acrylic on enamel

ozzman

I have a question, that's probably been asked a thousand times: Will acrylic paint stick to something painted with enamels? Or will there be some problems.

Acrylic paint will cover enamel but will not "stick". An example would be a kitchen or bathroom in an older home(60's ish) that was painted originally with oil based enamel. Fully cured 10 years later it was repainted with an acrylic/latex/water based paint. Hey!  boy that looks great!!  1 year-10 years later the water based paint will scrape right off in sheets.   Oil and Water don't mix without a bonder/primer between the two surfaces.

Dr

Ahh, I see. Yes, Tamiya's metallics can be a bit problematic to mask over.

I think the problem is that the metallic particles are quite coarse (esp. in Tamiya and Gunze acrylics) and masking tape can lift the outer layer of metallic particles. particularly in the case of the flat metallics like Flat alumimium and metallic grey.

Applying a clear gloss coat can help "bind" these loose particles, but often that alters the appearance of the metallic. 

I have very few problems with the "solid" colours, even without primer.

Phil_H

hkshooter:

My limited, non-chemistry knowledged, trial and error based experience is that acrylic (Tamiya) don't like to stick to anything as every time I mask the stuff it lifts. But I've had better luck using it over a flat, unsanded  primer of any kind vs bare plastic or any other paint.

I've never had significant problems with Tamiya acrylic not sticking, and I don't often use a primer. I have to ask, what are you thinning your paint with?

I use Tamiya X20A exclusively to thin Tamiya acrylics. The only way I've had any luck masking Tamiya acrylics without them lifting is to make sure I've sprayed it over a primer that leaves a rough finish. I built an Avia B.534 last winter and used Tamiya acrylics. Base coat was Tamiya flat aluminum. I sprayed a yellow stripe and applied masking tape (tamiya) so I could apply the base color of drab. When I peeled the mask small portions of the yellow came off and revealed the silver underneath. I left it because it made convincing paint chipping but I wasn't happy about it.
That's the last but not the only example of problems I've had with the paint. I've learned that if I expect to mask something that I use only enamels for that color. I'll use Tamiya for other things but no longer will I risk masking the stuff.

hkshooter

Hey Manny! C'mon over here and answer this guys question will ya?!

LOL... I am surprised he hasn't yet.

hkshooter

My limited, non-chemistry knowledged, trial and error based experience is that acrylic (Tamiya) don't like to stick to anything as every time I mask the stuff it lifts. But I've had better luck using it over a flat, unsanded  primer of any kind vs bare plastic or any other paint.

I've never had significant problems with Tamiya acrylic not sticking, and I don't often use a primer. I have to ask, what are you thinning your paint with?

LMAO!!!

Hey Manny! C'mon over here and answer this guys question will ya?!

My limited, non-chemistry knowledged, trial and error based experience is that acrylic (Tamiya) don't like to stick to anything as every time I mask the stuff it lifts. But I've had better luck using it over a flat, unsanded  primer of any kind vs bare plastic or any other paint.

It should stick with no problems.  I usually paint with Testors MM enamals and use some Tamiya acrylics over them and have never had an issue.

Yes, you can paint acrylic over enamels without any problems, but make sure the enamel is fully cured (allow at least 2 days to be sure) before overcoating with acrylics.