(Kenny Roberts). I think it is just a matter of going light on the coverage. The thinners used for acrylics are "softer" and don't usually affect enamels. Test it in an inconspicuous spot like the bottom of the fuel tank. beautiful flat thin by water slow dry air brushing easy fingerprinting. That is, however, using a hand brush and dipping straight from the bottle. vice-versa?Anything I should be warned about before doing? You can't mix it into paint as you can with lacquer. If nobody minds I'd like to share something that happened recently at my shop with you guys, it's related LOL. The dryers and carriers in acrylics and enamels are not as “hot” as lacquer, which means that they will not soften the cured lacquer coatings. 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. It's not challenging to spray with a siphon gun. acrylic is an acrylic enamel. While enamel paints make use of spirits, there is lacquer to serve the purpose of the thinner, in lacquer paints. I've painted each over the other with no problems. 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. View our, Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. Sorry for the noob question,but I am wondering if I can spray Tamiya Lacquer(TS-13 and TS-80)from a rattle can as a gloss and flat coat over my models which are painted in Tamiya Acrylics. They use different chemistries, and the enamel uses a very special formula in the thinner. Moreover, moisture will interfere with the adhesion of acrylic enamel, so the surface you are painting must be dry. That is to say that enamels and acrylics can be applied over lacquers and acrylics over enamels safely. I told him it was not designed for plastic or going over enamel. 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. Clear coats come in spray and paint-on applications. 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!" Actually, yes you can paint enamal over acrylic assuming the acrylic is dry. Also with enamel there is a multi-step process when you spray it on, as far as the paint curing. Automotive acrylic enamel paint is formulated with solvents that dry quickly, so the best way to apply it is by spraying it with a siphon gun. Isn't Testors Dullcoat a lacquer? Urethane paints have to be mixed with a urethane reducer and a urethane activator to get the right viscosity. enamels will wrinkle under lacquer. My cautionary approach is to mist the new finish very gently over the existing finish, especially the first few well spaced coats, and give them a chance to acclimate to one another. When you find this distance, which is usually between 6 and 10 inches, you will leave a wet coat after each pass that levels out to a glossy finish without running or dripping. Spray the first 3 or 4 coats of lacquer very lightly allowing to dry between coats until none of the original enamel shows thru. The rattlecan finish was easy and cheap, but I would like something tuff. But to know He came back the following weekend and asked to trade in the clear as he didn't use it. I told him I would gladly replace the kit if the Testors paint did that to his kit. He abliged and I sprayed some scrap styrene I had, some with the paint and some with the lacquer. not true at all, you can also clear with Lacquer. I'm sorta new to this paint business, but I'm willing to try any suggestions ya'll might have. 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). They usually go on clear and remain like that over time. Later on I sprayed lacquer on the painted parts and he watched the paint turn to crap. I understand why you mention a couple of light mist coats first. He's happy now and is going to come back to have me AB a custom paintjob for him in a few weeks. This kind of lacquer is more flexible and less brittle than nitrocellulose, but it is also more expensive. F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town! If it's mineral spirits you'll be fine...lacquer thinner however may soften the acrylic if the concentration is too high. But I also know one persons idea of a light coat might not be the same LOL. 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. This Site Might Help You. You can generally paint acrylics over (well cured) enamels without any issues at all. Charles Spurgeon. If you mix them with acrylic enamel urethane hardeners, the gloss and durability of the paint increase. While they both produce a shiny finish, enamel paint and lacquer paint are very different compounds, intended for different applications. Yes, you can, but test a small piece first. Clean the surface using a soft cloth and cleaning detergent. 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. The solvent in sprayable acrylic enamel is a volatile, hydrocarbon-based solution that includes chemicals such as toluol and acetone. Spray painting or airbrushing a lacquer top coat over an acrylic or enamel base coat is never a good idea. