Hardening Paint

[Mr Morse]

I've removed some of the plastic trim on the dash (from the MR2) to repaint, it seems to take forever to harden in the cold weather

Could I make the drying/hardening process quicker by putting the bits in the oven for a few hours at a low temperature - say 80°C

[fatpieman69]

I've removed some of the plastic trim on the dash (from the MR2) to repaint, it seems to take forever to harden in the cold weather

Could I make the drying/hardening process quicker by putting the bits in the oven for a few hours at a low temperature - say 80°C

yes Ive done it with wing mirrors but make sure you turn the oven off after you've baked them for about an hour and let the pieces cool for an hour or more other wise the paint will stay soft and you'll put finger marks on it.

some people use a hair dryer, Don't, it just distorts the paintwork.

I think I put it on about 80°C too.

Craig

[Mr Morse]

I've got to say that the oven method works perfectly for smaller parts - after the parts were touch dry I cooked the bits for approx 2 hours @ 50-60° and left to cool for a couple of hours before the second coat.

I'll leave them overnight before spraying with a couple of coats of laquer and then some more cooking.

Just for the record I used Halfords primer, Halfords Vauxhall Midnight Black metallic (like a mica effect, same as my roof for peeps who've seen it). The bits look quality already even before the laquer coat! :D

Well chuffed! :P

[Bazza]

I've got to say that the oven method works perfectly for smaller parts - after the parts were touch dry I cooked the bits for approx 2 hours @ 50-60° and left to cool for a couple of hours before the second coat.

I'll leave them overnight before spraying with a couple of coats of laquer and then some more cooking.

Just for the record I used Halfords primer, Halfords Vauxhall Midnight Black metallic (like a mica effect, same as my roof for peeps who've seen it). The bits look quality already even before the laquer coat! :D

Well chuffed! :P

arnt you the skilled chef

doesnt your oven smell of paint now ?

[Mr Morse]

Not mate.....the very low oven temperature means that all of the organics from the paint are blown out from the oven, rather than stick to the surfaces, as when cooking a joint of pork (with crackling), for example.