Help, my acrylic lacquer is still tacky..

[syzygy]

I tried baking in a toaster at 150 to 200 degrees for 4 thirty minute sessions, and it's still a bit tacky and smells sweet.  Granted I did put on a few thick coats of the stuff.  It's the Duplicolor Truck and Van Top Coat.  Should I continue to bake it longer, or just leave it alone, and if so for how long?  Underneath the top coat is a water slide decal and under that is several coats of Duplicolor Metalcast, and under that is their Adhesion Promoter.

Thanks!

[ildar]

Is the enclosure aluminum?
On the paint and primer cans, is your enclosure material listed as compatible? If not, it is not compatible.
Finally, baking paint on enclosures is a pet peeve of mine. There is specific material that is intended to be baked on, most notably certain enamels. Otherwise heat is a method of removing paint. Most paint doesn't fully cure-drying and curing are two vastly different things- for up to 30 days.

[Eric H]

Is the enclosure aluminum?

Finally, baking paint on enclosures is a pet peeve of mine. There is specific material that is intended to be baked on, most notably certain enamels. .

Exactly. True enamels cure by oxidation (heat helps)  lacquer dries by evaporation of the solvent. if it's applied too thick, and with too little time between coats, it takes much longer for the solvent to migrate to the surface. Heating a thick lacquer coat can make this problem worse --it doesn't help.

-Eric

[MartyMart]

I have a red "dynacomp" build from over six months ago, when I put it down on a solid
surface IT STILL STICKS !!  so is still a bit "tacky"   
It has quite a few "thumb prints" in it too  gggrrrr !!!

Marty.

[syzygy]

Ok, thanks for the insight guys, the enclosure is an aluminum Hammond box.  Before, I thought my heating had hardened the lacquer somewhat, but maybe that's just a coincidence.   It seems like the tackiness is less, and maybe almost gone.

Marty, sorry to hear that your pedal still sticks after MONTHS.. that can be a downer after working so hard on a pedal.  I guess there is always the last resort of sanding off and completely redoing the metal enclosure.  It would have to be in a pretty bad shape for someone to go use that last resort, I think.