Painting heads... Help!

[Bronxboykev]

Experts/Friends

A little expert advice if you will. I have had some trouble with painting of resin heads... Am I using the wrong type paints??? Acrylic currently... The heads paint well enough but fore some reason not all of them dry the same... I just did a Racer X and star spangled kid head and they dried fine but my super boy and Speed Racer head ruined when I touched them, Some stay sticky and when and if you touch them they spot and in some cases comes off all the way to the resin... This doesn't always happen so it seems funny to me... Is there anything I need to do while some of the heads are in the sticky dry state.

Thank you all

Kevin

[fallensaviour]

I start off washing my resin heads with mild soap and warm water.I then pat it dry and let it sit for 24hours.Then I use a fine primer on it again I let it sit 24 hours.
Then I paint with acrylics I use inexpensive acrylics called folk art.When done I let them sit again 24 hours then I coat them with a matte finish again letting it sit 24 hours.
The 24 hours is not neccesary but it is just something I have always done.
I've never had a tacky/sticky paint job.

[SeattleEd]

Are you painting in cold/humid weather? That's a huge factor.

[enyawd72]

May not be your paints, but the resin itself. I've run into a couple cases where the resin wasn't mixed or cured properly, and those spots like you mention appeared. They're almost oily, and erupt from below the surface of the paint.

[Bronxboykev]

Painting is done in a house in the basement it's a finished basement... Neither cold and damp or cool and dry it's a comfortable temp... And all the heads were purchased from the same person.

[Bronxboykev]

I start off washing my resin heads with mild soap and warm water.I then pat it dry and let it sit for 24hours.Then I use a fine primer on it again I let it sit 24 hours.
Then I paint with acrylics I use inexpensive acrylics called folk art.When done I let them sit again 24 hours then I coat them with a matte finish again letting it sit 24 hours.
The 24 hours is not neccesary but it is just something I have always done.
I've never had a tacky/sticky paint job.

Forgive my ignorance... Matte finish??? What is that where would I get it and is that how I would ask for it... And I am assuming the primer would be a first coat of white???

[David Lee]

Ok a couple of things...

Like Fallen Savior and Enyawd siad it could be either mold release or uncured resin. Mold release can be easily cleaned with dish detergant and water. An uncurred head is bit trickier, but nothing you can't deal with.

Ok so most two part urethane based resins are Exothermic, meaning as the two part mix they cause a reaction to bond and this bond gives off heat. As a general rule, heat will help solidify the bond even after it's completed, so popping them in the oven will fully cure the resin. Most home resin slingers don't post cure their heads, and for the most part it's not neccessary. Now and again you get a improper mix or old resin and the peice needs a little help. So set the old oven for about 160 and let those suckers sit in for 2-4 hours, this should cure any unmixed resin and finish the exothemic reaction.

Hope this helps.

Dave

[fallensaviour]

Forgive my ignorance... Matte finish??? What is that where would I get it and is that how I would ask for it... And I am assuming the primer would be a first coat of white???

The primer I use is a fine primer used for small figure detailing 15mm-28mm figures.It works fantastic on heads and does not obscure any details.I get it at a local gaming store.
I use grey primer or black.
As for the finish it should be in the same section as the acrylics.You can get gloss/satin or matte.I use gloss on eyes/lips it gives a shiny/wet look.I use matte on all other parts.Use a thin coat it works great to seal the acrylics after painting.

I've never even thought of baking the resin head thanks for the excellent tip Dave!!!

[Trappy Trek Freak]

I mix my acrylics to get the perfect Mego color then use new brushes and sharpened toothpick on the eyes I let it dry for a couple hours then spray with 3M clearcoat and mine never get sticky and I use cheap Walmart or folk art paints

[Bizarro Amy]

My favorite matte finish is Testor's Dullcote. It comes in a small spray can and is near the modeling supplies. It takes away any unwanted shine and gives the surface a more uniform texture.

[boss]

My favorite matte finish is Testor's Dullcote. It comes in a small spray can and is near the modeling supplies. It takes away any unwanted shine and gives the surface a more uniform texture.

What she said. I haven't found anything better. The other "dull coats" I've tried have been too glossy.

[Bronxboykev]

Thank you for all the help guys... Greatly appreciated.

[Captain Awesome]

I was gonna sound off, but it looks like everyone else pretty much covered everything. Simple rules I follow are: wash it, prime it, paint it and clear coat it. Following those rules, I've never had a problem.

[Bronxboykev]

I was gonna sound off, but it looks like everyone else pretty much covered everything. Simple rules I follow are: wash it, prime it, paint it and clear coat it. Following those rules, I've never had a problem.

Always good to hear what everyone has to say. Keep the advice coming. More people who say the same method works the more confident That the procedure is a keeper.

[bleit1701]

Not sure if they are from me but sometimes they do seep a bit. Not sure why. I mix them the same.

Washing them first will help if it's mold release. Look closely at them after a bit and if they are dry your good. If they look like their still seeping heat will help them stop.

Besides baking, I like to lightly boil them in water (using a pan you don't use for food) to help them harden. Either way works.