Paint Coming Off Like Dust

Just got a set of sliders, prepped them with a metal brush on angle grinder, wiped down with acetone and sprayed Rust-Oleum self etching primer, couple of coats. Waited for primer to dry less than an hour and applied a couple top coats of textured black. Went out to the garage today and on one whole section the paint just comes up like dust to reveal primer if I run my fingers over it. It's the plate section that faces out from the truck that sits against the frame rails. Other areas like tubing and such it seems like paint is adhering just fine. Any ideas on why this would occur? Should I start over from scratch or just wet sand the problem areas and hope for the best? Tempted to start over as I'm worried something is up with overall adhesion of the paint.

 

Sometimes different types of steels will actually absorb some of the oil that they are coated with when transported or stored over their life time before the consumer gets it. Good chance that it was impregnated with oil and all you did was wipe off the top layer with the acetone. Or the primer was garbage?

Maybe if you clean it back up and hit those areas lightly with a weak torch for a couple minutes and try again?

 

Line-X them.

 

Ended up stripping them down and priming again, we will see. Line-X is expensive for something I'm going to be dragging across rocks.

 

This sucks, still not sticking. Maybe I'll wait a bit, wet sand and recoat. This is after drying for 24 hours, rubbed my hand against it and it literally comes off like dust. It's the only area it's happening, but it's the same area on both sliders. Primer seems to stick ok, just the top coat isn't adhering. Doesn't make sense!

 

Post some pictures of the cans of primer and paint you using. Someone here should have an answer for you. I just wonder if the paint isn't compatible with the primer?

 

Bump, possible that not allowing the self etching primer to dry fully, waiting 48 hrs to apply top coat, is reacting with the primer? Probably need to test on something else, but that's my guess at this point.

 

Bump, can anyone tell me what the best way to fix a top coat that is coming up? Guessing wet sand then wash with soap and water and recoat?

 

Bummer man.

I'd like to find an answer to this too. My sliders will be ready in 6 weeks and I'm planning on painting them myself as well.

 

I think I got it solved, looking like adhesion is better. Could have been two things causing the issue, not letting self etching primer dry long enough before spraying top coat or not sanding primer prior to spraying top coat. Took the following steps:

• Wetsanded Top Coat with 400 grit
• Washed with soap and water
• Dried with compressed air
• Wiped down with Grease and Wax Cleaner
  • Applied with wet rag, wiped with dry rag
• Used tack rag to remove lint
• Let dry for an hour
• Sprayed top coat