what brand spray paints are enamel or lacquer?

I know that in painting a normal model rocket you don’t spray lacquer over enamel because it will burn the finish. But paint cans from most hardware/craft stores don’t always say what they are. I’m holding spray cans of Rustolium and Krylon and the words lacquer and enamel are not on the labels anywhere. I’d like to build a list of Brand name spray paints and identify them as either lacquer or enamel, such as “Duplicolor-enamel, Krylon- lacquer” etc. There’s a lot of paints out there when you’re shopping and how do you know if the paint you bought at hobby lobby is compatible with what you got at home depot? Certainly this forum knows, so what brand spray paints are enamel and what are lacquer?

Almost all spray paints are now enamel, including Rustoleum and Krylon. The only places I can find lacquer spray cans now are auto parts shops, and even then, they carry only black & white. Lacquer is available in small cans from hobby shops, under the Testors or Model Master names. Rustoleum does make a line of lacquer spray paints in just a few colors, but stores rarely carry it - it's clearly labelled "Lacquer", all other Rustoleum is enamel. Krylon makes a lacquer line called "Krylon Industrial Acryli-Quik", available online, but I've never seen it in stores. All other Krylon is enamel. All store-brand spray paints are now enamel (Ace, Farm& Fleet, etc.). 10 or so years ago, one could readily get lacquer in stores, now it's nearly non-existent.

Most Duplicolor paints are lacquer

dpower said:

Almost all spray paints are now enamel, including Rustoleum and Krylon.

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That's true, except for spray primer which is almost always lacquer. Which is important because you can paint with anything over lacquer primer.

SDramstad said:

Most Duplicolor paints are lacquer

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All Duplicolor Perfect Match in small rattlecans is lacquer.

Correct, the Duplicolor rattlecans are lacquer. I used Duplicolor on a rocket once, and while the spray lays on really nice and the finished product looks good, it is a fragile surface. If you put a piece of masking tape on it (months later, mind you), it will lift the paint off of the primer--I found out the hard way, which did not make me happy. The primer was a Duplicolor product too, so you would think they would hold together better. Fortunately, it sands off pretty easily, and that rocket now wears a coat of Krylon enamel. Not automotive-grade paint, but it will do.

Don't forget that Tamiya sells small cans of lacquer; I've been using them a fair bit. I've also had good results using their 6mm yellow masking tape to mask with.

Tamiya is indeed excellent paint, and their yellow masking tape is the best that I have found. I build only high-power, usually 3" and 4" diameter, and I would need a LOT of those cans to cover a typical rocket.

Edit: On my projects, I use the Tamiya tape at the actual color transition line, then use 3M blue tape for the rest of the area that needs to be covered.

MoreCowbell said:

Tamiya is indeed excellent paint, and their yellow masking tape is the best that I have found. I build only high-power, usually 3" and 4" diameter, and I would need a LOT of those cans to cover a typical rocket.

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Yes, I can see where that would be a problem.

Bill S said:

Don't forget that Tamiya sells small cans of lacquer; I've been using them a fair bit. I've also had good results using their 6mm yellow masking tape to mask with.

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Where do you source Tamiya paints?
I've checked local hobby stores before shut down (Hobby Lobby and Michael's), and neither carried Tamiya. HL stocks Tamiya masking tape (great stuff), but not the paints.
HL carries Testers paint, which I tried, and found to be no better than Wallmart rattle cans (at 4x the price).

TIA

The best place I've found is https://www.scalehobbyist.com/ I've ordered several times with no problems.

Bill S said:

The best place I've found is https://www.scalehobbyist.com/ I've ordered several times with no problems.

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Thank you.
Ordered.

Hobbylinc also carries a selection of Testors and Tamiya lacquer paints although not cheap at all.
https://www.hobbylinc.com/hobby-and-model-paint

Years ago I liked the Krylon paint that had a recoat anytime formula...later found out it was lacquer based. They changed the formula and I was not happy! Now I have found the Krylon Acryli-Quik Lacquer and it's great like the old Krylon! In working on an Estes Interceptor E, I found a Matte Racing Orange Acrylic Lacquer by Rustoleum for the wing tanks that is good match for the color art!

billeblurzz said:

Now I have found the Krylon Acryli-Quik Lacquer and it's great like the old Krylon! In working on an Estes Interceptor E, I found a Matte Racing Orange Acrylic Lacquer by Rustoleum for the wing tanks that is good match for the color art!

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Are those found in stores or only available online?

I got the Krylon Acryli-Quik from Grainger Supply online...One day shipping! The Rustoleum product i found in an Auto-Zone.

Thanks to all for this thread. I've had more paint issues on the last two projects than almost all my previous rockets (mostly my fault I think due to weather conditions). I stopped by WM this morning on the way home from work to get some Krylon gray and white primer, but the only Krylon primer I found was this. Has anybody used this and what were your results.

If its any similar to the Rustoleum sandable filler, its great for filling in light surface imperfections

MoreCowbell said:

Correct, the Duplicolor rattlecans are lacquer. I used Duplicolor on a rocket once, and while the spray lays on really nice and the finished product looks good, it is a fragile surface. If you put a piece of masking tape on it (months later, mind you), it will lift the paint off of the primer--I found out the hard way, which did not make me happy. The primer was a Duplicolor product too, so you would think they would hold together better. Fortunately, it sands off pretty easily, and that rocket now wears a coat of Krylon enamel. Not automotive-grade paint, but it will do.

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MC:
Thanks for the heads up on this issue.... Im shooting Dupli on my current build and will try something to bond paint to primer (Adhesion Primer) maybe?

I have not had any issues with Dupli Color peeling off Pine Wood Derby cars I built in the past but I used blue painters tape as well, I have repainted cars months after they were 1st painted and never lifted, guess I'll hit the car box and see what happens... We spend a ton of time build and prepping these beauties and to have paint peel off sux....

Again Thanks for the heads up....

Victor

I have switched to the rustoleum primer rattle can, Good price. Dries fast, Sands very well. Top coat seems to adhere well. Home depot sells a six pack for less than thirty bucks.

Bob Touch said:

I have switched to the rustoleum primer rattle can, Good price. Dries fast, Sands very well. Top coat seems to adhere well. Home depot sells a six pack for less than thirty bucks.

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This has been my standby for years and primed many rockets.