Clear coat, Jim, got your ears on?

thuban

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I've read over MANY threads on "Clear Coat". Specifically has not answered my question. I sprayed a base coat of JE #1 Acrylic Enamel. The JE #1 was not designed to be over coated but the color in this brand was a dang near match to factory so... I'm at the point of applying my decals and then the clear over coat. I trots down to get a bit of clear. Says I have to buy a gallon @ $54 bucks plus the hardener/activator! I thought, That can't be right. That was for Nexera 4100. So what if I just put on the decals and spray the over coat using Spraymax 2K clear rattle can? I know gggGary did a tank back in mid 2018 that I thought turned out well. I just don't want to use a clear that won't stick to the base coat or turns the decals into tater chips! Also not sure about the longevity of the Spraymax?
Thanks,
Thu


 
I've no experience with Spraymax 2K clear rattle can Thu... sorry. I will say though that I've heard nothing but good about it.... never seen a bad result. At least not attributed to the paint itself. ;) There's tons of videos on Youtube about Spraymax 2K. Everyone seems impressed with it... give it a shot.
I will offer one pointer though. When you think your clear is good enough, give it one more coat. It sucks to burn through it when you do the cut and buff 'cause it was a little thin somewhere. Don't ask me how I know that.... :rolleyes:
 
I've no experience with Spraymax 2K clear rattle can Thu... sorry. I will say though that I've heard nothing but good about it.... never seen a bad result. At least not attributed to the paint itself. ;) There's tons of videos on Youtube about Spraymax 2K. Everyone seems impressed with it... give it a shot.
I will offer one pointer though. When you think your clear is good enough, give it one more coat. It sucks to burn through it when you do the cut and buff 'cause it was a little thin somewhere. Don't ask me how I know that.... :rolleyes:

Got it! Thanks Jim. I'll research the You Tubes.:poke:
 
Spraymax 2k works great and is fuel proof. Did my tank this way. 3 coats. And if you put it in the fridge when you are done, it will last quite some time. It says you have 48hrs to use, but mine worked after a month.

Ho, man, "B" that is cool. I think it will work really well. The last bit of info I need is if it will coat over the Acrylic Enamel no problem. I added hardener so it should be fine but I guess it's the aircraft mech in me, I got to be sure.
Thanks, "B",
 
Yes, the Spraymax will for sure work over acrylic enamel.
You can study their website:
https://www.spraymax.com/en/technology/
This is just what I did on my '76 (Spraymax over acrylic enamel) . Like Jim said, multiple coats ( I did 5 coats) is a very good idea.

XS650.rebuild 004.JPG
 
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Ho, man, "B" that is cool. I think it will work really well. The last bit of info I need is if it will coat over the Acrylic Enamel no problem. I added hardener so it should be fine but I guess it's the aircraft mech in me, I got to be sure.
Thanks, "B",

It won’t run paint. Trust me, I was skeptical too, but it works a treat. I bought it at a local auto/industrial paint shop for the same price as online.
 
It won’t run paint. Trust me, I was skeptical too, but it works a treat. I bought it at a local auto/industrial paint shop for the same price as online.

Guys, that's outstanding news. I also read their tech sheets. I did order two cans. I do have a mask that's up to the task. I also spray our of doors cause I've got no booth. I'm thinking I need to spray a light tac coat over the decals first then use many light coats rather than having a wet coat sitting on the decals that might cause a problem. Yamadude, I see you had no problems covering your decal. Looks great! If mine turns out that good I'll be a happy puppy!
Thanks, Guys.
 
This is excellent info because I’m headed to Spraymax 2K - land myself.
I have a very low tech question:

- about how many cans would be needed to paint a tank and a pair of side covers?

Like - would one can be enough for 2 coats - or ....? Any suggestions guestimations would be very much appreciated.

Pete
 
This is excellent info because I’m headed to Spraymax 2K - land myself.
I have a very low tech question:

- about how many cans would be needed to paint a tank and a pair of side covers?

Like - would one can be enough for 2 coats - or ....? Any suggestions guestimations would be very much appreciated.

Pete
Max,
I used very little paint for 3 coats on my tank. It was Shopline JE paint. I bet 1 can would do but with two, it's still a lot cheaper that anything else out there and looks to be so easy to use. I'm a rattle can guy anyway even though I do have a couple of nice air brushes.
Thu
 
Thanks Thu.
Pete
Welcome, Max. Oh, for those that want the closest match to Bountiful Blue, it will be the Shopline JE #1, VW paint in KURIL BLUE, OEM code, LH5T. I used a "Preval" sprayer ( took only 1 unit for tank and side covers, two coats) I mixed 8 parts Paint, 1 part JR506 Medium reducer, and 1 part JH6001 hardener. All shopline products. This made up 5 OZ paint. I had just enough. I bought about 6 oz paint which would have made up a bit more than 8 OZ. But the preval only holds 6 oz. I will not mix 8-1-1 again. I think it needs to be thinner. like 4-1-1 that is recommended in places I have read. What ever you do, try and stay with the same brand of products. you'll have less problems trying to figure out if something else is compatible with what you have.
I used Rust-oleum grey primer, a tac rag and Rust-oleum Wax & Tar Remover before and after sanding and painting. ( Great stuff) I used 400 paper on a rubber sanding block and without the block for general sanding and grey scotch brite for killing the gloss for the clear coat. I think that's it. If I get a day 65 F or higher and my Spraymax, I'll take a couple shots whiskey for courage and clear coat something!:)
 
I know it's hard to answer questions about paint because those like Jim, that do quite a bit of painting and are good at it, have their own brands and techniques that work for them and gives excellent results. It's hard to transfer that knowledge to non painters and rattlecan users. This Spraymax may be the bees knees!
 
I understand Jim. I'm gona beta test it. Actually I think Yamadude and B_crabaugh beta tested it. I read the cautions about not letting it sit on the decals too long, light tac coat first. We'll see.
 
Spraymax 2k works great and is fuel proof. Did my tank this way. 3 coats. And if you put it in the fridge when you are done, it will last quite some time. It says you have 48hrs to use, but mine worked after a month.
I also heard putting the 2k in the freezer Will also work.
 
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