Tamiya Paint - Help

[rossfox]

So, I have been using Tamiya Acrylic Paint now for the last year, and I keep having the same problem with several of the colors. Maybe all of them, but for sure the ones I have used. The paint just never hardens. I paint the body, put it in the dydrator for several hours sometimes, sometimes I don't use the dehydrator, wait a couple of weeks, and it still is somewhat soft. I laid my Corvette hood, painted over month ago, clearcoated two weeks ago, on a piece of sponge. It laid there for about 30 minutes. Picked it up and you can see the imprint of the sponge on the hood. What give please???

[Shark]

What are you thinning the paint with?

[sidcharles]

i've recently been made aware that acrylic paint takes 28 to 30 days to fully cure.

believe it was in the Primer video i posted a couple of days ago.

(31) Vince Venturella - YouTube

[rossfox]

45 minutes ago, Shark said:

What are you thinning the paint with?

I am using the Tamiya thinner X-20A.

[rossfox]

10 minutes ago, sidcharles said:

i've recently been made aware that acrylic paint takes 28 to 30 days to fully cure.

believe it was in the Primer video i posted a couple of days ago.

(31) Vince Venturella - YouTube

Well, I will certainly check that out.

[Bainford]

I seem to recall a note on the Tamiya site saying to thin their acrylics with their lacquer thinner for a harder finish. Perhaps other lacquer thinners would work, too. I have NOT tried this myself, but sounds like it might be worth experimenting with if you find your finishes too soft.

I am not sure, though, if this solves the original problem, which sounds to be a finish must softer than expected. 

[dmthamade]

I used Mr. Color Leveling Thinner to thin Tamiya Acrylics. I was finding the gloss colors took a while to harden using X-20A thinner, Mr. Color cut that time.

Don

[Dave G.]

Tamiya, Hardware Store  and Mr Leveling lacquer thinners all work. Mr Leveling helps flow out and to some degree gloss. And yes, Tamiya states at their site that if you want a harder finish, to use lacquer thinner for thinning. I've personally never used the X 20a thinner and never have had the issues spoken of in the op. I dehydrate 30 minutes, wait 3 days and move on to whatever it is I'll do next.

Also, I thin at least 50:50 Tamiya X or XF paints to lacquer thinner.MLT is my go to for the gloss. And hardware LT is well suited for flats, and costs less.. Honestly, I have the Tamiya, must have tested it, as some is gone from the bottle, but I don't recall using it.

On a final note, lacquer thinner doesn't effect the odor very much when spraying. In case someone thinks that would be a serious deterrent.

[bill-e-boy]

I concur with @Dave G.

I now only use hardware store LT with Tamiya acrylics - it was the plane guys that put me up to that years ago. A recent paint job I did I left for at least a month before colour sanding and now it is nice and hard - see below

I have found using the X20-A thinners that the paint does take a long time to harden and a good few days in a dehydrator does help. 

But here is the trick - after clear coating and dehydration time and when it comes time too colour sand put it back in the dehydrator overnight after the first cut and before sanding with the next grade. And the same process for each grade. It takes a few days to get from say 3600 to 12000 grit sanding cloths but it is worth it. Then leave it a few days before hitting it with polish.

It would seem that the paint gasses out faster when the glossy coat is sanded back and will go hard. At least that's my story. 

I have had issues with fresh Tamiya LP lacquers misbehaving under masking tape too. The same goes for acrylics. It just takes time

I have not tried Mr thinners yet as it has not crossed my radar

I know the acrylics are water soluble but don't ever try thinning it with water - it just don't work - sprays horribly, and I mean horribly

I use the LT for clean up too   

[rossfox]

Thanks for all of the replies. I will try each of your suggestions in the future if I stay with Tamiya acrylics. I do like the Tamiya brand for everthing and want to support them. I have used Createx and it seemed to be very hard very quick????

[Dave G.]

23 hours ago, rossfox said:

 I have used Createx and it seemed to be very hard very quick????

The key to Createx is their 4030 additive and their latest 4021 reducer. It's a great match up, and it works nearly as well in craft paints. 4030 and 4021 changes the whole Createx ball game for spraying model cars. 4030 converts the paint to Poly Acrylic, and produces a much harder shell to the finish. Aids in flow out and through the airbrush smoothness. 4021 is to Createx what Mr Leveling Thinner is to Tamiya and lacquers. It has that bit of retarder in it to aid flow and reduce tip dry.

If you have 4012 reducer, don't try to use that with 4030 in your mix. It's exactly why 4011 and 4021 reducers were made.

And yes, Createx sets up fast, especially when heat set. But it's whole other line of paints away from Tamiya, in the respect of just plain different from Tamiya.