FAQ

• 1. How compatible are the different paint qualities?

  • All paints (acrylic, nitro combination, synthetic resin, water-based paints) can be painted over with synthetic resin paints.
  • Synthetic resin paint can only be painted over with synthetic resin paint. Acrylic lacquer or nitro combination lacquer cannot be painted on synthetic resin. This would lead to "lifting" of the paint due to incompatibility.

• 2. What should I bear in mind when determining the drying times?

  Drying times can be found in the technical data sheet of the respective product on this website. Drying times always depend on the ambient temperature, humidity and the thickness of the paint layer applied. Our drying specifications were measured at an ambient temperature of 20°C and a relative humidity of 50%.
  • Dust-dry: The paint layer is so dry that dust particles can no longer be trapped in the paint.
  • Touch dry: The paint is not yet fully hardened and robust, but can already be touched.
  • Reworkable: The paint can be sanded and overpainted.
  • Fully dreid: The paint has reached its final hardness.
  

• 3. What weather conditions are suitable for spraying?

  Naturally in dry weather or in dry and windproof environments. The can should be at room temperature. Optimal results are obtained when the environment is at a temperature between +15° and 25°C. The humidity should not be higher than 60%, otherwise drying would be significantly delayed.

• 4. How do you recognise the shelf life of spray cans and touch-up pens?

  There is an imprint in the bottom of our products, which may look as follows: P 06/23
  EXP 06/33
  The P stands for production: 06/23 means calendar week 06 in the year 2023.
  EXP stands for the expiry date, in this case calendar week 06 in the year 2033.
  

• 5. How do I store European Aerosols products?

  The product should be stored in the sealed original container in a dry room (max. 60 % humidity) at temperatures between 10° – 25°C. Aqua paints must be protected against frost. The products must be protected from light and direct sunlight.
  Please note: Aerosols must never be exposed to temperatures above 50°C and must be kept away from sources of ignition.

• 6. How long can I store and use the products?

  If stored properly (=10°-25°C, relative humidity of max. 60%), we guarantee a minimum shelf life of:
  • 10 years for our solvent-based paint aerosols
  • 10 years for the technical aerosols and underbody protection sprays
  • 5 years for the water-based paint aerosols
  • 5 years for the touch-up pens and brushable or sprayable underbody protection products
  • 2 years for the putty products
  

• 7. Where can one find technical data sheet and safety data sheets?

  The technical data sheet and safety data sheets for each product can be found on this homepage in the respective product description.

• 8. Why do many products have a spray protection ring? What should be considered?

  The red spray protection ring was developed to prevent unwanted spraying (e.g. by children or vandalism in the retail environment). This small red ring is located under the protective cap and under the spray head. When you remove the spray head, the ring can be easily lifted up and removed with a pointed object, e.g. a screwdriver. Please do not use force here, as this could damage the can and the contents could leak out.
  Important: the spray protection ring can be inserted again afterwards.

• 9. What is the correct way to dispose of European Aerosols products?

  Product packaging (aerosol cans, filler cans, etc.), the contents of which have been completely used, can be disposed of with household waste. Please dispose of containers with material residues via special waste. Please note the information from the DSD disposal company (green dot).

• 10. Are AQUA spray paints weather-resistant?

  The new generation of our Aqua spray paint can also be used to paint outdoor objects. The prerequisite for weather resistance is the complete hardening of the paint, which is reached after 5 days.

• 11. What is spray mist and how do I reduce its effects?

  At warmer temperatures, but also if the distance to the object to be painted is too large when spraying, the paint will dry while still in the air and will no longer reach the object to be painted. This air-dried lacquer settles on the surface as spray mist. Please note the spraying distance indicated on the product instructions. It should always be painted in a wind-protected area to prevent particles from settling from the spray mist on the still-wet, painted surface. The amount of spray mist that can occur depends on the amount of paint, the ventilation (wind conditions) and the application. Spray mist can spread around a room up to 10 metres. Therefore, it is recommended to cover the surrounding area carefully and extensively.

• 12. Can spray paints be used inside the home?

  If not extensively painted, essentially yes. However, sufficient ventilation must be ensured here. Please note the information concerning this on the can. In addition, the surrounding area must be protected from spray mist over a large area.

• 13. What safety precautions should I take when spraying?

  The required safety precautions vary from product to product. Please note the corresponding information on the product labels.
  In general, aerosols must be protected from light and direct sunlight and must not be exposed to temperatures above 50°C under any circumstances. The sprays must be kept away from sources of ignition. Never spray on flames or red-hot objects.
  Aerosol cans must never be forcibly opened or burned, even when the can is empty.
  Always ensure adequate ventilation. When using paint sprays, explosive mixtures may form in the air.
  Keep products out of reach of children.

• 14. Which clearcoat is the right one?

  • All paints (acrylic, nitro combination, synthetic resin) can be painted over with synthetic resin paints.
  • Synthetic resin coatings can only be painted with resin coatings. Acrylic varnish or nitro combination paints cannot be painted on synthetic resin. This would lead to "lifting" of the paint due to the different drying times.
  • Automotive repair paints (acrylic, nitro combination) are best overpainted with 2-coat clearcoat or 2K clearcoat, which has the best petrol resistance.
  • Effect paint such as 3D-effect, diamond effect, light-up spray, metallic should be overcoated with a clearcoat to protect the special-effect pigments. When it comes to painting a fuel-powered vehicle or parts of it, the 2K clearcoat or 2-coat clearcoat is best suited for this purpose. For more decorative purposes, the Zapon clearcoat (crystal spray) is recommended, which has the highest shine after the 2K clearcoat.
  • Granite effect spray: After drying (for around 24 hours), it is absolutely necessary to seal the granite structure and to spray it over with DUPLI-COLOR granite clearcoat or another DUPLI-COLOR clearcoat for protection (especially when painting outdoor objects).
  • Bronze effect, gold/chrome/copper effect: These effect paints cannot be protected by a clear coat. The clear coat would destroy the effect.
  • 2K Clearcoat (e.g. ColorMatic 2K Clear Coat) is particularly used in professional environments. This is particularly resistant to fuel and the effects of weather.
  

