i had exactly the same, with white halfords rattle cans, after careful prep, wiped on cloths, etc, warmed cans, and so on, changed brand and the issue went. Im not a fan of halfords paint, the high build primer can also cause issues. I was painting on plastic also, which had been primered with plastic primer, then etched, and then regular primer. unfortunately its a rub down and start again☹️

Preeeecisely Mike 👍
😎

4 points for painting
1) min temp in room 20 degrees 1 hour before with the item in the room
2) stand paint tin in warm water before painting and shake well (2 mins)
3) be patient use only light coats allow to dry between coats
4) keep temp at 20 degrees for an hour after painting

Exactamente Nonsuch,👍
I also use a 300W halogen lamp to keep things warm and speed up drying and hardening.
Cheers, Doug 😎
PS Don't forget the FFP2 spraying mask!!🙊

I suspect a combination of too much paint and too cold. The lower temperature fails to evaporate the solvent as quickly as it should. A thick coat applied at low temperature will result in the lower coats being exposed to fresh solvent. If these first coats were allowed to dry at this low temperature they could still be soft.
I spray in the shed, allow the paint to dry briefly to pass the dust attracting stage but then move the items into the warmth of the house to properly dry. Solvent smell is minimal this way.

Absolutely Bill 👍
"but as it dries it will try to shrink."
And because it was cold, 8-10°, it would dry much slower allowing the solvents more time to work on the previous paint.
Ideal spraying temperature is minimum 20°C, ensuring that the solvents evaporate quickly.
Even if the paint had dried smooth the gloss would have probably fogged, so called 'blooming', at that low temperature.
Peter: the main 'secret' ingredient for successful spraying is PATIENCE!!
Cheers, Doug 😎
PS: I can see why you titled your thread 'Spray Paining Problem' 😭 Clever 😉

Thanks for all the feedback guys - I reckon it was mainly too much paint in one go ! but clearly other important aspects that Martin detailed - thanks for the "primer" (!) on spray painting ! I think I needed it.......as I probably did not do any of your important items particularly well !! Too many short cuts.
I think I need to set up a proper paint shop indoors ....the wife will love it !
I have also learnt that I will try one piece at a time - rather than get a bad result on all my decks at once ! Cheers for now

Hi Peter,

Did you sand the white gloss before you applied the white primer? if the white primer can't grip onto the gloss surface it could pool causing that effect, it might not do that straight away but as it dries it will try to shrink.
For now the only option you really have is to sand it smooth and prime it again with white primer then sand that coat before the top coat.
Hope that helps.

Bill

Looks to me as the chemicals in the Halfords paint broke down the bottom layer.May need to start over by removing as much of the paint down to wood if possible.
Rick

Looks like too much paint too soon. You MUST let earlier coats dry right through before applying the next coat. Remember more THIN coats for better results.
You will need to sand back to a smooth surface before spraying again.
Hope this helps
Gordon👍

Hi Peter,
That is strange.
It could be a combination of things.
I won't list them but it looks like Paint separation.

Normally Halfords tin spray paints give very little problems.

I am no expert but there is bit of a knack to spray painting.
When you started with the grey primer was it fully dry before applying the white paint.?
Did you give the paint a really good shake ?
Secondly when you sprayed the white paint on did you just spray a light mist and let that dry before you gave it another light misting.?
Or did you spray to try and cover the grey ?

It will take quite a few coats of paint to cover the grey.

What i suggest you do now is give it a good rub down and let it sit for a while.

When you sprayed the white primer on top of the top coat did you rub down the top coat before spraying.

Ideally you need a constant warm temperature.
Place the paint tin and the item to be painted in that warm place and allow it all to reach that temperature.
Ensure it is dust free.
The secret is many light coats of paint with rubbing down with very fine wet and dry sand paper in-between coats.

Hope this helps.

Martin.