Spray painting

[Black_Moons]

Hi, I tryed spraypainting some parts last week, but the paint is still dentable with a fingernail. Im using Tremclad 'Professional' enamel paint, And applyed it as follows in a 14c envorment, And have tryed putting the part infront of a heater for a few days with little effect.

the paint says to wait 10 to 20 mins beween recoats, with a max time of 1 hour or wait 48 hours

Did the following with the part infront of the heater, so it likey got 20~30c air passing over it.

Painted 3 layers of primer, with 15 mins wait time beween, The coats where think enough to have good coverage, but not quite 100% coverage with each coat, more like 75%, so no runs.

Waited about 10 extra mins for the paint to dry, then fliped the part over.
painted the back side with 3 coats of primer, 15 mins inbeween coats.
Waited about 10 extra mins for the paint to dry, then fliped it back over.
painted 3 coats of black, 15 mins apart, about the same coverage as the primer each coat.
Waited about 10 extra mins for the paint to dry, then fliped it back over.
painted 3 coats of black, 15 mins apart, about the same coverage as the primer each coat.

So basicly I put 3 coats of primer on each side of the part, and then 3 layers of black semigloss topcoat, with about 55 mins beween primer and topcoat.
One thing I noticed was even after 25 mins, the primer still not fully touch dry, and where the primer contacted the block it rested on, it riped off on the next part flip. So I guess I really do have to suspend the parts and paint both sides at once.

Now, my main issue with the resulting job, is its just still soft even after a week of drying infront of a space heater.

Should I have used thinner coats? It seemed pertty much 100% coverage after the 2nd coat, but I put a 3rd on to insure it was thick. I want a durable paint and assumed thickness+number of coats is the way to get it. Is that wrong?
Should I wait the 48+ hours recommended after X number of coats? What is X number? Should I wait even longer?

Should I do less or thinner primer coats and let it dry before topcoat?
Does a primer even need 100% perfect coverage or should it be more like a very light, slightly spotty coat?

[Tinkerer]

Should of waited for the primer to fully die. Then applied to top coat. Else when laid down it has the tendency to soften the primer.

Then again could be old stock... I had an issue with some 8500 series Low VOC Industrial paint $70 bucks a gal. purchase date was week old. Call manufacture to complain after running the code it was 5 year old stock they claimed it should be good for 6. Told them they needed to reevaluate the pot time. They replaced the paint... primer and thinner but I lost 20 hours time. Never had any trouble with the old 7400.

But as posted before should let primer fully set before top coating.

You'll just have to wait it out it should harder eventually.

[Black_Moons]

Thanks, I'll let the primer cure for 48 hours next time. (Should I leave it longer?)

Anyone else wanna awnser any of my other questions, Like how many primer coats, what kinda coverage per coat I should be using, if I should sand it after letting the primer cure? What grit? (I assume around 800?)

[vpt]

Wipe down parts good with acetone before primer and it will stick good.

[MotorradMike]

Do you have a license to perform this work?

[vpt]

Yeah don't forget the license and spray permit. I hope it isn't rainy the day of the spray permit.

[darryl]

Likely that since the surface is now cured, it's preventing the remaining solvents from dissipating. Now it will take time- a couple of months wouldn't surprise me. Or bake at a low heat for an extended period of time.

[bborr01]

BM,

Wasn't the quote on that paint job $75?

I kind of admire your tenacity, but..........

Brian

[JoeLee]

That is why I like using two part primers and paints. They will cure no matter what........ within reason.
Applying paint over soft primer......... both will cure, cool temp. just takes a bit longer.

JL.................

[CCWKen]

I'm no expert on enamel but that sounds like an awful lot of coats. It may take six months to fully cure. Did you, perhaps, read the directions? Three coats of primer sounds like overkill. I think you'll see it start to wrinkle in a few days to a week.