Paint chipping solution

[acehobojoe]

What is the best way to prevent chipping? I have used clearcoat, but maybe I haven't used enough. Is there a better solution? I am using krylon spray on paint.

[GibsonGM]

Lots of guys bake their paint on with a small toaster oven.  This makes is pretty hard before it's ever clear-coated, and only takes a little while.   Are you doing this already?    There are many posts about it on here.

The only other way to make it more hard, IMO, is to wait after you top coat it, then clear coat it a couple of weeks later.  Paint "dries" to a point, then CURES for up to 2 weeks.  It's not 'ready for action'  1 or 2 days later, unfortunately.

[acehobojoe]

Do you think a top coat would greatly improve the strength as opposed to the regular acrylic? I will definitely try the toaster oven.

[thelonious]

It depends on the top coat. Envirotex or another kind of pour-on clear would make it pretty tough.
Make sure you get a dedicated toaster over at a thrift store! Paint chemicals do not pair well with your toast in the morning.

[duck_arse]

I've been known to use a 25W lightbulb in a cardboard box as a toaster oven.

but not for toast.

[GGBB]

What is the best way to prevent chipping? I have used clearcoat, but maybe I haven't used enough. Is there a better solution? I am using krylon spray on paint.

How is it/what is chipping?  The clear coat?  The paint and clear coats?  The primer and paint and clear coats?

[thelonious]

The big 2k! It's a milestone.

[duck_arse]

ahh, geeze, I missed it. I was supposed to do screen shots and quotes and stuff. thanks, thelonious, but it's gone, now.

[bluebunny]

ahh, geeze, I missed it.

Hmmm...  that'll be the "P2K" problem.

(I know, I know, getting my coat now...)

[Quackzed]

prymah

[GibsonGM]

I've been known to use a 25W lightbulb in a cardboard box as a toaster oven.

but not for toast.

Congrats, Duck!    And pithy, at that, ha ha!

[vigilante397]

I used to have the same problem, but I took the advice of several members and rolled them together into my technique:

2-3 coats of primer, baking in between
light sanding with REALLY fine sandpaper to smooth out finish
3-5 coats of paint (keep going until it looks good then do one more), baking in between
light sanding (as necessary)
3-4 coats of clearcoat baking in between

I religiously use Rustoleum primer, paint, and clearcoat. Each cycle of baking entails 8-10 minutes in my $8 thrift store oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

There may be better ways out there, but this has worked pretty well for me. I've tried just baking the paint and not the clearcoat, and it just doesn't protect the finish very well.

[amptramp]

I've been known to use a 25W lightbulb in a cardboard box as a toaster oven.

but not for toast.

Sounds like a lower-wattage version of the Easy bake oven that used a 100 W lamp.

[acehobojoe]

hehe, thanks guys for all the responses. I think I'll try vigilante's thing. If you're wondering what is chipping, it's everything. I use krylon paint and it just chips off, maybe I'm not drying it enough, but I'm sure getting the technique right will make it great. From what I've heard, we all need to do powdercoating.. It seems a lot better. I think I'll get a gun and all when I get a spare 150$

[vigilante397]

From what I've heard, we all need to do powdercoating.. It seems a lot better.

Powdercoating is an AMAZING option if you have the money for it. I've used two professionally powdercoated enclosures and they were awesome. But I'm afraid I'm cheap 

[PRR]

If it chips all the way to the metal, your metal isn't clean enough, or could be rougher.

[davent]

I sand with 220, clean with acetone then prime with self etching primer, over that  BIN Sealer/Primer. Paint is artists acrylics, clear is a waterborne spraying lacquer, stands up to my gentle abuse.

[GGBB]

If you're wondering what is chipping, it's everything. I use krylon paint and it just chips off

Do this:

If it chips all the way to the metal, your metal isn't clean enough, or could be rougher.

And this:

prymah

Surface prep is key.  The box needs to be sanded down first to fresh metal (240 grit) and then cleaned thoroughly and primed.  No ordinary paint like Krylon will stick well enough to bare aluminum, even when properly prepped, to stand up to stompbox abuse - not even sure there's any paint that will.  Baking gains you nothing if surface prep isn't done right.

[Quackzed]

...yep, get the box clean and rough via 220 grit, prime, dont sand the primer either, well unless its REALLY rough, and even then stick to a light going over with 220 dont sand through! let everything get real dry between coats. give everything something to grab onto!

[duck_arse]

I've been known to use a 25W lightbulb in a cardboard box as a toaster oven.

but not for toast.

Congrats, Duck!    And pithy, at that, ha ha!

thanks, gibson, but I have a nasty suspicion that may have been 1999, and I was off derailing a thread somewhere else, with some stupid comment like:

I've been known to use a 25W lightbulb in a cardboard box as a toaster oven.

but not for toast.

Sounds like a lower-wattage version of the Easy bake oven that used a 100 W lamp.

did the man cook that baby hisself? how'd he fit it in?

       coat?