Help, what is going on?

[Ratcals]

Something has changed when I paint and I can’t figure out what is going on. Until recently, when I applied paint to a mini the paint would appear to soak in and provide a nice uniform coverage. For some reason, now the paint just seems to pool and not really adhere to the mini. This makes highlighting impossible, which is partially why I haven’t attempted it yet.

Here is what I’ve changed. I was using W&N Flow Improver straight from the bottle and not diluting it at all. If you remember from another thread I complained of soap bubbles and was instructed to dilute it 20:1 with water. I’m now doing that.

Here is a list of things I’ve recently changed. I can’t imagine any of these are a contributor to the problem but it is something different to what I was doing.

Completely switched from GW paints to VGC
Bought a complete set of W&N Series 7 brushes
Bought a battery operated paint shaker

This is what I think the problem might be. I think it’s the primer. Sometimes the primer goes on and leaves what I consider to be a dull porous surface. This is when the works best and soaks in. Other times the primer goes on and leaves and satin type of finish. When this happens the paint pools on the mini rather than soak in. Is the dull porous surface basically what I should have?

Painting outside here in England sucks on the best of days and inside is not an option for me. I’m in the process of building a small paint booth with extraction fans to use in the garage but this time of the year it is still too cold. So I’m thinking the temperature/humidity has something to how well the primer works?

I have the brush on primer but I was wondering if it is as effective as the spray on stuff? Thoughts anyone?

This has me so discouraged I’ve stripped the same mini three times now and have done no painting for two weeks. Instead I’ve just been prepping minis, which is something I absolutely hate to do. On the plus side though I have several now just sitting around ready to paint- once I figure out WTF is going on.

Sorry for the randomness of my thoughts but I would really appreciate some help or insight.

m

 

[Ogrebane]

Do you clean the mini before you prime? Do you touch the mini whilst you paint?

Always wash the mini before priming and never touch during painting. Otherwise Im stumped.

 

[Ratcals]

I see where you\'re going but I do wash them very well and multiple times before painting them. Once primered they don\'t get touched by human flesh again. I glue a pin in the bottom and mount them on a pin vise.

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Sometimes the primer goes on and leaves what I consider to be a dull porous surface. This is when the works best and soaks in. Other times the primer goes on and leaves and satin type of finish.

I think your awnser is right there. I have had the same experience with primer and it seems that if I put too much on too fast it gets that satiny finish. Also I think if you hold the spray can back from the mini a bit more, let it dry for a minuet or so between coats you would get a more \'absorbent\' finish.

Also, the weather MAY affect it. I think if it\'s warmer you may get a better finish where in colder, damper weather the paint has more time to \'lay down\'. A few times, with some resin pieces which have a wierd problem we called bird eye, I would warm up the piece to about 120 degrees F and the paint would dry VERY rapidly upon contact before the paint could pool and move.

 

[Ritual]

The primer could be the cause! You should get that dull finish when priming properly.

On a side note, I don\'t think washing the minis have any effect at all... I never wash my minis and I don\'t have any problems with paint rubbing off or won\'t adhere properly!

 

[Legacy Account]

Wash your minis? How ridiculous. Any dust in the air is just going to stick to them whilst they\'re drying. No thanks!

I\'ve had one mini that has shed its paint because it needed washing. Out of a lot over 20 years.

 

[No Such Agency]

Originally posted by Spacemunkie
Wash your minis? How ridiculous. Any dust in the air is just going to stick to them whilst they\'re drying. No thanks!

... and blow away again when the mini is dry. I think washing minis before priming can\'t HURT, therefore I do it. You never know if there\'s some mold release still on there, plus I handle the mini a lot while cleaning up flash etc.

 

[Ritual]

Originally posted by No Such Agency

Originally posted by Spacemunkie
Wash your minis? How ridiculous. Any dust in the air is just going to stick to them whilst they\'re drying. No thanks!

... and blow away again when the mini is dry. I think washing minis before priming can\'t HURT, therefore I do it. You never know if there\'s some mold release still on there, plus I handle the mini a lot while cleaning up flash etc.

If you let it dry properly and make sure to remove dust from it, no it probably won\'t hurt, but why take the extra time... I\'ve painted minis for a looong time and never had paint peel off due to the primer not sticking. It\'s just more trouble to get through before being able to sit down and paint, which is what I want to do. No thanks!

 

[Tagger]

Ill have to agree with munki on that i dont bother washing anymore.,..lol i also have a few minis getting the skin shedding treatmet =D

 

[Ratcals]

Originally posted by Ritual
The primer could be the cause! You should get that dull finish when priming properly.

Yes, I\'m fairly sure the primer is my problem. So then what is the general consensus regarding the brush primer?

 

[Ratcals]

Well to answer my own question I\'m sold on the brush on primer. I just stripped (for the fourth time) a recent disaester and primed it with the brush on stuff and it paints perfectly. Hopefully it should be done by the end of the weekend.