Q & A Spray Paint Help
I was spray painting & had allot of questions.
Q: How to dry a spray paint?
A: ?
Q: How long dose paint dry for different types of surface, plastics, wood.
A: ?
Q: Is their a spray to make the paint dry quicker?
A: ?
Q: How do you keep fingerprints off your project.
A: ?
Manly if their are questions or answers to how to spray paint a project, I'd like to know.
So if you have a question, or you have an answer, for one of anyone's questions that will be asked on this thread. Please, let it be known.
"ASK YOUR QUESTIONS AND THEY WILL COME" 
Okay, here's a question: Why is everyone always in such a big damn hurry? Paint takes as long as it takes to dry, as does primer, putty, bondo, glue, and so on. Once you accept that as a fact of this hobby, you'll learn to enjoy it more, be less stressed out, and make fewer mistakes that will take even more time to correct.
Q: How to dry a spray paint?
A: Set the painted item aside in a warm, dry area (preferably indoors so you don't have to worry about wind blowing dust or other contaminants onto the wet paint) and just let it dry. I set my freshly painted project(s) aside for at least 24 hours to give the paint a chance to dry/cure thoroughly.
Q: How long dose paint dry for different types of surface, plastics, wood?
A: In my experience it depends more on the paint and the environment (i.e., temperature and humidity) than the materials you're using. As has been suggested, read the label on the can or bottle--the manufacturer will likely have included some form of instructions regarding the amount of time necessary for their product to dry thoroughly.
Q: Is their a spray to make the paint dry quicker?
A: No. None that I'm aware of, anyway.
Q: How do you keep fingerprints off your project?
A: Don't touch it. But seriously, if you use rubber gloves as has been suggested, and allow the paint adequate time to fully dry/cure, fingerprints shouldn't be a problem.
That said, I've been building model kits for more than 40 years now, and have always used spray paint; I've never even held an airbrush, let alone used one. As such, here are some of the things I've learned:
• Before you paint, make sure the surface of the material you're painting is clean and dry. If you think it's necessary, wash it with warm water and dish soap or a liquid cleanser like Simple Green. And make sure you've rinsed the material
thoroughly to remove any dish soap or liquid cleanser residue; use a soft brush (an old toothbrush works fine for me) to scrub the material/parts if necessary. If you're concerned about contamination after cleaning, wear rubber gloves when you're handling the material.
• Paint in an area that is well-lit and has adequate ventilation; paint fumes and particulates aren't good for your lungs. If necessary, wear a mask or respirator.
• Make sure the item you're painting is secured in position. Not only does it suck to have something fall over while you're trying to paint it, but it can ruin any paint you've already applied which will likely mean you'll have to strip the paint and start over.
• Read the label on the can, and follow the manufacturer's recommendations with regards to ambient temperature and humidity. If they advise using their paint at temperatures above 70°F, don't use them if it's 60°F.
• Regardless of whether you're using primer, paint, or clear coat, warm the can before you start spraying.
Every time. I soak mine in a bucket of hot tap water for 5-10 minutes; it just has to be warmer than room temperature, not boiling. And if I don't think I'll be using the entire can, I place it inside of a plastic bag first so that the water won't cause the can to rust. Now, the reason for this is that the heat makes the primer/paint slightly less viscous--it flows out of the can easier and lays down on the surface of whatever you're painting better, resulting in a better-looking final product.
• Shake the can before you spray. A lot. This mixes the carrier and the paint particulates. And shake it again every 30-60 seconds while painting.
• Spray in light, misting coats. Don't try to cover the material with one coat, build it up slowly with several light applications. If you miss a small spot, cover it with the next coat or two. Some manufacturers will include instructions on the label that indicate how much time should elapse between coats, usually something like "Paint subsequent coats within 1 hour, or after 24 hours," and you'll usually get the best results by following their recommendations.
• Keep the can moving while you're spraying--never,
ever,
ever hold the can in one spot. Also, don't hold the can too close to whatever you're painting. The exact distance is subjective, but I've found 6-8" usually works for me; sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more.
• After the final coat--yes, I'm going to say it again--
let the paint dry. If you start poking at it before it's dry, you'll probably leave fingerprints in the still-wet paint and have to strip or sand the project and paint it all over again, losing whatever time you thought you were gaining by being impatient.
That's all I can think of for now; I hope someone finds it helpful.
