Why is my Duplicolor paint peeling?

[Jeff]

I sanded duplicolor primer with 400 paper, cleaned it and put down several coats of duplicolor paint. The humidity was medium and I shook the can fairly well. Now when I put on masking tape (for pinstriping) and remove it it is pulling off the paint - and this is not very sticky tape. In places the paint is peeling off in filmy sheets. What in tarnation have I done wrong?

 

[MaxQ]

I sanded duplicolor primer with 400 paper, cleaned it and put down several coats of duplicolor paint. The humidity was medium and I shook the can fairly well. Now when I put on masking tape (for pinstriping) and remove it it is pulling off the paint - and this is not very sticky tape. In places the paint is peeling off in filmy sheets. What in tarnation have I done wrong?

<What in tarnation have I done wrong?>


Nothing.
Same thing happened to me.
Sanded, same brand (duplicolor) primer (the usual prep that gives me good results with Krylon...).

I tried to do a masked flame job on my Richter Recker and even though I used a nice low tack masking tape (Tamiya - not the sticky household type) - it pulled all the adjacent paint off when I pulled the tape up.

I recently used it just for a solid color scheme, (gloss metallic) and even the slightest humidity caused it to fog with a flat finish over much of the rocket..
Duplicolor is a nice no run/drip paint, but that's the only thing good I can say about it.
I will never use Duplicolor again.

 

[Jeff]

I am using Tamiya also - and I purposely overhandled the tape to make it still less tacky. I am thinking of switching to Rustoleum next time

 

[BsSmith]

<What in tarnation have I done wrong?>


Nothing.
Same thing happened to me.
Sanded, same brand (duplicolor) primer (the usual prep that gives me good results with Krylon...).

I tried to do a masked flame job on my Richter Recker and even though I used a nice low tack masking tape (Tamiya - not the sticky household type) - it pulled all the adjacent paint off when I pulled the tape up.

I recently used it just for a solid color scheme, (gloss metallic) and even the slightest humidity caused it to fog with a flat finish over much of the rocket..
Duplicolor is a nice no run/drip paint, but that's the only thing good I can say about it.
I will never use Duplicolor again.

My Duplicolor paint is doing the same thing to me, but I thought it was peeling because I used chrome as a base coat. In the areas where I sanded down the chrome or didn't put any on, I'm not having any problems with peeling. I'm using Kilz primer.

My duplicolor paint is also fogging, but I found that wet sanding it with 600 grit paper and clear coating it makes it go away.

 

[bguffer]

I sanded duplicolor primer with 400 paper, cleaned it and put down several coats of duplicolor paint. The humidity was medium and I shook the can fairly well. Now when I put on masking tape (for pinstriping) and remove it it is pulling off the paint - and this is not very sticky tape. In places the paint is peeling off in filmy sheets. What in tarnation have I done wrong?

What type of Duplicolor primer (gray filler primer or white primer)?
What kind of masking tape (yellow, green, blue)? I think i've read green can stick too much.
Does anyone know if you can sand the primer coat at too fine of a grit? Maybe a rougher primer coat is better for adhesion?

I have seen the film pullup as you describe with Duplicolor and Krylon paints, though in fairness the Krylon paint experience happened when removing electrical tape.

 

[Jeff]

Tamiya masking tape - not very tacky. I am also thinking that 320 grit paper would have been better - I used 400 and I am thinking that maybe the paint didn't have much to bite into. Or maybe it was too humid? And I used the gray primer.

 

[rocketsmith]

Always use some sort of pre paint prep like mar hyde total prep. Then tack the entire airframe. A blow-off nozzle and a compressor will not remove the fine layer of dust on a sanded airframe. Most likely the dust that remains is why you are having problems with tape over lifting. Good luck, paint problems suck, David B. Smith.

 

[stantonjtroy]

Does anyone know if you can sand the primer coat at too fine of a grit? Maybe a rougher primer coat is better for adhesion?

I do finish work on aircraft and spacecraft components by trade and we never use anything finer than 320 on primer prior to topcoat. Typically we use 220 on prep coats and 320 dry as a final before prime. Another thing to consider; Is the Duplicolor being used a "Base coat" paint or a "single stage"? Basecoat paints need to be clearcoated for proper adhesion and protection. Additionally you need to use the proper clear. Any old clear may not always do. After you do your sanding, whipe the surface down with rubbing alcohol, dry completely then tac whipe. As for tape, Green mask has a medium tac like many blue tapes. The green is special in that you can leave it on for a few weeks and it won't overbond as with regular mask.
FWIW

 

[Jeff]

I am using the paint as a base coat and I will use the Duplicolor clear coat after. And I am planning on using lots of the clearcoat to hopefully protect the delicate (wussy) not-very-adhesive paint.

 

[stantonjtroy]

Actually you don't want to use too much clear. Two to three medium coats will be plenty. Standard clear is not formulated for more. Solvent entrapment and gummy finishes are but a couple of the problems of too much clear.
Best of luck.

 

[luke strawwalker]

I am using the paint as a base coat and I will use the Duplicolor clear coat after. And I am planning on using lots of the clearcoat to hopefully protect the delicate (wussy) not-very-adhesive paint.

If the base coat isn't adhering well, a heavy dose of clear may well make things worse, not better-- the clear adheres to the base coat, and more clear just means more weight trying to pull the base coat loose.

I'd do some paint tests and try to figure out why you're not getting better adhesion.

Good luck! OL JR

 

[Jeff]

Thanks - first thing I am doing is waiting until the humidity dips down. I also picked up some removable 3M tape which has a very low tack. Thanks for the advice on the clearcoat.