Short answer: National Industrial Quick Drying Enamel is a gloss enamel based on a special alkyd, for structural steel, pipes, scaffolding, drums, vehicles and industrial and agricultural machinery. It is touch dry in 5 to 10 minutes, recoatable in 4 to 6 hours and hard dry in 10 to 12 hours at 30°C. National’s system is short: one coat of Red Oxide Primer at 40 microns, then one coat of this enamel at 30 microns, with no undercoat. It covers about 16.5 m² per litre.
Why a quick-drying enamel
Workshops and fabrication yards need steel they can handle and move soon after painting. A touch-dry time measured in minutes cuts the time fresh paint can pick up dust or be damaged in handling, and hard dry in 10 to 12 hours means items can usually be stacked the next day. How it compares with National’s other gloss alkyds:
| Industrial QD Enamel | Gloss II | Gloss I | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Touch dry | 5 to 10 min | 1 h | 6 h |
| Recoat | 4 to 6 h | 8 h | 18 h |
| Hard dry | 10 to 12 h | 24 h | 24 h |
| System | Primer + 1 coat | Primer + undercoat + 2 coats | Primer + undercoat + 1 to 2 coats |
| Flash point | 32°C | 32°C (protective sheet) | 38°C |
Key facts
| Type | Special alkyd quick-drying enamel, single pack |
| Uses | Structural steel, pipes, scaffolding, drums, vehicles, industrial and agricultural machinery |
| Finish and colours | Gloss; National shade card |
| Volume solids | 50 ± 2% |
| Specific gravity | 1.12 ± 0.05 |
| Spreading rate | 16.5 m² per litre (theoretical) |
| Film per coat | 30 microns dry (60 wet) |
| Application | Airless spray (2200 psi, tip 0.015 to 0.020 inch), air spray (50 psi) or brush |
| Thinning | Airless 5 to 10%, air 10 to 15%, brush 10%, with National G.P. Thinner |
| Flash point | 32°C |
| Shelf life | 18 months, sealed |
Step by step
- Prepare: degrease, then clean to St 2 or blast to Sa 2.5, per National’s surface preparation guide. Apply to a dry, dust-free surface.
- Prime: one coat of Red Oxide Primer at 40 microns. Wait 8 to 12 hours.
- Finish: one coat of Quick Drying Enamel at 30 microns (about 60 wet). Spray is the natural fit given how fast it dries; brushing large areas can leave lap marks as edges set.
- Handle carefully until hard dry at 10 to 12 hours.
What the numbers mean
500 ÷ 30 ≈ 16.7 m² per litre, close to the sheet’s 16.5. The whole system adds up to about 70 microns dry: thinner than National’s three- and four-coat alkyd systems (150 microns or more), which is the trade-off for speed. For higher-exposure steel, see steel painting systems.
How much to buy
| Steel area | Red Oxide, 1 coat | QD Enamel, 1 coat |
|---|---|---|
| 50 m² | 2.7 to 3.6 L | about 3 L |
| 100 m² | 5.4 to 7.1 L | about 6.1 L |
| 500 m² | 27 to 36 L | about 30 L |
Mistakes to avoid
- Storing it hot. Flash point is 32°C; keep it sealed, shaded and away from welding and grinding.
- Skipping the primer. National’s system always starts with Red Oxide Primer.
- Applying too thick to “save a coat”. The sheet recommends 30 microns.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply a second coat?
The sheet gives a recoat time of 4 to 6 hours, so yes, though National’s listed system is one coat over primer.
Is it good for gates at home?
It is listed for industrial uses. For home gates and grilles, National’s decorative Gloss I or Eco Enamel systems are the usual choice.
Buy in Sharjah and Dubai
Al Tashteb Al Saree is an authorised National Paints retailer in Bu-Tina, Sharjah. Message us on WhatsApp for Quick Drying Enamel, Red Oxide Primer and G.P. Thinner.
Sources
- National Industrial Quick Drying Enamel data sheet (PDF)
- National Red Oxide Primer data sheet (PDF)
- National Paints surface preparation guide, Sec. A-2 (PDF)
All via AEC Online, retrieved 4 November 2026. Quantities and film totals are our own calculations. The main image is illustrative.