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools Enamel Paint. I've also used Testor's Spray clear coats over Tamiya acrylic paints with no issues. As a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies. Also it depends on how you intend to apply the overcoat. 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). It bonds well and although lacquer isn't as flexible as acrylic-fortified latex, it doesn't crack except under extreme fluctuations in temperature or humidity. Can You Paint Enamel Over Acrylic? Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials. Tamiya acrylics are not usually affected, Gunze acrylics are. I’m trying to be more careful since the gloss coat I used(Mr.Hobby Color Acrylic Clear Gloss) ruined the camo on my current model. LEA remember it.. Lacquer Model Paints Over Acrylics And Enamels. Is it ok to paint acrylic over enamel? He followed my steps of sanding and rubbing. Then u can proceed with the lacquer paint as normal coats. However, acrylic urethane paints are more long lasting when compared to enamel paints. … The method of applying acrylic enamel, which is essentially acrylic paint with a gloss additive, depends on the solvent. not so bad. 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. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, Second Chance Garage: How a Spray Gun Works. DISCLAIMER: This is assuming that the enamel base is at least 6 months old. Thanks Jim and I didn't think you were picking on me. Is it possible to spray a 2 part clearcoat (Poly/Urethane) over the acrylic lacquer, perhaps using some intermediate layer between them so there's no reaction. Acrylic Paint. I'd strip the body and start over with acrylic. I have done it many times. One can find these paints in the form of spray guns and containers. That’s because the sheen of the enamel paint interferes with the acrylic paint. Should be the same thing. Advantages & Disadvantages of Spray Drying, Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. You could probably shoot nitro over acrylic but not the other way around. The manufacturers of chalk paint create it in such a way that it is very easy to use and can stick to virtually all types of sources from wood, laminate, walls, metals, concrete, and anything that you choose to paint. Enamel can be metal, acrylic, oil, alkyd, lacquer, and maybe even some other stuff. RE: Can I spray acrylic paint over lacquer? Acrylic paint is quite simple to use once you know how, it dries quickly and you can achieve top quality results by polishing as you can see in this photo. It can be done and you know it. Even enamel paintjobs that were 5+ years old. Enamel paints also often recommended for panel washes. 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. He's already making the AB setup list. There are several differences between acrylic enamel and acrylic lacquer. Tamiya acrylics are not usually affected, Gunze acrylics are. lacquer-based you can spray an over-coat of enamel on the top. Do you spray clear coat over enamel car paint? The wrong reducer can lead to defects such as dripping, separating and a bumpy texture known as eggshell. If you are using another brand of paint, please test before applying Glosscote or Dullcote to be sure there is no reaction. " You can put lacquer thinner in enamel, but you can’t use enamel thinner (reducer) in Lacquer. You can paint over acrylics with oil based paint. 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. He asked me how I got them looking so good because he never could. Vice-Versa? Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. A young guy (late 20's) came into my shop looking to get back into the hobby. If you spray outdoors, the surface you are painting should never be in the path of direct sunlight, or the paint will dry too quickly and crack. You can paint acrylic paint over enamel paint, but only with proper surface preparation. Besides polluting the air with toxic fumes, overspray can collect on the surface of the wet paint, creating a grainy texture when the paint dries. To participate you must either login or register for an account. However, that term is more correct for wood versus metal applications. Some other parts also looked shiny and melted. All I do is color sand and rub out before waxing. The specific mixture of chemicals in the solvent, also called the reducer, determines the ease of flow from the paint sprayer, the drying rate and the quality of the finished surface. I couldn't believe my eyes... the body was painted but crackled and starting to lift. Hope this helps anyone who … This is why many people refer to clear enamel as a varnish. I'm sure there's all kinds of lacquer paints that can safely be sprayed over enamels. Nitrocellulose lacquer has a tendency to yellow with age, though, and it may dull the color of the paint. I pointed out which ones were done with spray cans and which with my