The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have my bedplate primed and painted with a spray enamel, but it takes a long time before its fully cure and ready to sand. I've read that you can bake the enamel for a fast cure time, has anyone here done this? do you have a recommended temperature and time?

Thanks
Martin

I'm hoping that the reason your paint isn't drying quickly isn't because of an incompatibility issue with the two different types of paint... If it dries completely in a day or two, no problem. But if it takes longer than that, you may have an issue.

The best way to paint a bedplate is to completely remove the old finish completely, down to bare metal, then start painting it back, using primer first. Usually, black lacquer is the best choice, not enamel. Hopefully, you won't have a problem, but I experienced that compatibility issue before... Sometimes the ingredients in modern paint react with the asphaltum or other paint that was originally used and softens up the old finish underneath the new. I have had issues where the new paint wouldn't dry for several months - it was still tacky.

Otherwise, you can try baking it in a pre-heated oven at 175-250F for 30 minutes to an hour or so. This is experimental and no guarantee of good results can be made. Be sure to keep a careful watch on it or your paint might blister, or worse... Also, if you are using your home oven, it might not be good for potential fumes in the kitchen or for baking food later. A hair dryer or heat gun may be safer. Painters have special ovens for baking painted items...

Curt A wrote:... Also, if you are using your home oven, it might not be good for potential fumes in the kitchen or for baking food later. A hair dryer or heat gun may be safer. Painters have special ovens for baking painted items...

A friend who is a tape enthusiast tells me he bought a convection oven to bake back-coated tapes with "sticky-shed" syndrome. He says it will hold a steady low temperature in a way that conventional kitchen ovens won't. You might want to see if you can "borrow" a convection oven if you are looking to bake a bedplate. Just a thought; hope it helps. Good luck with your project.

drh wrote:

Curt A wrote:... Also, if you are using your home oven, it might not be good for potential fumes in the kitchen or for baking food later. A hair dryer or heat gun may be safer. Painters have special ovens for baking painted items...

A friend who is a tape enthusiast tells me he bought a convection oven to bake back-coated tapes with "sticky-shed" syndrome. He says it will hold a steady low temperature in a way that conventional kitchen ovens won't. You might want to see if you can "borrow" a convection oven if you are looking to bake a bedplate. Just a thought; hope it helps. Good luck with your project.

A convection oven would be a great idea and perfect for the size of bedplates. I might buy one for cheap on facebook or craigslist.

Thanks
Martin

If you find that after stripping down to bare metal, the surface is a bit too rough to allow a smooth finish, then consider using a "high build" primer. It's available in auto parts stores and automotive paint supply stores, and of course, Amazon. It comes in a spray can and will go on fairly thick. This allows it to quickly fill low spots, pitting, etc. You then block sand the primer before adding finish paint.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=high+build+p ... ss_i_10_17

Just be sure whatever you buy is compatible with your topcoat, which as many have advised you, looks like lacquer.

I try to avoid using spray can enamels because they seem to take forever to cure. Even after the tackiness is gone, the paint is still not fully cured.

The other problem I've had is that if you find a spray paint that works, the manufacturer seems to change the formula -- possibly for environmental reasons, lower VOCs, etc. Plus they are loath to divulge what's actually in it. You can run into issues when you use one brand of primer, and a different brand of topcoat due to lack of compatibility.

I prefer lacquers when I can find them.