I painted a plane with rust-oleum, and somewhere I read that Min-wax water based Polycrylic was fuel proof....NOT!!! This was an electric scratch built, turned glow, and now this stuff is slimmy. I repainted it, and I heard rust-oleum was fuel proof too. Do I need to fuel proof it? If so, with what?

Rustoleum primary colors are fuel proof up to about 20% nitro. The primarys are like gloss and flat black, Sunrise Red, Golden(?) yellow, etc. I think these are their "Hardhat" colors. The pastels and metallics are most definitely NOT fuel proof. Clear is also NOT fuelproof.

Like you I also found out that water-based poly is not fuelproof, and unfortunately nothing seems to take it off but sandpaper! Fuel makes it sticky and a little rubbery but it still doesn't come off.

On the other hand, Nelson Hobby's water-based epoxy is very fuel proof when the cross-linker is used. I've spilled 30% Heli fuel on my pattern ship's fuse that's painted with it and left it for a while with no ill effects.

Thanks for the info....I used dark red, so I will try without fuel proofing it. It didn't seem to attack the paint, just the clear coat.

I've used red, white, black, yellow with no troubles at all over the long term with 15% and 20%. I DID have a problem with grey in that it was only 2 days dry when I fueled up, found a tank leak. The grey wiped right off. On my corsair I used it to feather into the blue topside. Let it cure for a couple of weeks, no problem. Just had to give it time. I've also used red and blue with 40% on a 1/2a that held up pretty well, but its only had a gallon thru it so far. Might not do so well on the long term. My 1/2a planes dont normally last that long anyway.
Edwin

Hello Pilots
Do you think Basecote clearcot car paint is fuelproof

You do have to give the rustoleum time to cure, at least two days/ preferably a week or more.

The problem was the Minwax Polycrylic. That stuff just turns to goo all by itself. It is not a fuel problem. I had it go gooey on a glider. I use Varathane water based poly urethane over all my paint jobs to fuelproof. Rustoleum is fine but it takes a long time to harden an even then is a soft finish.

Do you guys know of any other off the shelf fuel proof paints? I have used rustoleum in the past but found it took too long to dry.

Hydroguy,Red Devil Poly paint is fuel proof but hard to find in some areas.Rustoleum clear is fuel proof IF you let it set-up and
the solvents evaporate off.I've used Rustoleum and Red Devil on
nitro boats for years and never had a problem with them lifting
even with 45% nitro in a rigger.You must let them dry beteen coats,it takes a lot of time,but its a nice finish

The Butchman,just my nickels worth!!

Automotive paints are fuel proof and dry quickly. Tehy come in more colors than you can ever need also.

The DiBo :thumbup:

Since this thread is about fuel proof paints, I was wondering if anyone knew if Krylon paints are fuel proof.

Thanks.

I tried Krylon once,it did'nt work,the fuel made it gooey and slimey
but it was with 25% nitro.I would'nt risk it.

The Butchman

I was wondering about Krylon too.... as it dries very fast!
I am glad to hear that automotive paint is fuel proof! They have such a great choice of colors. I have five boats to paint this winter and I thought I was goint to break the bank on fuel proof paint fron the hobbie store!
I painted my electric rescue boat with rustoleum last year and always wondered why the nitro diden't ruin it. Now I know! I was planning to sand and repaint it with fuel proof paint! Thanks for the info!