Work with acrylic paints on wood. How long does acrylic paint dry or what else is important to know about it

colorful compositions 28.06.2019
colorful compositions

The issue of paint drying worries any master, because the term of delivery of the object depends on it. How long does it really take to dry? And if this is not an object, but a house in which you decided to paint the floor or pipes ... How to be in this case, if you have no idea how long it will take to dry the same acrylic paint? After all, repairs can be stretched out for an indefinite period because of this.

What is this material

The approximate age of the appearance of acrylic paints is half a century. During this time, they confidently crowded out other types of paintwork until they took a leading position. Now they are used everywhere - they paint facades, walls, ceilings, cars ... There are many advantages due to which the material has gained such popularity:

  • Composition - acrylic resin (binder), coloring pigment, water;
  • No smell;
  • Not combustible;
  • Drying time is minimal compared to other paints;
  • Protects against mold;
  • Heat resistant;
  • The tool can be washed with plain water (immediately after work);
  • Acrylic paint has a very long service life (up to 12 years);
  • Resistance of the finished surface to abrasion;
  • Does not fade in the sun for a long time;
  • Large selection of colors and shades;
  • Suitable for artistic painting on wood, as it dries well and has many bright shades and halftones.

The answer to the question of how long acrylic paint dries depends on what substrate it is intended for.

What can be painted

Acrylic-based paint can be used on any type of substrate - wood, brick, concrete, metal, plaster. With the help of an airbrush, you can draw on any wall and even asphalt. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

On each of the materials, it behaves differently. It depends on this how long it takes for the surface to become completely resistant to the external environment. However, it dries fairly quickly on any substrate, making it very easy to work with.


Water-based acrylic paint is used to color concrete. After evaporation of water, a strong film is formed on the surface, which has the ability to pass steam, while perfectly protecting against water.

The surface of concrete under such a layer is perfectly protected from undesirable atmospheric phenomena and does not collapse. How much paint is needed to carry out work on a certain area can be calculated in accordance with the instructions on the package. Acrylic dries quickly, so after two days you can safely walk on such a coating.

For brick, the same acrylic paint is usually used as for concrete. Its advantage over other, cheaper formulations is the complete absence of water absorption. The composition usually includes silicone, due to which water rolls off the painted surface without lingering on it.


Why do we choose acrylic for wood? The choice is influenced by factors such as:

  • How long will the surface dry;
  • Maximum weather protection;
  • High antifungal properties;
  • The durability of the finished coating.

Acrylic based paint dries fairly quickly. How many? Depends on the number of applied layers. The first layer will gain strength quickly (within 3-4 days), the second a little longer (4-7 days). Usually painting with two layers can be limited. But no one bothers to get the surface even more best quality. The third layer will dry even longer.

It is better to apply acrylic to metal with a spray gun, although it is not forbidden to use a brush. Pre-clean the surface from dirt, dust and, very importantly, possible grease stains. If there are small pockets of rust, paint directly over them. Acrylic paint will block access to water and the process of destruction will not go further.

A thin layer from the sprayer dries immediately. If you work with a brush or roller, the drying process can take up to a day.

What you need to know when working with such paints

  1. When painting plastered surfaces, allow them to dry completely. This means that you can paint fresh plaster with acrylic paint no earlier than a month later.
  2. Be sure to clean the surface before painting and primer. Despite excellent adhesion to any type of substrate, a primer will not hurt.
  3. How long the paint will dry depends on external factors. If the street is dry and warm, the process will be completed much faster. If it's cool and humid, it will drag on. If you increase ventilation in the room, the drying of the surface will be faster.

Well, we hope that now you know exactly how long acrylic paint dries. Choosing acrylic for interior decoration, give preference to the material on water based, without smell.

Do not forget to tightly close the container with paint, after carefully releasing the lid and edges from it.

Acrylic is stored for a long time, but because of the tightly stuck lid, you just have to throw the paint away.

Such a statement of the question is not very correct. To find the answer, it is necessary first of all to find out what the material is, what conditions are required for its speedy hardening. The following will provide comprehensive information that will allow you to find out how long acrylic paint dries.

The principle of curing acrylic paint

Acrylic paint contains a hardener, which activates a specific chemical when applying a layer of material to the surface. Temperature is the main catalyst for starting the reaction. environment. The higher it is, the less time it takes to cure the paint.

