I'm in the process of spray painting a bookshelf and it started off well, but I'm having issues with the second part. I used the same brand and color of spray paint for both sections, but when I went to paint the second part after waiting 24 hours, the paint shriveled up, which I'm referring to as 'rejecting.' I mixed the paint thoroughly as per the instructions, so I'm puzzled about why this happened. Any ideas on what could cause this and how to fix it?
3 Answers
Humidity and temperature can really change the drying process! If it was warmer when you painted the second part, that could have impacted how the first coat cured. Make sure to check your paint can for specific recoat times, too; it can say what conditions are best for painting.
It sounds like you might be outside the optimal recoat window. Some paints need to be recoated within a few hours or might require a few days between coats. If the new paint layer is hitting a not-yet-cured first layer, it can really mess things up. You might be able to sand it down gently once it’s dry, then apply several light layers instead of one heavy coat to avoid another rejection.
It might also be that the first layers weren't fully cured yet. If the solvents from the new coat penetrate the old coat before it's ready, you can definitely see issues like this. Give it time and try to ensure all the layers are cured properly next time. You could also look out for any greasy spots or moisture settling that could be interfering with the paint's adhesion.
That's definitely something to keep in mind. I had a similar issue when I rushed things. Just take your time and layer thinner!