Painting acrylic over enamel

**TK1** · 6th January 2007, 10:54 AM

Hi,

I have heard differing opinions on painting acrylic (water-based) paint over enamel, and vice versa.

I am painting skirting boards, window frames etc in a gloss enamel, but the family keeps complaining about the smell which is holding up progress.

So I wanted to finish off the window frames with acrylic paint. They either have a coat of gloss emanel already, or are the original paint (from the 1960-70's) which could be anything (but isn't lead based as it was tested).

I'll probably test it, but can any of the painters on the forum (or generally more experienced renovators

) advise on experience with painting acrylic over enamel. Will be sanded of course but I don't want to have to sand the whole lot off.

Thanks,
Darren

**mic-d** · 6th January 2007, 05:17 PM

See my post here:

http://woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/...ad.php?t=35525

If you put on a coat of Zinsser BIN primer first and then a coat of acrylic you won't have any problems with adhesion, and no need to sand at all.

Cheers
Michael

**celeste** · 6th January 2007, 09:59 PM

Hi Darren

3 things -

1. you can get a water based enamel - do not know if the smell is any better.

2. Try burning some candles whilst you paint, apparently it fixes the smell. I also read somewhere about lemons in a bucket of water.

3. A product called ESP there are others on the same shelf- you can get it from bunnings, you put it on via rag or brush leave 5 min wipe off excess leave 90min and then paint. I have used it, its good. these products allow you to paint over anything glass / metal etc without sanding etc.
I gave it a try with tile paint instead of the primer I found it worked better.

Celeste

**doug1** · 6th January 2007, 10:04 PM

Hi Michael

Thanks for the information, Does the Zinsser BIN primer work as a binder as well ?

I have been using Penetrol as a binder so I dont have to sand fibro, is the Zinsser product likely to be better do you think?

Thanks

Doug

**TK1** · 7th January 2007, 06:05 PM

Hi,

Thanks for the replies...I'll make the obligatory tip to Bunnies and check out the ESP, Zinnser and similar products. Heard about the water-based enamel, I'll lookinto that as not sure if it smells or has the same overpainting properties as normal enamel.

Appreciate the guidance!

Regards,
Darren

**old_picker** · 7th January 2007, 06:20 PM

A few years ago you used to be able to get all purpose undercoat which would go over anything and you could paint anything over it. I used it for acrylic over enamel and it worked a treat and I expect it would work as well in reverse.
Was made by taubmans or dulux or b/paints....

**rick_rine** · 7th January 2007, 06:39 PM

A painter told me to put down a coat of oil based undercoat first and then you can paint over with water based paints . I have been doing this f0r 3 years now with no problems using Dulux .
Regards
Rick

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