Main > Main Forum
Paint feels tacky - What am I missing?
t8erbug:
WunderCade hit it on the head. If the first coat is not completely dry the second coat will lock in the remaining moisture and increase the final cure time. I started taking my cabinets to a local body shop and get them painted for $50 a piece. He shoots them in what ever color I want. I just have to select from the car colors that are in the shop at that time, or just wait. The acrylic paint dries fast and hard. I have six kids and the cabinets in acrylic hold up better than the ones in enamel.
ARTIFACT:
using acrylic here
and having smoothed the primer coats "mirror" DID result in the paint not sticking to it - I thought this post was about the same problem ("rubbing it off"). After roughing up the surface with 120-150 grit and repainting, it worked VERY well. I'm still working on one side that peeled a lot more than the other (= the smoothest side before I painted)
Lakersfan:
Wow, thanks for replies, guys! I appreciate you taking the time to try and give me a hand.
A few of the answers to the questions you asked:
I looked at the paint can and it says 100% acrylic latex, semi-gloss enamel. And yes, it remains tacky. We last painted it Friday morning and today (Sunday morning) it still felt a bit tacky (maybe a tad better). So I took a dry towel to it and rubbed it and it scruffs all up. If its just a matter of waiting for it to fully cure, I'm down for that. But I'd hate to wait a month and have it feel the same way. It's not peeling, nor does it really feel like it would if I tried, although I'm only guessing as I don't want to try to peel it if I don't have to...
Thanks again!
BobA:
The drying of paint is also influenced by temperature and humindity. If it is too humid it will take forever to dry. Only time is the solution. If it feels tacky it is not sufficently dried. To try to hurry it will only give poor results in the long run. The application of a bit of heat over a period of time will help but only time really works. If it is 90% humidity for a week it may not cure in that week.
lettuce:
I had the same problem when i was painting my cab, took a good week for it stop feeling tacky. I would worry about it too much, just after about a week it shouldnt feel tacky any more