Hi All,

I wrote on a rod today with Testors model paint, gold, and applied epoxy to it after 12 hours. Well disaster stuck! the epoxy smeared the paint. This was the final step in the completion of the rod that I was planning to give my Dad tomorrow for his retirement gift!

Is there a set amount of time I need to wait before applying the epoxy?I thought you can apply epoxy over Testors enamel paint?

Thanks

Thank You,

Chris Tulk

12 hours evidently wasn't long enough to wait.

It's always good to set up a test section on a scrap blank or something so you can try these things before performing the same operation on the actual rod you're working on.

....................

Just to be on the safe side, we always put a coat (or 2) of CP over any label,
decal, or writing we put on a rod before the epoxy coat.

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

Chris,
There is a little trick that really helps with putting epoxy over any writing.
I have had your problem in the past because testor's paint is one of the materials that I use when writing on a blank.

As long as I have waited 15 minutes, and use the following procedure, I have not had issues.

After writing on a blank with testor's paint, I wait at least 15 minutes.

Here is the thing you need to be careful about.
You don't want finish flowing over the paint, that might cause it to smear and come loose.
So, when I put finish on that portion of the rod, I never get a brush close to the writing. I also, do not put a surplus amount of finish on the rod in that area such that when the finish flows, it might smear the finish. Rather, I put finish on the blank where there is not finish, and also just let some finish flow off of the brush, where the writing is, but not very heavy. Then, I will rotate the writing to the top side of the rod, and when excess finish drops off of the bottom of the rod, I will dab off the excess with the brush.
Then, I go ahead and apply finish to the rest of the rod, using my usual method. I will always go back over the blank a couple more times to be sure that every part of the finish is complete and looking all right. But, I never let a brush touch the area that has been signed.

As long as I do this, I can let the signature paint dry for 15 minutes and then go ahead and coat it.

But, if only waiting this amount of time, I either have too much finish so that it flows heavily or if I use a brush to move the finish in the area of the signature, I will surely smear the finish.

By the way, this is one of the reasons that I have moved largely to using India Ink for signatures. This ink is much less sensitive to smearing than testor's paint.

But there are times where I want the color that is only available with Testor's and I will use it again, but I am very careful during the application and drying of the finish in the area of the signature.

By the way, You should be able to pretty quickly remove the finish and signature from the area in question, resign it today and coat it and you should be good for tomorrow.

Good luck

chris

i would wait at least 24 hrs., then apply a coat of cp or krylon clear "fixatiff" spray over the inscription. then i would wait another 24 hrs before applying the finish over it.

rog

I use opaque white fabric paint from hobby store. Apply with nib - Wait 15-20 min and brush epoxy right over it. Go to store now - and re do for tomorrow.

I add a little brown to tone down the whitness.
There are myriad of colors to use as-is or mix. Just BE SURE IT SAYS OPAQUE.
Herb

The first time I tried writing with Testors, I first did some experimentation to see what works best. I let the paint cure overnight (24 hrs generally since I work in the evening after my real job).
Expoxy finish over the paint worked fine.
I usually use regular nylon thread with color preserver, so now I just got into the habit of always applying a coat of CP over the paint (just to be safe) as I'm coating thread.
Krylon Fixative smeared the paint badly. I don't know how that works for anyone.

John Shear
Chippewa Falls, WI