Metal finishing Q&As since 1989
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Orange Peel on 1946 airplane
Q. I am restoring a 1946 fabric airplane. I an using the fabric manufactures brand enamel paint for the metal surfaces. "To best match the fabric color". I am also using an epoxy enamel primer that is recommended for this paint. The instructions read that I can use the paint right from the can. It also says in the case of "orange peel" to use an enamel reducer at a 5:1 mix. I am getting orange peel, and have reduced to the given mix to no avail. Am I using to much, or to less reducer, or what?
Mark HaineyHobbyist - Azle, Texas
2004
A. Orange peel is caused by the paint drying too quickly after spray painting. The solvent is added to slow this down. If it was a hot day when you painted the solvent may have still evaporated to quickly. In an industrial setting a slower evaporating solvent would be used. Probably not an option for a hobbyist.
Ronald ZeemanCoil Coating - Brampton, ON, Canada
2004
A. The other variable that creates orange peel is too thick a coat of paint. As the instructions on many spray-cans say, "Multiple thin coats are better than one heavy coat." That way the surface doesn't dry before the undersurface.
Tom Gallant- Long Beach, California, USA
2004
A. We use Owatrol Oil to keep the wet edge open longer.
A friend of mine is a shipwright and he also mixes Owatrol at about 10% with the top coat to eliminate orange peel effect.
- Faversham, Kent, UK
2005
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