OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Paint and Decals Problems with some modern spray paints

Some of the spray paints on the market today are poor quality to say the least. I am finding the ones that smell like nail polish to be the most problematic. Judging by the smell, they must be based in acetone.

Yesterday I painted a mower base and this morning it looked great. I opened up the shed and let the sun shine in on it. Within a few minutes I noticed pimples suddenly forming on the surface. So I pulled the door down again. Back in the shade it is behaving itself. I am not game to introduce it to the sunlight too quickly in case it all goes bubbly.

Another problem I've had with this paint is it sometimes "crazes" around the edges (forms patterns like cobwebs), even though I was careful not to spray too heavily.

On another occasion I painted a starter winder one day. It looked perfect, but I could still see primer through it in places. I decided to give it a second coat. Within a few minutes of applying the paint suddenly went really crinkly, like it was reacting with the earlier paint! I've never had this happen before.

I blame the paint. Something is just not right with it. It is very hit and miss. Most times it goes on great and leaves a shiny finish. Other times it just goes crazy and there seems no logical reason for it.

It says on the can of at least one of my pressure pack paints that you have a certain amount of time to apply another coat, or else you must wait a minimum time for it to cure before applying another coat.

Some of the ones that smell like nail polish say to wait 20 minutes then apply the second coat, then wait another 20 min and apply a third. I've tried that and found it doesn't work. The second coat doesn't like the earlier coat and the third coat just goes crinkly and totally rejects the second coat. I've found the only way to do it is to spray a medium coat on, wait about 5-10 mins, then apply a final coat. Then leave it at that to dry slowly in the shade and hope for the best.

Some of the automotive paints I've used say to wait 5 mins between coats. I have never had any problems with them. I usually just spray on an even, fairly solid coat, but not so heavy as to cause runs, then apply another lighter coat in 5-10 mins time. Always works a treat.

Maybe I just have an aversion to nail polish.

P.S. I wonder if the paint that smells like nail polish will last about as long as nail polish? I suspect that probably will be the case!

You are referring to the nail polish not lasting because of deliberatmoval, not the durability of the paint itself?
I was told that nail polish makes a good repair for cracked plastic fuel tanks. once it dries, petrol won't dissolve it.