Epoxy headache

[The Dad Fisherman]

A clear Scuff coat....I've been using E-Tex in a spraycan....I'm sure there is something better that these guys use....I'm still a rookie myself But its been working for me

[Canalman]

Paul,

a few things I know of may cause that problem and the fact that you are using rattle cans narrows it down even more. I'd say you are either...

-Laying your paint on too thick. most paints dry from the substrate out to the surface. Spray paints are designed to dry quickly so, if the paint is really layed on there the surface will dry while the paint closer to the plug will remain soft and full of solvents. As the solvents make their way out they will force the epoxy to let go.

-Not allowing enough time between coats of paint. For the same reasons listed above, if paint is not given ample time to dry before being recoated it will hold its solvents and lift the clear.

-Scuffing may also help as Scott suggested, but I don;t believe scuffing alone will solve that problem. Usually adhesion problems will not become apparent right away.

It sounds like solvents are trapped and affecting the cure of the epoxy.

Hope this helps... use light coats and follow lable directions for dry time, recoat time and application.

[Tagger]

about 3 days to a week for sealer..val oil/turp,,,24hrs. between all coats no matter what the can says.. by coats i'm talking primer,paint,scratch coat,,if your doing a multy step paint job say spray can 24 hrs. then another coat scales ,,accents.. another 24 hrs.. haste makes waste

[UserRemoved1]

Dave is right, and one of the things that I thought of when I seen those pics was solvent flashing off. Every time you spray a layer you actually re-solvenate/attack the layers below if everything is compatible. If you trap solvents like that then you will have problems later on. This was one of the things I had a problem with a few years ago and ended up hiring a coatings consultant to review my processes and make suggestions of a better way to do it. My particular problem was coming from the sealer/primer stage.
Two ways to paint...wet on wet is best for some stuff, or let each layer dry and then another coat. You'd be surprised how long it takes solvent or latex paint to dry with multiple coats. Either way you have to let it dry alot before the topcoat.