Tamiya X-22 clear

[bluestringer]

Would I be ok using the Tamiya X-22 acrylic clear over Testor's small bottle enamel. I've only used it over Tamiya's acrylics before. 

[TransAmMike]

My guess is the acrylic over acrylic should be no problem James.  Others will surely chime in.

[Monty]

3 hours ago, TransAmMike said:

My guess is the acrylic over acrylic should be no problem James.  Others will surely chime in.

He's asking if Tamiya's acrylic clear will work over Testors enamel.  I'll let someone who's tried that respond.  

[TransAmMike]

37 minutes ago, Monty said:

He's asking if Tamiya's acrylic clear will work over Testors enamel.  I'll let someone who's tried that respond.  

Yep, I didn't catch the enamel part. Oops.  But as, rule of thumb as far as I have always known,  lacquer over enamel is a no-no. Otherwise, acrylic over enamel should not be a problem. 

[Bainford]

Tamiya X-22 is pretty tame stuff. I use it over everything without issue, including Testors enamel. However, I would ensure the Testors is fully cured, which can take weeks if applied heavily. Ditto Humbrol enamels.

Edited October 14, 2022 by Bainford

[1972coronet]

FWIW, about 19 years ago I'd painted a car body in Testors 1968 Dodge Turbine Bronze Metallic,  then when it'd dried (about one week, just to be certain), I'd topped it with Tamiya Gloss Clear aerosol.

The clear never dried! 

The Testors paint was the enamel Car Colors (or whatever its nomenclature was), not the two-stage lacquer.

This isn't to knock either company's products; just a personal account of my experience. 

[Dave G.]

As mentioned already, make sure the enamel is well cured. You could get wrinkling from the two different drying/cure rates if not. And in this case I wouldn't use lacquer thinner to thin the X-22 . It's probably a time to use Tamiya acrylic thinner. LT normally is fine as a thinner in X22 but it could very well attack fresh enamel.

[kjohan]

How would X22 work together with Revell enamels ?

[Dave G.]

4 hours ago, kjohan said:

How would X22 work together with Revell enamels ?

Minus some nuances basically if solvent based, then enamel is enamel. The brand differences aren't huge in terms of the structural chemical make up. So X-22 ( semi solvent water clean up acrylic) should go fine over any well cured enamel, Revell, Testors or others. The key words here are " well cured". You gotta do what you gotta do to be sure of that. You don't want to find your finish looks like dried prunes 2 weeks down the road. This is caused by two different dry rates or cure rates, thus also shrinkage rates. Solvent based Enamel is long cure ( you want it fully cured) and X-22 as with most acrylics is fast cure or at least much faster than enamel..

Equaling the playing field but in a similar time ratio is the drying cabinet or dehydrator. Air drying in a room takes a week to a month or more for enamel to come to full cure depending on drying conditions. And X-22 about 3 days. Either will be dry to the touch sooner but touch dry does not equate to full cure. The dehydrator or paint cabinet reduces all this to a single day. The enamel will cure in 6-10 hours this way and the X-22 in 30 minutes to an hour or so. Just sayin.

 

 

[bluestringer]

Thanks everyone. I think it will be ok, but I am testing it on a spoon. Sprayed one with the testor's enamel a few days ago, and shot the x-22 on it this morning. I'll see how it turns out. 

[kjohan]

Thanks Dave for comprehensive answer/ Gunnar

On 10/17/2022 at 3:08 PM, Dave G. said:

Minus some nuances basically if solvent based, then enamel is enamel. The brand differences aren't huge in terms of the structural chemical make up. So X-22 ( semi solvent water clean up acrylic) should go fine over any well cured enamel, Revell, Testors or others. The key words here are " well cured". You gotta do what you gotta do to be sure of that. You don't want to find your finish looks like dried prunes 2 weeks down the road. This is caused by two different dry rates or cure rates, thus also shrinkage rates. Solvent based Enamel is long cure ( you want it fully cured) and X-22 as with most acrylics is fast cure or at least much faster than enamel..

Equaling the playing field but in a similar time ratio is the drying cabinet or dehydrator. Air drying in a room takes a week to a month or more for enamel to come to full cure depending on drying conditions. And X-22 about 3 days. Either will be dry to the touch sooner but touch dry does not equate to full cure. The dehydrator or paint cabinet reduces all this to a single day. The enamel will cure in 6-10 hours this way and the X-22 in 30 minutes to an hour or so. Just sayin.