enclosure painting issues

[Widows]

Hi again, I'm having some issues with getting an aluminium enclosre painted.
It has been primered and that layer seems fine but when adding the paint (just your standard graffitti spray paint) the paint layer cracks and peels as it dries. what am i missing here?
Thanks :-)

[amptramp]

What kind of primer and what kind of paint did you use?  Some combinations are incompatible.  Also, what drying time and temperature did you use for each material?  Not that I would be much help with this, but the people who can help you are going to ask.

[GibsonGM]

Just at a glance, it looks like two different 'families' of primer/paint.  Like amptramp said, some are incompatible.  The only other thing I am hearing looks a lot like oil, grease or some type of thing on the primer, making it not bond correctly.  But that's probably not what happened, right?  *shrug*

You didn't toss it in an oven to dry it, did you?

[Mark Hammer]

Using toaster ovens to assist curing paint requires diligence in temperature setting.  Keep in mind that cheap toaster ovens do not provide "precision" temperature setting.  What it says on the chassis may not be the actual temperature, soconsider setting it a little lower than you might otherwise think.

Also keep the box as far away from the heating elements as the over permits.  Keep in mind that the unit is designed to achieve the indicated temperature throughout the oven, with the most intense heat coming from the element itself.

Lastly, light coats!  All too often, I make the mistake of spraying on just a bit too much.  The paint gathers along the bottom edge of the chassis, and when it comes out of the toaster oven, the top is great but the bottom skirt is all crunchy and bubbly.  Not good.

[Widows]

It's not actually me that's doing the painting, I have neither the skill or the gear/space to do it so I asked a friend to help me out andd I'm asking on his behalf. As far as I know, he's just been using regular graffitti type spray paint, then leaving it to dry at room temp. That said, we've had some hot days the last week or two so room temp has been pretty high...although probably not as high as inside a toaster overn ;-)

[GibsonGM]

How about humidity - has that been high, too?  BAD for spray paints!  And a primer IS required, after you thoroughly degrease/clean the box, if you want it to stay on there.    Don't let it cure in the direct sunlight, either - drying too fast makes a 'weak bond', if you will.

Just stuff you need to play around with, and then you'll find 'the way' that works for you!  Or he will, or whatever. 

[duck_arse]

find yourself a "chromer", s/he will know.

[old_person]do the kids still call them chromers?[/old_person]

[bluebunny]

[old_person]   (...blah...)   [/old_person]

LOL! 

[quad]

Here's what I use:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fuaiobpyvb5n48i/IMG_0358.JPG

Primer -> matte paint (acryl) -> clear varnish (acryl). Primer dries up in about 10 - 20 minutes. Matte paint dries up around the same. It takes 2 - 3 hours for the clear varnish to harden up. Though usually I leave it alone through the night.

[Widows]

nice one quad. I'll get him to look into em. Many thanks!

[quad]

You're welcome. This combination works okay for me.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wcr3in8xfqu32y8/BM.jpg

[Widows]

Daaaaaaaamn that's sexy

[R O Tiree]

@ quad - could you provide catalogue numbers and/or paint ranges, please? I went to the Motip site and it's huge! Thanks.

[Widows]

OK, so I'm back with a very small update here.

My guy was using a brand of paint called Montana 94, this was the one he was having trouble with the paint cracking etc. He has since switched to Montana Gold and it seems to be all good now, fingers crossed. I'll post up some pics when I get the finished enclosures back :-)