A coat of paint is dry when it ceases to be “tacky” to the touch. Prolonged tackiness indicates excessively slow drying. This may be caused by insufficient drier in the paint, a low-quality vehicle in the paint, applying the paint too thickly, painting over an undercoat that is not thoroughly dry, painting over a waxy, oily, or greasy surface, or painting in damp weather.
Possible Causes:
Paint has inadequate adhesion and flexibility.
Overthinning or overspreading the paint.
Inadequate surface preparation or applying the paint to bare wood without first applying a primer.
Excessive hardening and embrittlement of alkyd-based paints as the paint job ages.
Solution:
Remove loose and flaking paint with a scraper or wire brush, sanding the surface and feathering the edges. If the flaking occurs in multiple layers of paint, use of fillers may be necessary. Prime bare wood areas before repainting
