Spray primed Bones and now they are sticky

[AuralEntropy]

Ok, this is probably my fault because I have heard before not to spray prime Bones, but I thought the new plastic was better and I had done a hand painted base primer in black with no issue. Then I did a white and grey highlight prime (so I can use speed paint/slap chop method on them) with a spray can (Vallejo grey and Army Painter white) and the minis are all now very sticky.  It has been a month and they are still sticky. I guess the spray primer causes some chemical in the Bones plastic to release?

 

I tried a varnish layer but that seems to only reduce the stickiness coming through for a bit. 

Likely going to have to strip about 30 minis, which is fine, but afraid I am going to lose a bunch of green stuff work on some of them, which is not fine.  
 

Any advice is appreciated if you have a better solution. Love Reaper, but really disappointed because the plastic and metal minis from all other lines I did in the same batch had absolutely zero issues.

Edited July 17 by AuralEntropy

[Inarah]

I have good luck with very light coats of Duplicolor sandable primer from auto supply shops.   I've heard rubbing alcohol or mineral spirits can remove primer and not dissolve the plastic. 

 

 

[TGP]

3 hours ago, AuralEntropy said:

did a white and grey highlight prime (so I can use speed paint/slap chop method on them) with a spray can (Vallejo grey and Army Painter white)

Q: Two different spray cans ?

 

 

3 hours ago, AuralEntropy said:

I guess the spray primer causes some chemical in the Bones plastic to release?

I am not a chemist. But it sounds like two different solvent formulas (used as propellants by two different rattle-cans) were given the chance to interact with the bones plastic?  There is no telling what sort of chemical reaction is happening.

 

 

[TGP]

3 hours ago, AuralEntropy said:

Any advice is appreciated if you have a better solution.

At this point you have inadvertently/unfortunately become the lab technician in charge of this research. Be systematic.

• Take one figure and drown it in Stynylrez brush-on primer: see if the sticky can be sealed in forever.
• Take a second figure and place it on a windowsill and leave it for several days: see if sunlight and UV will "cure it" or evaporate the problem.
• Take a third figure and try odorless mineral spirits to strip it. (Inarah's idea)
• Take a fourth figure and try your usual striping method.
• Take a fifth figure and try a less harsh substance to strip the paint.

 

4 hours ago, AuralEntropy said:

… the plastic and metal minis from all other lines I did in the same batch had absolutely zero issues.

Q: Those are polystyrene (I am guessing) and pewter?   The Bones Plastic is not polystyrene.  I believe it is polyvinyl chloride. But I think there are hundreds of formulations/grades of PVC in existence.

 

 

[AuralEntropy]

7 hours ago, TGP said:

Q: Two different spray cans ?

 

 

I am not a chemist. But it sounds like two different solvent formulas (used as propellants by two different rattle-cans) were given the chance to interact with the bones plastic?  There is no telling what sort of chemical reaction is happening.

 

 

Yes, two different colours. It was no issue on any other minis, just the Bones. I have a Bones river troll I only used one type of spray primer on and it has been varnished 3 times now and still the stickiness keeps coming through. I even have Bones minis with no primer on them that I find get sticky over time. They all have been thoroughly washed beforehand. It is a shame the Bones material seems to react so badly over time.

 

I will try some of your suggestions, thanks. I think what will likely happen is I strip the minis down, pray I don't lose the green stuff work, and start again.

[J Weaver]

My wife is experiencing this problem and I am using Purple Power to try and strip the figure. After a 2 day soak, the sticky primer (black from Army Painter) is not letting go. 

[AuralEntropy]

4 minutes ago, J Weaver said:

My wife is experiencing this problem and I am using Purple Power to try and strip the figure. After a 2 day soak, the sticky primer (black from Army Painter) is not letting go. 

This is what I use and it takes off all the primer and paint and does not hurt the mini. The problem is it usually wrecks any green stuff work and will soften any glued joints, so you may have to pop off parts and re-glue.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/superclean-tough-task-car-cleaner-and-degreaser-spray-946-ml-0392965p.0392965.html

 

WARNING! If you do get this stuff, it is EXTREMELY corrosive on skin. I won't even pick up the container I keep the minis in without a cloth or gloves as once there was a small drip on the edge I touched and the burn from it was quite severe.

[Corsair]

Okay, once you have the mini stripped, try Tamiya's rattlecan primer for plastics. Since it was recommended to me by Haldir, it has become my favorite primer when I don't want to fire up the airbrush.