Clear Coats

[deuce]

Due to buffing through the center line on the hood of the 57 Ford Del Rio Gasser I'm building, I decided to post up my thoughts on at least 2 clears.  Since the 2-stage clear has limited life once mixed, I used Rustoleum gloss clear to clear coat the hood after I resprayed it.  I waited about 2 weeks to buff it out.  Here are my comparisons.

2K Clear Pros - Fast setting in about a day (it doesn't "dry," it sets) Durable - resistant to model glues and thinners.  Extraordinary shine, but hard to attain

                      without lots of work.

           Cons - Unless spraying from a gun, it's not economical.  Cost is about $20 a can.  Thick - it hides detail when set.  Body parts can't be easily trimmed if

                      need be.  Clear will start to chip.

Rustoleum Pros - Readily available almost anywhere.  Cheap!  Can be buffed to a high sheen.

              Cons - Takes several days, if not a couple of weeks to set up to the point where fingers don't leave prints (easily rectified by wearing surgical gloves.)

                        Is affected by model glue and thinner.  I've had several models that I used the Rustoleum on where I had to go back and polish out again after a

                        while as they lose the shine.

I've left out Krylon clear because I've had bad experiences with it not working with other paints.  I would usually get crazing.

Now, I haven't used model specific clears, so I'd like to hear about them. 

Trying to format this, with indentation and such, but it's not working.

[mustang1989]

Testors Wet Look Clear seems to be about the best clear that I've used so far.


Pros: This stuff lays down VERY well when shot from an Air Brush and can be wet sanded and polished to a VERY high shine and this stuff sets up in a matter of a couple of days.

Cons: From the can this stuff has ALOT of air bubbles and has the potential for causing bubbles in the surface being painted. This is the reason for dispensing it and using the airbrush and I've found that it shoots best from an airbrush like a Badger 350. After decanting into the paint jar just let it sit for a few minutes so that the air bubbles can work their way out and you're all set.

[sharp]

I also decant the Wet Look Clear for airbrushing and I use a badger 350 airbrush also.I found it to be the best model clear out there. I never spray it out of the can,it's a whole different animal then.

[mustang1989]

Jul 20, 2020 21:14:23 GMT -5 sharp said:

I also decant the Wet Look Clear for airbrushing and I use a badger 350 airbrush also.I found it to be the best model clear out there. I never spray it out of the can,it's a whole different animal then.

A WILD animal at that. lolololol

[goofy62]

I use Duplicolor clear lacquer.

Pros:

Cures very quickly. (in the matter of a couple of hours)

Applies very thin and can be applied in multiple coats without detail hide.

Can be polished within a couple of days and polishes to a high shine.

No need to decant. (it sprays well directly from the can)

Very tough when cured.

Cons:

Does not have a high shine directly from the can.

Can only be applied over other automotive type lacquers.

It's relatively easy to find in many automotive parts stores or on line and is fairly cost effective at around $10.00 a can.

Steve

[deuce]

Duplicolor clear lacquer? I don't think I've tried that one. I do use Duplicolor a lot, but I don't think I'd experiment over paints like Rustoleum, which is enamel based.

[jbwelda]

Tamiya TS-13. Any others you are playing with fire. Have ruined more paint jobs with those cheap hardware store clears than I care to count. If it ain't the paint itself, its the nozzle. And to my eye, they just look bad. Same goes for that wet look clear from Testors, I used to like it but then they changed the formula or something and it turned to crap.

TS-13, great nozzle, lays down flat, polishes fine, all this talk about how it crazes I do not understand, never had that problem even when ignoring suggested wait times between coats.

jb

[deuce]

It would be an online only item for me. We don't have any hobby shops (besides HL) and they only sell Testors.