Paint Curing time
 

How long do you guys let your paint cure before you try to put the tires on the rims? :bigthink: thanks ,Brian

It depends on the paint type and the weather to me.

I have a wood stove in the shop, if I want the volatiles' driven out of the paint fast I build a little fire and hang the parts over it.

Two hours after the parts are back to room temp, the paint is as hard as the paint can get.

Hardener also helps.

The paint will continue getting harder and harder as time goes on...40-year old paint is way harder than any new paint you spray for quite awhile, even perhaps after the new paint has had a year to dry. I'd wait as long as you can.

I hope you're using hardener...if not, the paint may not be very durable for 6 months to a year after you've sprayed it, and not even then. It will sort of depend on what brand and type of paint you are using. I once painted a deck with Valspar IH white and no hardener...it literally took 6 months to dry to a reasonable hardness, and it was really a couple of years before it wasn't easily damaged.

A 6 month paint hardening time is due to slow release of the volatile solvents.

Typically this is due to too thick of a single coating application.

Manufacturers of paint recommend thin applications of multiple coats so the solvent can come out of the paint and that allows proper curing.

Heat and proper application of the paint helps remove the solvent and allows for proper cure.

bocephus1991,
One of workarounds is to have the rims pretty much done. Cleaned primed and painted. Then mount the tires as carefully as possible. Keep them deflated and mask the tire. Sand any scratches made when mounting, which should be covered by most of the bead area. Repaint the areas and or remaining portion of the rim. Let dry. Unmask the tire and inflate.
Might work for you?
Regards,
Chris

Thanks for all the responses,I will have to let these cure awhile,I have the rims already painted,I get some hot days I will set them in the sun. probably should have done like Chris suggested,but I think I can get them on eventually without scaring them up to much. If nothing else I can scuf them up and reshoot them if needed. yes I used hardner per the instructions on the can