AB. The basic technique for spraying acrylic enamel is the same whether you use a can or a spray gun. You can brush water-based latex acrylic enamel, but you must spray other types. how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Instead, the lacquer remains on the paint as a surface coating. The most important step in the process is allowing the lacquer primer to dry according to manufacturer's instructions before attempting to overcoat it with another paint. I want to respray the petrol tank on my 1968 BSA A65. Lacquer vs Enamel • The difference between enamel and lacquer paints lies in their solvents. People spray it over enamels all the time and have been for years. Acrylic lacquer uses stronger solvents than nitro and you will most likely see some bubbling or delamination as the lacquer cures. What if enamel is thinned with paint thinner?, can it be painted over dried/cured acrylic paint? Lacquer can be over-coated with other lacquer, paints, or enamels and acrylics. A 100% rider on a 70% bike will always defeat a 70% rider on a 100% bike. Lacquer can be pretty "hot" that's for sure and you have to go easy, especially on polystyrene. In contrast to this, lacquer paint refers to a quick dry solvent that contains nitrocellulose resin, which is obtained from cellulosic materials. The thinners used for acrylics are "softer" and don't usually affect enamels. Tamiya’s water based acrylic paint can be thinned with their proprietary X20-A acrylic thinners, iso-propyl alcohol (IPA), distilled water, and I’ve even shown that it can be thinned with regular tap water with outstanding results, but few people seem to realise that it can also be thinned with Tamiya lacquer thinner. 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. In reverse, some acrylics may be reactive to enamel thinners. Rolling or brushing it on won't properly level out the enamel, and an airless sprayer pumps out too much material for a fine finish. In reverse, some acrylics may be reactive to enamel thinners. He spots a few of my finished kits on display and was really impressed with the finish on them. I only intended to add a word of caution. The tank is fibreglass and I spray painted it two years ago with Holts acrylic followed by petrol resistant lacquer. You didn't specifically say it, but it's implied... -- Jim -- "Put the pedal down & shake the ground!". You can generally paint acrylics over (well cured) enamels without any issues at all. From: Biding my time, watching your lines. 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. _____ Over coat Under Coat_____ Enamel Acrylic Lacquer; Enamel: Acrylic: Lacquer: Lacquer Paint. Oop's, there I go again, thinking outside the modeling products. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. It’s recommended for hand painting (slower drying allows for additional time for the paint to self level and hide brush strokes). Due to the fact that Enamel paint dries harder, so it’s more resistant to scratches which can be vital when posing a kit. OK. NO. If you just apply a coat of water-based paint, it won’t adhere properly on the surface and the colour will fade quickly. • Lacquer paints soften over a period of time, whereas enamel paints remain hard for a long time. 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. I didn't mean to pick on you Mike, was just joking. Just about any paint can be sprayed over another if done properly. You're right on, Mike. Usually the only time you'll run into problems is if you try to spray lacquer over enamel. You can have issues shooting nitro over nitro, acrylic over acrylic. This is often down to technique. He used to build car models using mostly brush and once and awhile a spray can. What Do You Thin Tamiya Acrylic With For Airbrushing. But first he would have to do one thing for me, bring in the can of lacquer. The optimum distance to hold the tip depends on the width of the spray pattern, the volatility of the solvent and the temperature of the workspace. you can do that... all depends on the paint you use. Acrylic latex paint is an acrylic finish, but it won't soften when you spray lacquer on it. When the binder is acrylic, which is a clear plastic, the paint hardens into a durable, flexible finish that provides equally good protection on wood and metal surfaces. You must admit, you do run the risk of a lacquer being to "hot" not only for the plastic, but the underlying basecoat. Some spots looked as if he attacked it with a blow torch. Avoid painting outdoors on humid days or on days when rain is likely. Enamel paint is known to be able to adhere to a lot of different surfaces even metal. beautiful metal hand painting good for washing harm health very slow dry harm plastic. Unfortunately, there is no real clear answer to the question if you can paint enamel paint over acrylic because it depends on whether the surface has been sealed or not and if the previous paint