When using acrylic paint to perform both external and internal works, V vivo surface heating up to a maximum of 25 °C can be achieved. Such indicators absolutely do not contribute to the instant drying of the material. Best conditions for the fastest drying of acrylic paint are created only when processing surfaces in specialized

Factors that affect the drying speed of acrylic paint

How long it dries depends not only on temperature. Among other factors, it is worth noting the quality of ventilation of the room in which the work is being carried out. The thickness of the applied layer also affects the rate of hardening of the material. If the layer of the substance is as thin as possible and covers a perfectly flat surface, drying can take about half an hour. However, a thick or repeated coat of paint will take much longer to cure.

How to shorten the curing time of the paint?

If necessary, drying time acrylic material can be reduced by adding latex to the composition. The specified substance greatly improves the already excellent water-repellent qualities of the paint of the type presented. When the mixture is exposed to a stream of warm air, it may take only a few minutes for a thin layer to completely harden, while in the case of acrylic paint at room temperature, the drying time of the surface will be up to two hours. However, the final solidification of the formation will occur in about 24 hours.


There is a wide variety of acrylic paints on the market today. Each type of material has different cure rates. Therefore, in order to find out how long acrylic paint dries, before buying it, you should carefully read the information on the manufacturer's label and compare the figures presented with the conditions in which the work will be carried out.

Material consumption

What is the consumption of acrylic paint per m2? On average, about 200-250 grams of a substance is required per unit area. To make material consumption as economical as possible, you need to use a high-quality roller for painting walls. The texture that will appear on the surfaces will also depend on the selection of the tool. In particular, for processing smooth wallpaper, it is better to choose a roller for painting walls with an average pile length. To minimize material costs when processing a textured plane, it is recommended to use a tool with a long pile, which will allow you to achieve a uniform distribution of the substance.


In general, in an effort to determine the consumption of acrylic paint, you should not blindly trust the indicators indicated on the label. The latter are valid only in the case of processing ideally smooth surfaces. For example, if the manufacturer indicates a material consumption of 8 m 2 per liter, in reality, the cans will only be enough for 6-7 m 2 of area. Based on this, it is recommended to purchase acrylic paint with some margin, somewhere 5% more than required according to preliminary calculations. If the material is used for priming surfaces, its volume can be slightly increased by adding a small amount of water to the composition.

The performance of acrylic paint

Acrylic paints have excellent characteristics. They belong to the category of quick-drying materials. At the same time, they can be applied both on concrete surfaces, and on metal and plaster.

Acrylic materials have low gas permeability and effective water repellency. Based on this, they serve as reliable protection for surfaces from the development of corrosion processes.


The paints of the presented character are distinguished by a huge range of bright, saturated shades that do not change their original appearance under the influence of sunlight.

Due to the increased resistance to adverse environmental factors, acrylic paints are equally effective for interior and exterior work. They have frost resistance, do not light up at a critical temperature increase. In general, acrylic paints can be used to treat any surface, from interiors to the artist's canvas.

Acrylic paint contains three components: pigment, binder and water. As a binder, copolymers or acrylates are used. The paint dries very quickly and after drying forms an elastic plastic-resistant coating, has good covering properties and excellent color brightness. Acrylic paints, unlike watercolors, do not fade in the sun and do not fade over time, like oil paints.

In the process of evaporation of water, acrylic paint dries, after which it forms an elastic film of pigment and binder. Dried acrylic is very durable, it is not brittle and does not form cracks, the painted surface does not exfoliate. Over time, acrylic does not wrinkle, it is resistant to changes in humidity conditions and temperature extremes. Its light fastness has been proven over more than fifty years of existence.

When applied in a thin layer, the paint dries almost instantly, thicker layers dry more slowly - up to several minutes. Once dry, acrylic paints are not water-removable and do not lend themselves well to scraping or sanding.

Acrylic paint drying time and other characteristics

Its performance characteristics are excellent. The paint can be applied on metal and concrete surfaces, on plaster. Acrylic paints are characterized by low gas permeability, and it is for this reason that they reliably protect the painted surface from corrosion.

But it is for the same reason that they can be applied to the plastered surface no earlier than a month after the end of the work - the plaster needs carbon dioxide to harden.


Acrylic paints give a huge range of rich and bright colors that do not fade in the sun and do not fade over time. These paints have good vapor permeability, as a result of which the surface painted with it can “breathe” without letting in moisture.

Due to its weather resistance, acrylic paint is equally well suited for both indoor and outdoor use. It is fireproof, frost-resistant and not prone to dirt accumulation. Almost any surface can be painted with it: from cardboard and canvas in an artist's workshop to brick and concrete at a construction site.

