Peeling Latex Paint - Why?

[SirPeale]

I have a Lethal Enforcers cab which I am trying to get up and running again for location.  But, this question doesn't pertain to the innards.

This cab was BEAT when I came into ownership of it.  Lots of bodywork required.

Bought a gallon of latex paint (black).  Primed with a latex primer, then after that dried, with the paint.

It peels off /very/ easily.  I accidentally marred the side, and when I went to remove just the little piece that marred, it just kept peeling! 

It was as if as though it hadn't stuck to the primer at all!

Suggestions?

[ChadTower]

Is the primer peeling too?

If the paint is separating from the primer then odds are it hasn't finished curing yet.  Dry to the touch isn't the same as finished.

[Cynicaster]

Surface prep is everything with painting.  If the existing surface was dirty, or if you sanded and didn't adequately clean off the dust from doing so, the new coats won't adhere properly and peel off.  Did you clean with TSP before painting? 

[Le Chuck]

Peale, we recently had a wall peel like that in our house.  Between priming and first coat the wall had received a thin layer of dust (thanks lazy contractors).  The cab will probably peel off in patches, adhering to some areas that were clean.  Best thing to do now unfortunately is rub it back down and start over.  TSP is a good suggestion and then hit it with kilz and do a very good wipe down before you topcoat and it should adhere well. 

[SirPeale]

Is the primer peeling too?

If the paint is separating from the primer then odds are it hasn't finished curing yet.  Dry to the touch isn't the same as finished.

Primer?  No.  That's fine.

And curing would be the most likely option.  I had to paint it outdoors, and since I was expecting rain, I moved it under cover.  Had to strap it in to do so, and that's where it peeled.

[Mysterioii]

It seems appropriate though, since your name is "SirPeale" after all...   

[bkenobi]

Could there be an incompatibility between the primer and the paint?  I'm not a painter, but I thought I had seen that if you use latex primer and acrylic paint, that's bad (or maybe the other way around).

[Mysterioii]

Since you were expecting rain, I wonder if humidity was a factor...

[DeLuSioNal29]

Just stating the obvious, but was there a different type of paint underneath?  If it was oil based then you need to stick with oil based paint for the next layer.  Latex or water-based will bubble over time.

Also, after sanding it down, I use a tack cloth to remove any dust.  A wet rag doesn't remove all of the dust and it may remain damp after you clean it all.

D

[SirPeale]

Both the primer and the paint that I used are latex based.  I don't know what the original surface paint is.  But, the primer appears to be sticking to that okay (though if your run your nail over it hard it comes off).

My fault for using POS primer, and not Kilz.

[TOK]

I realize state laws vary a little bit, but as far as I know you can still get oil based enamels in quart cans. Latex is a waste of time.

[TGov]

I realize state laws vary a little bit, but as far as I know you can still get oil based enamels in quart cans. Latex is a waste of time.

Agreed.  Oil based enamel is so much stronger and looks better in my opinion as well.

[Vigo]

 

[leapinlew]

A smart man once said "Don't use latex, use acrylic" in this thread:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,53105
 Makes me wonder why you choose latex. 

I've had this issue occur on both cabs and on walls. I don't know what it is, but peeling it off and repainting usually resolves the issue It's not spotty either, like you would expect if it were dust or oil. The entire cabinet paint peels off by hand as you can see in the pic.

[SirPeale]

A smart man once said "Don't use latex, use acrylic" in this thread:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,53105
 Makes me wonder why you choose latex. 

I've had this issue occur on both cabs and on walls. I don't know what it is, but peeling it off and repainting usually resolves the issue It's not spotty either, like you would expect if it were dust or oil. The entire cabinet paint peels off by hand as you can see in the pic.

Huh...I'd forgotten about that.   

This is the first cab that I've painted in...well, I can't remember the last one that I painted. 

I don't even know where I'd get that much acrylic paint.

And, with this particular project, money was a concern.   I have very little.  Though the time/energy/effort thing would have been better if this had not happened.

Curing seems to have been very important - I let it sit over a week, and when I went back it was very difficult to peel off.