Leaving Paint Jobs in the Sun?

[GabrielGoes]

After your done spraying whatever i heard its good to leave the paint in the sun while its still wet to let it "cure" faster and bake it... generally speaking is this completely wrong? any opinions?

[Adler]

in this thread... http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...=165232&page=2 ... Nessism does it... And it seems like his paint jobs are pretty top notch.

[rustybronco]

Let me pose a question to you. what would be the difference of "baking" it in the sun, or turning on the heat in a paint booth to "bake it"? the object is to get it to dry faster.

no, it would not matter.

***edit*** here's an example> http://www.tcpglobal.com/docs/ppgdccp.pdf

Drying Times: DCX9
Between Coats: 10 – 15 minutes
Dust Free 30 – 50 minute
Tack Free 2 – 31/2 hours
Tape Free 8 – 10 hours
Air Dry: 6 – 8 hours @ 70°
Purge Time 0 – 10 minutes
Force Dry 40 minutes @ 140° 15 – 25 minutes

[Nunzio]

After your done spraying whatever i heard its good to leave the paint in the sun while its still wet to let it "cure" faster and bake it... generally speaking is this completely wrong? any opinions?

I wouldn't do it, too hard to control the temperature. The surface temp will be too high. You can cause the paint to shrink too much, especially the primer underneath. This will cause any sanding scratched to show up.

Most base colors can be taped over in 20 minutes or so anyway and then you can apply the next color.

The clear is a photo chemical reaction anyway. Meaning there are only so many molecules of the clear that react with the hardener. The paint generates some heat when curing and raising temperature 90-100 degrees ambient will accelerate the molecules reaction.

[rustybronco]

Just discussing... primer shrinkage can be caused by quite a few things, but not limited to, the wrong primer being used for the application, too high of a primer build, or the solvent not fully evaporated.

[Macguyver]

Shrinkage can be caused by cold water too!
Oh wait, that's something else entirely.

The biggest problem with setting stuff in the sun is that it will cause uneven heating of the surface, which could potentially cause problems if the layers under the paint aren't completely cured.

This can lead to shrinkage, and solvent pop when the unreleased solvents in the layers underneath get heated and all want to escape at once. Creating a surface mottled with pinholes in the topcoat.

If you must set stuff in the sun to cure, make sure that you let the part gas off for 10-15 minutes after every coat to make sure solvent pop won't be an issue, and keep turning the part to ensure even heating of the surface.

I prefer to bake parts instead of subjecting them to the elements, and this keeps the bugs off of my fresh paint too! IMO, there is nothing more frustrating than having a paint job lay down perfect, and then have a bug land right in the middle of it!

[Hammered]

Im not a fan of direct sun exposure for curing because of the UV and uneven heat. The best method Ive had luck with not having a cure oven, was a room temp, dust free area and time. May take longer but youll never have issues with any of the coats or vinyl decals out gassing. Before I packed up and moved out of SC, I had a little homemade downdraft setup for painting. Kept over spray down and kept dust non existent.

[rustybronco]

I guess we in the back yards of America, have to make do with what we have.

http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/rustybronco/?action=view&current=pictures087.jpg&newest=1

My Skunk will get the "deluxe" paint booth treatment. I have the use of a paint booth for the whole weekend whenever I need it

[chuck hahn]

are those skunk parts there Dale??

[rustybronco]

are those skunk parts there Dale??

Those were off the Honda.

[chuck hahn]

I have the EXACT same paint booth !!! LMAO. VHT paint, and my propane torpedo providing the bake on heat!!

[Hammered]

One of the guys over Chopper Underground took on the problem of paint/powder curing. For about a $1000 he got this.

http://www.thechopperunderground.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=45282

If you guys cant view it w/o signing up, let me know. Ill copy paste here if the admins there say its cool.

[Macguyver]

Shows up just fine for me without signing up.

BTW, wow!
It makes me feel kinda funny like when we used to climb rope in gym class!

[Octain]

I like to let it cure on a hot day but not directly in sunlight.
Did the frame and parts from the skunk in the basement hanging from ceiling.