View Full Version : How to brush paint with enamels?
So, I keep attempting to do repaints and am forced to strip the figures and start again for one reason or another. I don't have the option to airbrush, so everything must be hand brushed. Is it possible to hand brush and not end up with brush strokes? Any tips, tricks, or advice you guys have to offer on hand brushing with enamel paints would be great, because so far my attempts have ended in total failure!
- Z -
10-18-2009, 05:41 PM
So, I keep attempting to do repaints and am forced to strip the figures and start again for one reason or another. I don't have the option to airbrush, so everything must be hand brushed. Is it possible to hand brush and not end up with brush strokes? Any tips, tricks, or advice you guys have to offer on hand brushing with enamel paints would be great, because so far my attempts have ended in total failure!
Thin your paints with paint thinner. Generally right out of the bottle they are WAY to thick to go on smoothly.
Overhaulimus
10-18-2009, 05:41 PM
You need to get a good base coat down first,get you some Krylon Fusion spray paint that way you will get an solid base coat.
As far as brush strokes,I'm not sure on that.
Thin your paints with paint thinner. Generally right out of the bottle they are WAY to thick to go on smoothly.
I use the thinner, although recently I seemed to have had an issue with the necessary amount of thinner to keep the paint smooth causing my primer coat to lift off the plastic...I guess the primer coat didn't adhere properly, I may have needed to strip the figure in addition to washing it, but I'm not sure. Can too much thinner cause this to happen?
You need to get a good base coat down first,get you some Krylon Fusion spray paint that way you will get an solid base coat.
As far as brush strokes,I'm not sure on that.
The only problem with that is that I live in a second story apartment and only have a very minor balcony, so spray paints are kinda out for me. I think the most I could get away with would be clear coat sprays, since they wouldn't show too much on my balcony wood, but even then it would probably get all over myself and wouldn't be safe to do. I have been trying to do a primer coat though before I start my actual painting, with varied success.
frenzyrumble
10-18-2009, 05:56 PM
you gotta really let the coats dry. A blessing in disguise is that whenever painting over oil based paint with oil or thinner based paints, you'll reactivate the paint you're painting over. Something which I take into account as a good thing for enamels, you can apply some thinner paint or thinner over even dry enamel and rework in a new color, or "erase" mistakes.
you gotta really let the coats dry. A blessing in disguise is that whenever painting over oil based paint with oil or thinner based paints, you'll reactivate the paint you're painting over. Something which I take into account as a good thing for enamels, you can apply some thinner paint or thinner over even dry enamel and rework in a new color, or "erase" mistakes.
How long should I let it dry then before applying another coat?
frenzyrumble
10-18-2009, 06:25 PM
about 15-20 minutes
Weren't you spray painting ?
You've giving up after making a mistake ?
Man you are going to get aggravated with customizing QUICK ! :eek:
You shouldn't start a new method just yet, I doubt anyone that tried spray painting (or brushing enamel :wink:) got it right the first time...I know I didn't.
To get it good, to get it right, you gotta do a whole sh!tcracker of mistakes...how else will you learn ???:???:
Here is a tutorial I did if you need it...
http://www.procustomizers.com/showthread.php?t=740
Weren't you spray painting ?
You've giving up after making a mistake ?
Man you are going to get aggravated with customizing QUICK ! :eek:
You shouldn't start a new method just yet, I doubt anyone that tried spray painting (or brushing enamel :wink:) got it right the first time...I know I didn't.
To get it good, to get it right, you gotta do a whole sh!tcracker of mistakes...how else will you learn ???:???:
Here is a tutorial I did if you need it...
http://www.procustomizers.com/showthread.php?t=740
No, I wasn't spray painting, I was saying it's not an option for me due to living space limitations. I'm not giving up either, just looking for advice to make the trial and error process a little less harsh
Primoscustoms
10-18-2009, 10:56 PM
Hey man, I know what your talking about.
What I did was I got me a big ass box, Taped it up, then cut a hole in it.
When I have to do a Base coat (and can't do it in my house) I take the box outside somewhere. Get tape then spray and hang the pieces to dry. inside the bog ass box.
It will take you a hour but worth the trouble to get a nice base coat.
Also try arctic paint. I just tried it with my newest custom and I really liked it over the enamel.
Good luck.
mampy
10-19-2009, 03:35 AM
The only problem with that is that I live in a second story apartment and only have a very minor balcony, so spray paints are kinda out for me. I think the most I could get away with would be clear coat sprays, since they wouldn't show too much on my balcony wood, but even then it would probably get all over myself and wouldn't be safe to do. I have been trying to do a primer coat though before I start my actual painting, with varied success.
You can cover your workspace with newspaper to avoid getting paint on the wood. :)
Between the box idea and putting some newspaper down it might be possible. If I can't get the results brush painting in the end I may have to break down and give it a shot.
Primoscustoms
10-19-2009, 04:12 PM
Trust me Nick, A nice size box made a big diffrence for me. Very easy to maintain, no damage and no wind.
I even cut lines in the top of the box for coat hangers, to hang the parts on to dry.
So right after I spray I just hang them up. wait 20 mins the go back respary all the pasts and put them right back on the hangers.
Anovasinn
10-20-2009, 04:06 PM
something to consider is base coating with enamels like krylon then brushing in your details with acrylic.This eliminates reaction between the two coats. I do this on much of my work. I know how to paint enamels onto enamels but it seems to be something i would need to show rather than just explain. Its mainly a trick on how long you are brushing in the area and the consistency of your paint.
something to consider is base coating with enamels like krylon then brushing in your details with acrylic.This eliminates reaction between the two coats. I do this on much of my work. I know how to paint enamels onto enamels but it seems to be something i would need to show rather than just explain. Its mainly a trick on how long you are brushing in the area and the consistency of your paint.
Hmmm. The acrylic over enamel trick sounds interesting, but do you have to do anything special to seal it all in the end?
I think I'm getting the hang of the enamel on enamel, just making sure it drys well and trying to use less thinner and quicker coats like you suggest. My problem with a particular project that I recently realized also was that the thinner in multiple coats was lifting the factory paint as well, which I didn't really expect after the primer coat. I just need to remember to strip those kind of paint apps in the future I guess.