• 15. What are the qualities of the paint (acrylic, synthetic resin, etc.) in my paint spray can?

  For most products, this information is on the can label. If this is not the case, please find the information on our homepage. Here you will find a technical data sheet showing the paint qualities for each product.

• 16. How can you paint perfectly on Styrofoam?

  • Paints, i.e. also paint aerosols, usually contain solvents that attack and dissolve the Styrofoam. One exception here is water-based paint (DUPLI-COLOR AQUA ECO+). These can be safely painted directly onto styrofoam.
  • The DUPLI-COLOR range has a special colour range: "Deco Matt" These paints contain a special solvent that does not attack the polystyrene surface.
  • If you use the special styrofoam primer of DUPLI-COLOR, you can then coat the styrofoam object with any solvent-containing paint. Important here: The primer must completely cover the entire surface of the styrofoam and separate it from the subsequent coat of paint.

• 17. What must be observed when painting hard plastics?

  Plastics are sensitive to solvents and react strongly to temperature fluctuations (flexibility). In addition, you are working with a very smooth surface, which does not allow lacquer to adhere well. Therefore, pre-treatment with a plastic primer is absolutely necessary. This forms a paintable bridge between the plastic surface and the subsequent paint layer. The plastic primer is sprayed on thinly in one coat.

• 18. Why is the paint not adhering properly?

  Perhaps the substrate was not completely sanded, clean, dry and free from grease (silicone-free)? If necessary, use a degreaser or silicone remover before painting.
  For problematic surfaces, use specialist primers, e.g. for coatable plastics, a plastic primer or a styrofoam primer for styrofoam.

• 19. My paintwork has runs. How can I avoid this?

  Spray crosswise (horizontally – vertically). Start spraying outside the object. Press the spray head firmly during movement. Move the spray can slowly and evenly back and forth and carry out the turning movement around the outside of the object. This is the best way to control the spray jet and avoid too much paint on the surface, which leads to “tears” or “runs”.
  The spraying distance to the object must not be too small. Information on the spraying distance can be found on the respective product label; it is usually 15 – 25 cm.
  The optimal processing temperature is between 15° and 25°C (room temperature). The paint can, the object to be painted, and the spatial environment should be at this temperature.
  Do not attempt to achieve a smooth, opaque surface immediately during the first spray. Spraying several thin layers is better than applying the paint in a thick layer.

• 20. My paintwork looks like the surface of an orange. How can I avoid this?

  If the spraying distance is too large or the temperature is too high (>25°C), the paint will dry in the air. This mist can be reflected on your painted object in an initially matt surface. When you paint another layer, small elevations form, referred to as “orange peel”.

• 21. Why is the paintwork peeling off?

  The surface should always be more pigmented than the subsequent paintwork. Primers are highly pigmented, clearcoats do not contain any colour pigments. The optimal structure is therefore primer – colour paint – clearcoat. In addition, the surface should be ground and cleaned before applying the primer or paint. A structure with paints from different manufacturers can also lead to intolerances. Therefore always use products from the same manufacturer on an object.
  The paint cannot stick to smooth plastic surfaces. To avoid flaking, the object must always be pre-treated with a plastic primer. To clean the plastic surface, use plastic cleaner beforehand.

• 22. Why are wrinkles forming on my paintwork (paint "pulls up")?

  Synthetic resin may only be painted over with synthetic resin. The solvents in the synthetic resin evaporate slowly, while solvents in quick-drying acrylic varnishes evaporate quickly. If you then paint a quick-drying acrylic paint on a synthetic resin, the solvents in the acrylic paint will dissolve the layer underneath. Since the quick-drying acrylic paint surface seals faster than the underlying dissolved synthetic resin can dry, the varnish swells up and forms unwanted creases.
  If synthetic resin paint is painted with synthetic resin paint, it must be noted that this is done within 2 hours after the first paint or only after 24 hours, otherwise the same "tightening" effect arises here.

• 23. I do not like the paintwork. Can I remove the paint?

  It is best to remove the paint immediately after painting with nitro dilution or acetone.
  AQUA spray oaint can be washed with water and a surfactant cleanser within 20 minutes.

• 24. What is the difference between 1-coat and 2-coat paintwork?

  1-coat (single-layer) paintwork does not require coating with clearcoat.
  2-coat (dual-layer) paintwork is usually required where special pigments are used, for example in metallic/pearl/mica colour car paints. The clearcoat protects the pigments from the influence of weather and optimises the shine of the coating.

• 25. I did not spray the can to empty. Can I store it and continue to use it later?

  Spray paints are closed paint systems. This prevents the paint from drying out and we can guarantee a shelf life of 10 years. However, practice has shown that paint sprays still function perfectly 15 – 20 years after production! Of course, correct storage is important.
  With most sprays from European Aerosols, self-cleaning valves ensure that the spray heads are drained. But if you want to be completely sure, simply turn the can upside down and press the spray head for 2 – 3 seconds. In this way, only propellant gas is ejected and the valve and spray head are cleared of active substance residues (paint residues).
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