Ok guys, I am in a pinch. In two weeks I have a group build deadline, that I can’t really miss, becuase I am also taking it to the IPMS Nats in Phoenix in August. Putting it together won’t be a problem. Letting the paint dry will. So what would you guys recommend to do some quick drying on paint?
I am using:
Flat enamels. I just painted the bottom of my Corsair few minutes ago. When it is dry I will mask the bottom, and then paint the upper fuselage color. After that is dry, I will future. Once that is dry I will decal, then future, then flatcoat. Usually I would wait a minimum of 2-3 days in between each step. Is there a way to knock it down to 1? Keep in mind, I do not have anytime to build a drying booth (though I plan on doing so in a month or so!) What would you do?! Thanks.
I would say that 1 day would probably be enough if you are using enamels and it is drying in a fairly warm area. You may be able to speed up the drying process of the paint by using a hair dryer on the paint at a lower heat setting and keeping the hair dryer moving.
I would give the Future 48 hours though if you are going to weather over it just to be safe and make sure it is good and dry.
Be careful of heat so it doesn’t melt or crackle the paint (or plastic!) I’d think a low-wattage (e.g. 25 watts) in a fireproof box would be pretty decent.
Hair dryers can be used if you :
first wait until it’s dry enough so as to not have the paint surface capture dust (blow drying can kick up a lot of dust)
be very careful because many hair dryers can put out a lot of heat and damage plastic and paint.
I’m probably one of the most impatient people in the world and I hate to wait for paint to dry.
You are lucky in that you are using flat paints since they dry faster than gloss for some reason. I have, in the past, painted enamel over enamel after giving it an hour to dry. I don’t like to, and it has caused problems before. Note that I didn’t say it was a good idea, only that I’ve done it in a pinch.
To speed up drying time I usually use a fan. Let the surface dry to the touch so the paint is pretty much leveled out, take a box with one side cut out, put the model in it, and sit the fan on the side you cut out. The box walls will cause the air to bounce around and circulate some instead of just blowing over the model surface.
Some years back, someone in Florida sent an article to FSM’s “Tips and Techniques” column about how he modified a food dehydrator to use as a model paint dryer. The dehydrator offers low heat and dry air, which was a big help in the humid climate where he lived. You might try to find that article; perhaps Lawrence can find it and post what issue the tip was in on this thread.
I set it to a low heat and from a distance blow away. The rreal risk is not paying attention, cause of bordo, or getting too close and aiming at antennas and such delicate arts.
It’s important to clean the room from dust, you dont want it on your paint job!
kik36,
I just saw a drying booth at the hobby link japan website that was made by gunze sangyo. a bit expensive though. here’s the link: www.hlj.com/scripts/hljpage.cgi?GNZGT04
I guess I’m lucky. The room I use to spray paint in is the utility room. This room has the washer and dryer in it and if I run the clothes dryer right after painting my paint is usually dry to the touch in 10 minutes. I haven’t had any problems with dust in the room as I have an air extracter in there above the dryer. It pulls the dust but leaves the hot, dry air. Which defeated the purpose of putting it in.