Poor Primer Coat?

[J2FcM]

Well, I\'ve been invovled in all the \"smooth painting\" threads, in an attempt to figure out why my methods are making chalky finishes...

Now i wonder, did I do a crappy job priming? The reason is... I noticed a black mark on the knee of a mini, I painted. I rubbed my nail over it, and found the paint scraped off revealing the primer. Might this be the cause of my woes? In fact, just rubbing the knee of the mini with my thumb, is enuff to scrape the paint away...

Also, I notice some debate on grey vs white vs black primer... Suppossedly grey and white show true colors better? I\'ve always used GW black spray... what might I notice different other than yellow and white showing up vibrantly on a white primer coat?:no:ossessed:

 

[farseerlum]

contrary to poular belief most aerosol \"primers\" don\'t adhere especially well to metal. GW black will always come off if you rub it with a fingernail.

mostly the purpose of primer is to make sure the next layer of paint has something to adhere to. painting directly over metal is a nightmare.

if you want the primer to actually stick you\'ll need to use an \"etch\" primer, usualy an automotive type spray. or use a varnish spray.

the cult of clear primer has many loyal fanatics.

oh yeah and i doubt the primer has anything to do chalky paint. as far as i know thats just what happens to some paint formulas when stretched too far.

 

[J2FcM]

oye.

Well, in reguards to the primer... Its actually the paint, thats coming off. The black primer is still underneath. The paint is coming off where I typically have been holding the mini... at the legs. dun dun dun =(

And, for the paint being stretched too far... is that from over-diluting? I mean, I know people are able to use JUST water, and NOT have chalkyness... but I guess I still have the un-dying curiosity of additives. Using a paint binder or somethin along those lines... But alas, hopefully my battle with distilled water will finally pay off with improved technique vs. paid for additives?


But, back on topic... so I guess, do the \"expert\" painters here hold their mini\'s with gloves on? or put them in a small vice? or, does the paint just NOT rub off after holding the mini... hehe.

 

[farseerlum]

ah gotchya.

they most certainly do not touch the minis. they make rigs of some sort to hold them. like this one

yes your paint is too dilute. maybe not too dilute to paint with but the medium that holds the paint has given up. leaving you with paint staying put from sheer bloddymindedness. not too much of a problem if your not going to touch it till after you\'ve varnished it.

the chalkyness i find only happens to some paint. white being a big culprit. brands differ in that reguard also. i don\'t water my paint too far anymore so i don\'t have that problem. hopefully someone who knows mroe about it will give better advice.

 

[airhead]

Are you using GW black spay paint? or black primer? There is a vast difference..

GW spray paint is a water based acrylic.(safe for foam).

here is a nice primer test of several of our favorite brands. Notice that the Krylon flat black (paint) did in the worst catagory.

Diluted acrylic paint ( most of what we use ) will not stick very well at all. If you handle your mini while painting, you will be repainting lots of areas before you clear coat.

I use rubber wine corks - drop of superglue and put the based mini on top of the cork. Give it a twist at the end and it will come right off.

Another option is a plastic bottle cap. Same method, drop of super glue and set the mini on the cap. Squeeze the cap when you are done and it will pop lose. Bonus if your hands are fat fingered, you can screw the cap back on a bottle of water or soda and have a large handle to hold the mini with.

 

[Sand Rat]

And I use a water bottle lid with a small section of blue tac - dont have to worry about the super glue reacting poorly to the plastic that way.

 

[J2FcM]

I am using the black spray primer... And that\'s not what is rubbing off. It was bleached bone, and now its just a black area where my thumb was... so therefore, I assume I primed correctly, and held the mini...incorrectly.

Anywho, awseome \"cork\\cap\" advice, I think I will try that.