Final Paint Woes.

[Kurt_]

When I paint my portable, in some spots (they tend to be the same spots, around the buttons and d-pad) get a cracking effect, where paint peels upwards as soon as it is applied. What causes this? Humidity? Dirt?

Any similar experiences or solutions? I just need to touch up the paint job before I release this thing to the world.

[dman762000]

one word, body oil, ok well 2 words before appliying paint you must make sure the thing is clean, you can wash it or use a little paint thinner on a rag to wipe the whole thing down, do you have anything in that area that is possibly oily, that can do it too

[Kurt_]

I figured it was something like this. I'm always very careful not to touch it and give it a wipe down with a cloth before applying paint. But the spots where this is occurring a simple wipe wouldn't get all of it. I'll try one last time, cleaning the area thoroughly (q-tip and all!) before I paint.

[dman762000]

remember to use something like paint thinner to get all the stuff off, if that is not available then get some of the unscented, no-dye nail polish remover, but not any of that non acetone stuff, all nail polish remover is is paint thinner anyway

[whistler]

don't just use paint thinner, there are many types of paint thinner out there and most of them are crap. use acrylic lacquer thinner. try your best to find the stuff that is "virgin" as in not recycled. regular paint thinners are full of mineral spirits which is an oil all on its own. most department stores have a automobile paint section. look there. and yes, it is very much the oil from your hands and small things like that. also, most paints arnt meant to stick to the various substrates that people seem to be using. there are paitns in aerosol format that are meant to stick to plastics. those are the good ones, such as SEM, or Krylon. both stick damn good. heres a good rule, if the cleaner u are using makes your fingers oily, DONT USE IT. other than that ur good.

[dman762000]

good advice whistler, but i would add one thing, some acrylic laquer thinners can cause some paints to get a "fishskin" its not from the oils or anything it just causes the paint not to dry right and it wrinkles up looking like fishskin

[whistler]

yes that can happen lol. i work in a automotive paint store so we get to see that sort of thing happen a lot. thats what happens when you use non virgin thinner. they recycle it at the manufactures. its pretty much already used gun wash that they kick up a notch with more acetone. not good stuff. u get it on your hands and u can see that even after it evaporates off, you can still see a film. good gun wash, aka virgin lacquer thinner evaporates very clean. you should see it, lol we still get people coming into my store that still wipe their paint jobs down with gasoline lol.