We often hear dry time and cure time used interchangeably when referring to the finishing products we use, but do we truly understand what that means? No worries! CrystaLac is here to help. First, we will go over what it means as it relates to CrystaLac’s water-based products.
Dry Time
Dry time is the time that it takes your product to become dry to the touch. Dry to the touch doesn’t always mean that the product is fully dry. The product may have dried on the surface, but is continuing to dry underneath. Water-based products dry through the evaporation of the water, which is the base for the product (hence the word water-based).
Recoat Time
Apart from dry time is recoat time. This is the time that is required before your project can be re-coated or possibly lightly used after the final coat. As the water evaporates from the product, it leaves the “solids” behind. The solids are what protect your project from everyday life, creating a water-resistant barrier that works both ways.
If you don’t wait the full recommended recoat time, the surface may be dry to the touch, but the layer(s) underneath are still evaporating and the moisture can get trapped. This can cause a wide array of issues and will at best extend your dry time significantly. The recommended dry time is product-dependent, so refer to the instructions on each product. Typically it will be 2-4 hours before you are ready to apply the next coat.
Cure Time
Cure time is the amount of time it takes for the coating to reach maximum hardness and protection. This again occurs by the evaporation of water out of our products. Throughout this time the coating is solidifying to reach total protection, meaning its resistance to chemicals, scratches, water, heat etc.
As a manufacturer, CrystaLac recommends allowing a full 30 days of cure time for our product. Within a week you can use your project, but you want to take care to avoid deep scratches, allowing water to sit, use of chemicals etc. until the 30 days are up. It is very possible it can cure faster, but we take the approach of using caution so that you always have long lasting results and protection.
Tip
The thickness of the coat and the number of coats can affect the dry/recoat/cure times as well. A few thin layers will cure faster than many thick layers, but the durability and look may differ. Remember, the more coats equals longer lasting protection. The amount of coats will depend on the project, but we recommend about 3-5 coats as typical for most applications.
What About Other Products?
Keep in mind that every brand has their own formulas, so always refer to the information on the label for specific instructions.
Solvent/Oil-Based
Oil based coatings do not use water evaporation, but they dry when the oils oxidize, meaning they are reacting with the oxygen in the air to harden. The dry time is typically 6-8 hours, with re-coating between 8-10 hours. The cure time is from 10 days to 3 months.
Latex
Latex is typically dry enough to recoat in 2-4 hours and the cure time can be 2-4 weeks.
Spray Paint
The dry time is typically 15 minutes to an hour, and the cure time is 24-48 hours. (keep in mind this is not a protective coating)
Nitrocellulose Lacquer (Solvent-Based)
Nitro dries by the evaporation of the solvents. It dries very quickly at 15 minutes, and you can add coats before it fully dries, but the cure time can be anywhere from 2 weeks- 6 months. Yikes!
Acrylics
Acrylics dry in from about 30 minutes to 2 hours, with the cure time about 2-6 weeks.*
Epoxy
Epoxy dries in 24-48 hours. It cures through exothermic reactions, which simply put, means as the molecules react they generate heat. This is one of the many reasons it is so toxic. The curing process can be sped up through administering heat however. It typically takes 72hrs-30 days to fully cure.
Again, all of this is dependent on the brand you are using and your application process. These times can be affected by temperature, humidity and more. Also remember that additives will greatly affect the dry and cure times.
TLDR;
There are multiple factors that come into play when it comes to the drying and curing of water-based products. Remember that water-based coatings dry from the top-down, so make sure to follow instructions before adding more coats, otherwise you can trap moisture than can cause issues in your finish.
Keep in mind that the amount of coats and the thickness of each coat can increase or decrease your dry time. A low-humidity environment might cause the product to dry faster than desired, and a warm high-humidity environment may cause drying to take longer. The former may require an additive to extend the dry time if you are experiencing issues with fast drying.
General Recommendations for CrystaLac’s Waterbased Products:
- Conditions: 68-75ºF, ideal humidity at 70%
- Dry Time/ Re-coating: 2-4 hours between coats
- Before Use: 1 week
- Cure time: Approx. 30 days