How long does acrylic paint dry - how can you influence the time?

When these paints are used in the construction sector, latex is often added to their composition, a substance that enhances the already good water-repellent properties of the paint. A surface painted with such a composition can withstand up to five thousand washing cycles.

The drying time of acrylic paint depends on the environment. At high temperature and low humidity, the process proceeds much faster than and can be used to speed it up. Promotes faster drying and good ventilation.

Acrylic paints, popular in finishing works, are widely used for artistic purposes. The differences between their compositions and conventional paint mixtures lie in the special brightness of colors and the variety of shades. They can be applied to almost any surface and are suitable for creating rich and colorful images.

Product Features and Specifications

The basis of all paints for drawing is water, pigment and acrylic resins. To give the composition improved performance, acrylates can include complex copolymers that change the structure and physico-chemical properties of the coating. Practical and versatile, they are gradually replacing harmful and less resistant non-aqueous paints.

Acrylic art paints quickly received the first patents and widespread use due to the following qualities:

  • resistance to moisture after drying;
  • ease of application;
  • high adhesion to most types of surfaces;
  • short hardening time;
  • UV resistance;
  • the possibility of using conventional and optical dyes (luminesce in ultraviolet);
  • suitability for combining paints of various colors to create a unique palette.

It is also important to know how long art acrylic paint dries. The time of its complete solidification, sufficient for the formation of a durable polymer layer, is several hours. When working with paintings, new strokes are often superimposed on top of a previously painted surface.

You can start applying the next layer 30-60 minutes after the previous one, when the partial polymerization of acrylates has occurred.

Where can I buy

Acrylic paints for art work can be bought in stores that sell paint for painting, or ordered from online catalogs of online stores. Mixes are recommended to be bought in sets, since this guarantees the compatibility of the compositions when filling the palette.

To save on paints, they can be purchased in larger containers or sets. When buying, you should check the expiration date, which fundamentally affects the quality and durability of the pattern.

Popular drawing compositions

There are a variety of domestic and foreign ones that produce high-quality artistic mixtures. With their help, you can create classic paintings and relief images that resemble the work of a sculptor. Several popular brands have become widespread in Russia.

Choosing the one that suits you is quite difficult, so we advise you to watch a video comparison of the most popular products:

Sonnet

"Sonnet" universal acrylic art paints suitable for paper, wood, and metal surfaces. Their bright colors do not fade over time and maintain the saturation of the created image.

The cost of a set of 12 different colors (total 120 ml) is 400-500 rubles. Tubes of 75 ml, sold separately, cost 120-140 rubles.

DECOLA

Acrylic art paint "DECOLA" is a composition for most types of surfaces. Paints are produced in sets of 6, 9 and 12 colors. The total palette includes more than 20 shades.

A jar of paint with a volume of 50 ml has a price in the range of 100-250 rubles, depending on the type of paint. The cheapest are glossy acrylic art paints, and metallic products are among the most expensive compositions. A set of 12 colors of ordinary paints (240 ml) costs 250-300 rubles.

This paint is often confused with another, which has a similar name "Decolor". Which one is better for you to decide, but we advise you to watch the following video about such a product:

Ray

"Ray" is produced mainly in sets of 12 tubes of 15-20 ml each. Acrylic artistic paints "Ray" are distinguished by their brightness and do not lose their properties over time. The cost of a set is 250-350 rubles.

Gamma

Acrylic art paints "Gamma" are relatively cheap, suitable for both amateurs and professionals. Top Reviews these mixtures are obtained when creating large images.

The main form of release of paints is metal tubes of 46 ml. The cost of one tube varies from 90 to 190 rubles. and depends on the shade of paint and the effect attached to the pattern.

Ladoga

Acrylic artistic paint "Ladoga" is produced and sold in sets of 8, 10, 12 colors. The compositions are declared by the manufacturer as universal - suitable for painting any base.

The release form of mixtures is tubes and jars with a volume of 46 and 100 ml. The cost of a larger capacity is 120-250 rubles. In total, there are 38 regular and 13 "metallic" shades on the market.

How to dilute acrylic art paint



To dilute acrylates, you can use water, which is part of the dispersion medium.
To give the resulting film special visual qualities, special solvents are used. They provide a matte or shiny surface of the cured layer.

Acrylic paints are a good alternative to oil and watercolor compositions, differing from them in increased durability and bright colors. The ability of acrylates to successfully interact with other types of paints increases their versatility in artistic painting. The high affinity for most surfaces extends the range of uses of acrylic paints and their value as a decorative material.

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