How to fix benchtop after applying Rustoleum?

[D_Morgan]

Hi. Have used the rustoleum benchtop kit in galaxy black. 50% of the project is a fail. 
The top coat obviously did not mix/activate during application of the first half of the top coat. Consistency was claggy and never dried. Second half poured into paint tray was watery and bench here has dried perfectly. 
so over a week of asking for help from rustoleum they only advised to wipe down 4 times with acetone and a lint free cloth. And that another top coat would not be necessary.

The last wipe down, in madness, taken to going really hard scraping lines of stickiness with a credit card and will need to do another round of this anyway. 

Bench is still sticky in some places and absolutely still not useable. 
My questions are multiple:

-how to remove all of the sticky top coat successfully? Should I keep doing the acetone?

- should I then give it a light sand?

-then should I apply another layer of black as it is now all streaky and matte from the wiping down?

-what other brand of clear top coat can I then use over this to seal it?

any tips, help, advice appreciated.

(Not keen to go back to Rustoleum as waiting days between really minimal and unhelpful one line responses is torturous.)

thank you in advance 
-

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @D_Morgan. 

I'm sorry to hear there have been issues with your benchtop coating.

There are a couple of reasons why this non-curing of the topcoat can occur. The first is that Part A and Part B have not been mixed properly together, and the other is environmental factors. The acetone wipe process is advised to help resolve environmental factors but should not be used to remove the product. It simply helps activate it.

What you're describing sounds more like an issue with the two parts, one containing the resin and the other containing the catalyst, and them not mixing properly. You mentioned that there was a first half and a second half of the topcoat. I just wanted to confirm that there should only be one topcoat, which consists of the two parts being mixed together. If you applied Part A and Part B separately to the bench, that would certainly be a reason for it not setting and remaining sticky. I'm not suggesting that is the reason; I just wanted to make you aware.

I've spoken to Rustoleum, and they would like to replace the product for you. If you see the team at the store you purchased from and tell them that Linda from Rustoleum will credit the product, they can swap it over for you.

Unfortunately, what product is on the bench will need to be removed by sanding back to the original benchtop. I do apologise for this inconvenience.

Please let me know if you have any questions or have any issues swapping over the product.

Mitchell
 

[D_Morgan]

Hi Mitchell,

thanks for the reply. 
Just to clarify, Part A & Part B were mixed together thoroughly (and for much longer than recommended) prior to application. The ‘second half’ referred to is where the rest of the mixed top coat was poured into the paint tray for application on the second portion of bench top. 

I will attend my Bunning’s (west Footscray) tonight and request the replacement kit hopefully without any issue. 

thank you for your help. 

[MitchellMc]

It's interesting that the different consistencies occurred then, @D_Morgan. What normally happens is the other way around, where the first half is fine, but then the second half becomes claggy as it begins to set outside the 90-minute application window.

I've spoken with Christy, the manager at Bunnings West Footscray, and she has alerted the Paints team that you're coming in tonight for an exchange. I've also double-checked stock. They have it available and have put one aside for you at the paints counter. Please bring your proof of purchase and anything that remains of the product or packaging.

Mitchell