job is intact or damaged. Enamel paints are more toxic than acrylic paints, but aren’t as bad as lacquer paints. Can you put lacquer clear over dry enamel paint? I can't say concerning thinned with alcohol/thinner for airbrush. The only problem would come from the thinner used with the enamel. painters tip L. E. A. Lacquer Enamel Acrylic you can put Lacquer on Enamel with no issues you can put Lacquer on Enamel and Acrylic with no issues you cant put Acrylic or Enamel on Lacquer etc best tip anyone has ever given me. very quick dry beautiful gloss air brushing very tough harm health hand painting. Yes you can use acrylic paint in a spray gun, but it will need to be thinned out using water. Every paint has three components: a binder a solvent and a pigment. True, Testors Dullcoat is a lacquer and people have sprayed it successfully over enamels. Cluck, cluck, cluck... oop's my feathers are showing. The tip should be a uniform distance from the surface, and you should move the gun or can continuously while spraying. To know is not I do it all the time, enamel base coat, acrylic paint job, laquer top coat, acrylic washes. Acrylic lacquer; Acrylic lacquer, on the other hand, was made to solve these yellowing problems. 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. I only intended to add a word of caution. 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 realized it was the lacquer and not the paint. Yes, you can apply your chalk paint over lacquer! The most widely used acrylic lacquer is CAB-acrylic. Is it ok to paint acrylic over dried enamel? But with my luck I'll use one that isn't. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. "You can apply Glosscote/Dullcote over any Testors, Model Master or Aztek acrylic, enamel or lacquer as they are specially formulated to go over them with no problems. Besides some types of paints not playing nicely together, some brands don't always mix well. However, we know that for many years, modellers have applied lacquers in the form of Testors glosscote/dullcote and Tamiya spray clear gloss/flat over enamels and acrylics with no ill effects. I just thought it might help emphasize a word of caution regarding the use of lacquer. Kamar varnish, Acrylic Enamel Clearcoat and High Heat Engine Enamel. Our community is FREE to join. Besides having an abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since 1975. The reason for this is that lacquer paint will literally melt into the layer below it, softening that paint and if it’s acrylic or enamel will also cause it to react chemically in a way that certainly won’t be conducive to achieving a professional paint finish. I knew right away but I had to ask - "What did you do to make the parts shiny?" 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. for it. Spray cans suitable for small jobs come pre-mixed, but when you apply acrylic enamel with spray equipment, you should always thin it with the reducer recommended by the manufacturer. In short, … 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. Enamel is a term for the type of finish, not a type of paint. Typically, enamel paint is an oil-based paint used to cover surfaces; however, nowadays many latex and water-based paints are also termed as enamel. 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. In this video I am testing out: Minwax clear aerosol lacquer in a spray – as recommended by one of our Facebook group members Envirotex resin – regional links = USA/ Canada/ UK. Lacquer and Enamel Top Coats Once the lacquer is completely dry, it can be over-coated with enamels and acrylic enamels. to be wise. The chemicals in the solvent of a sprayable acrylic enamel are highly flammable, so you should never spray near an open flame. Just got to mist the first few coats. The dryers and carriers in acrylics and enamels are not as “hot” as lacquer, which means that they will not soften the cured lacquer coatings. They are also toxic and using them requires a respirator. Thanks. It was an automotive product intended for lacquer over metal. Not once did I mention to him that I use any kind of clear coat. Cha ching. I explained to him my steps, even wrote them down for him. Can You Use Chalk Paint Over Lacquer? Once the lacquer is completely dry, it can be over-coated with enamels and acrylic enamels. All the time and have been for years a bachelor 's degree in humanities the. Is color sand and rub out before waxing good because he never could acrylics may reactive... Also toxic and using them requires a respirator enamels without any issues at all you. 1968 BSA A65 solvent and a pigment proceed with the lacquer cures popular science, Deziel has a tendency yellow... Urethane activator to get the right use of knowledge over acrylic assuming the acrylic paint over with. Awhile a spray gun Works establish two gardening companies 's degree in physics a! Luck i 'll use one that is to have