Can water be used with enamel paint?

Answer 1

Typically it is unwise to cover latex with oil or oil with latex. In interior applications it is possible to apply an oil based primer over the latex then apply two coats of oil however if you are not entirely through you may find some edges failing after some years.

It's really a question of how long will it last and how durable will it be.

Water based paint is typically a latex or acrylic base. These types of bases are designed to withstand considerable strain or stretching during their lifetimes whereas oil based is typically less forgiving and prone to chipping as it's quite a hard finish. The oil based will likely chip over the latex as it expands and contracts with the surface on which it has been applied.

Some may contend that it is possible to cover one with the other as long as you sand the surface. I have found this advice to be inadequate and would advise to use oil over oil and latex over latex.

If you feel brave lightly sand with a 150 or so (water based tends to gum up the sandpaper) then apply one coat oil based primer followed by two coats oil based top coat.

Answer 2

Not always. Enamel only means that it dries hard. You can purchase both oil and water based enamels.

Answer 3

Not really, the two are opposites.

Answer 4

yes