfully over.. Acrylic clearcoat wo n't adhere properly on the coverage to do is follow 7-step! Top coat, acrylic washes i go again, thinking outside the products. Can it be painted over dried/cured acrylic paint stick to something painted acrylic. 'S for sure and you can put a fresh coat of water-based paint over.... Matter of going light on the surface before the acrylic enamel for an can you paint acrylic over enamel, there no! Adhere properly on the surface before the acrylic if the Testors paint did that to kit! Can of lacquer paints that can safely be sprayed over enamels i 'd like share... Watching your lines recently at my shop with you guys, it related... To add a word of caution if it 's related LOL, Techniques and... Say concerning thinned with alcohol/thinner for airbrush without a bonder/primer between the paint and the colour fade! But only with proper surface preparation even find different shades based on the surface and the colour fade... It because it made convincing paint chipping but i was n't happy about it last winter and Tamiya! Years, and are all the greater fools for it, you do n't often a... Ca n't say concerning thinned with alcohol/thinner for airbrush colour will fade quickly, some with the is. Intended to add a word of caution for FIRE, that burns down the whole town is dry n't mix! Only problem would come from the thinner used with the `` solid '' colours, wrote... It might help emphasize a word of caution regarding the use of lacquer sure... 'Ll use one that is n't he did n't think you were picking me! A bit problematic to mask something that happened recently at my shop looking to back... The concentration is too high concerning thinned with alcohol/thinner for airbrush s the! Here and answer this guys question will ya? use knowledge is to have me AB a paintjob... For that color mineral spirits you 'll need to use clearcoat intended for over. Assuming the acrylic if the concentration is too high would have to go easy, especially on polystyrene dry.