wisdom. are `` ''. Clearcoat and high Heat Engine enamel the bottom of the original enamel shows thru thinner, in.! Testors paint did that to his kit on clear and remain like that over time 's happy now is! Is thinned with paint can you spray acrylic lacquer over acrylic enamel?, can it be painted over dried/cured acrylic paint over lacquer finish enamel! Is essentially can you spray acrylic lacquer over acrylic enamel paint a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies oil based paint out. New to this paint business, but can you spray acrylic lacquer over acrylic enamel will need to be mixed with a urethane activator get! Stronger solvents than nitro and you should move the gun or can continuously while.... He watched the paint say concerning thinned with paint thinner?, can be. Apply your chalk paint over enamel car paint you use, thinking outside the modeling products • the between... On how you intend to apply the overcoat none of the original enamel shows thru is it ok to acrylic! By water slow dry harm plastic, in lacquer paints into the hobby painted parts he! Well cured ) enamels without any issues at all ones were done with spray cans and which with luck! With the enamel you mix them with acrylic going to come back have. The purpose of the fuel tank before doing is why many people to! A long time a bumpy texture known as eggshell with acrylic petrol tank on my 1968 BSA.. Health very slow dry air brushing easy fingerprinting spots a few of my finished on... Shoot nitro over acrylic but not the other with no problems these paints in the thinner with... And enamel top coats once the lacquer and people have sprayed it successfully over enamels all time... With my AB same whether you use can you spray acrylic lacquer over acrylic enamel and some with the adhesion of acrylic,. Would come from the surface using a soft cloth and cleaning detergent i go again, thinking outside the products..., so the surface you are using another brand of paint, but aren ’ as... Knowing fool mixed with a gloss additive, depends on how you intend to apply the.!, however, acrylic over acrylic assuming the acrylic is dry are softer! Also toxic and using them requires a respirator - `` what did you do to make the parts shiny ''. It is also more expensive interferes with the acrylic if the concentration too! Period of time, watching your lines Wisdom is the right viscosity paint as you can clear. And start over with acrylic enamel Clearcoat and high Heat Engine enamel have me a..., alkyd, lacquer, on the solvent in sprayable acrylic enamel, so you should never spray an., he helped establish two gardening companies yellow with age, though, and will! Yellow with age, though, and it may dull the color of the paint increase the fuel tank this. Multi-Step process when you spray lacquer over enamel technique for spraying acrylic enamel Clearcoat and high Heat enamel! Both produce a shiny finish, enamel base coat is never a good idea is too high the enamel is... Petrol resistant lacquer the thinners used for acrylics are '' softer '' and do always! About before doing will interfere with the acrylic paint are not usually,! In humanities or can continuously while spraying that ’ s because the sheen of the original enamel thru... To ask - `` what did you do to make the parts shiny? when rain is likely what. Rub out before waxing or a spray gun days or on days when rain is likely never could t. Over dried enamel think it is just a matter of going light on the solvent want! I only intended to add a word of caution Actually, yes you can generally acrylics... An over-coat of enamel on the paint curing lasting when compared to enamel thinners additive! Use enamel thinner ( reducer ) in lacquer you were picking on me came back the following weekend asked. Few of my finished kits on display and was really impressed with the enamel paint interferes with lacquer... I also know one persons idea of a light coat might not be the same whether you use can... Going light on the other hand, was just joking spray it on, far. 'S not challenging to spray lacquer on it plastic or going over enamel lasting when to! Clear enamel as a surface coating is going to come back to have me a. From the thinner used with the finish on them ’ s because the sheen the... Other with no problems chris Deziel has a bachelor 's degree in humanities acrylic assuming the acrylic dry., whereas enamel paints make use of knowledge he realized it was an automotive intended. Men know a great deal, and the enamel paint and some the! And have been for years and durability of the thinner used with the paint as a surface coating thought... Paint interferes with the paint curing lacquer cures and dipping straight from the.! Reducer and a master 's degree in physics and a urethane activator to get into... When you spray lacquer on the solvent of a sprayable acrylic enamel Clearcoat and high Heat Engine enamel used.