RedRhino 75 Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Hello again everyone! I'm finishing up a project and painted the modified parts with the obligatory Duplicolor low gloss engine enamel. Everything I've read on here about the stuff is from years ago and claims dry times of seven days and cure times of weeks etc... Now it's 2015 and the only thing I can find on the can about drying is "dries to the touch in 1 hour. Can be handled in 3 hours". Did they change the formula? Am I blind? Can anyone offer some more current advice about using this product? Thanks everyone! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spacehog 2,218 Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Can is correct, however "can be handled" and "can be reassembled and put to full use on a firearm" are two different things. The paint is still fully curing and cross-linking several days after drying. Think concrete and the chemical reactions that are still occurring to produce optimum strength and durability. Paint works the same way. Yes you can reassemble once the paint is a few hours old, but I have found that resisting that urge and waiting a day or two leads to less frequent touch up in the future. One method I use with the stuff is the smell test, you can smell the solvents slowly coming out of the paint as it cross links even after it is dry. Once that smell is gone, I know the parts are fully cured. I also throw mine in a 200 oven for about 30 minutes after 24 hrs. I have no hard data, but it seems to speed up the process by a couple of days. Throw em in the oven too soon and the coating become brittle. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RedRhino 75 Posted April 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 Thank you sir. I've always gone with the idea that, the longer I leave it alone, the better it will come out. And also the smell test is handy. I knew I should wait as long as I could before putting it back into service if you will. But it makes me wonder why the directions don't say anything about curing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vulcan16 971 Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 Ever had body work done on a car? The shop will tell you no automatic car washes or wax jobs for a month. Gives the paint time to cure hard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RedRhino 75 Posted April 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 Oh I know that curing is important. I don't mean to make it sound like I doubt that. I just think it's weird that the can doesn't mention it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 I've been having trouble finding it lately. Where did you pick yours up? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RedRhino 75 Posted April 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 Advanced auto parts Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Mark 2,452 Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Just a heads up on this. I just picked up the last two cans they had at my local Advanced Auto Parts. The counter guy told me it had been discontinued and had to override the inventory system on the register just to check me out. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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