Author Topic: Wet sanding clear coat? (Read 43019 times)

Nortstudio · « **Reply #25 on:** March 23, 2011, 03:17:02 PM »

Can I find these pads at the auto store, or is something I need to get from a specific place that sells these products (Eastman etc)

I understand your attitude regarding how you approach a paint job, and recognize how much better the results are, because of the way you approach it. I do the same thing each time I start a new album.

The difference here is, because of my complete lack of knowledge, I approached the job with that positive attitude, and instead of coming up with possible steps to improve the outcome of the paint job, what came to my mind was Reece's Cups.

I was flying fast and free here, with no experience, but fortunately I had the info I had gotten here. That's why, if I decide to go back and start from scratch, I am OK with that. Second time around has to be better than the first! And the third better than the second, and the fourth....

That being said, i would have never even gotten off the ground if it wasn't for your post in this thread and the last. I'm in it for the long haul, I'll get it down one of these days. I'll let you know how it turns out soon. i am waiting for the appropriate time to pass before starting the buffing.

Thanks again everyone - once again, this forum has made me smile. As I mentioned earlier - even if this job doesn't look tits, having ANY side covers, with some decent paint to boot - is making all the difference.

Nortstudio · « **Reply #26 on:** March 23, 2011, 06:11:43 PM »

Forgot to mention, I did put about 4-5 light coats of clear. Hopefully I will be ok for any next steps I have to take.

DYSKORD · « **Reply #27 on:** March 23, 2011, 09:37:18 PM »

Quote from: Nortstudio on March 23, 2011, 03:17:02 PM

Can I find these pads at the auto store, or is something I need to get from a specific place that sells these products (Eastman etc)

I understand your attitude regarding how you approach a paint job, and recognize how much better the results are, because of the way you approach it. I do the same thing each time I start a new album.

The difference here is, because of my complete lack of knowledge, I approached the job with that positive attitude, and instead of coming up with possible steps to improve the outcome of the paint job, what came to my mind was Reece's Cups.

I was flying fast and free here, with no experience, but fortunately I had the info I had gotten here. That's why, if I decide to go back and start from scratch, I am OK with that. Second time around has to be better than the first! And the third better than the second, and the fourth....

That being said, i would have never even gotten off the ground if it wasn't for your post in this thread and the last. I'm in it for the long haul, I'll get it down one of these days. I'll let you know how it turns out soon. i am waiting for the appropriate time to pass before starting the buffing.

Thanks again everyone - once again, this forum has made me smile. As I mentioned earlier - even if this job doesn't look tits, having ANY side covers, with some decent paint to boot - is making all the difference.

OReiley's Auto Parts, around my part of the country, has the buffing pads, so yes an auto parts store should have them. For the compound, as I suggested before, Maguire's Ultimate Compound is bad*ss and made my clearcoat like a mirror. I used Duplicolor Auto touch up, black and clearcoat.

Nortstudio · « **Reply #28 on:** March 23, 2011, 09:43:59 PM »

Thanks dyskord, i had the MCguires written down from your post earlier. I'm pretty sure I saw some their product at the local place. Will check soon, after the snow subsides.

Duanob · « **Reply #29 on:** March 24, 2011, 10:32:21 AM »

Careful on what kind of clear coat you use. It can look pretty as hell when you're done but the first time you drip gasoline on it it's ruined. Or the sun will yellow it.

ColinMc · « **Reply #30 on:** March 24, 2011, 05:56:12 PM »

Quote from: Duanob on March 24, 2011, 10:32:21 AM

Careful on what kind of clear coat you use. It can look pretty as hell when you're done but the first time you drip gasoline on it it's ruined. Or the sun will yellow it.

Any clear that isn't catalyzed has pretty much zero fuel protection. Even some of the cheap catalyzed clear coats will lift and peel off when fuel gets on them...Same goes for UV protection.

No hardener in the clear, no protection.

Nortstudio · « **Reply #31 on:** March 24, 2011, 06:35:43 PM »

I am going to do my best to stop pouring that gas on the side cover.

DYSKORD · « **Reply #32 on:** March 24, 2011, 07:39:49 PM »

Quote from: Nortstudio on March 24, 2011, 06:35:43 PM

I am going to do my best to stop pouring that gas on the side cover.

Took the words right out of my . . .

Good to know either way. Unfortunately spray cans dont list the ingredients. I guess its just a matter of experience.

Nortstudio · « **Reply #33 on:** March 24, 2011, 07:51:16 PM »

I did get that SparayMax 2000, which I was told is better for a tank. Not sure if that's true or not, but it was certainly more expensive that Duplicolor.

seaweb11 · « **Reply #34 on:** March 24, 2011, 08:05:02 PM »

The painter I have used always sands down the clear to get a finished product.
I'm not a painter, but I'm at his place all the time and he does this every day.

Can't find his web site, but here is a post on painting chrome.
http://gbodyforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=24107

Nortstudio · « **Reply #35 on:** April 05, 2011, 11:24:47 AM »

I wanted to post an update on my side cover painting. Although I know I could do it all over again, and get it better, I'm pretty happy.

Of course, I finally got them on the bike, and the rain storms moved in

. Can't win!

Not a great pic, but you get the idea....

Gaither · « **Reply #36 on:** April 05, 2011, 09:20:26 PM »

Nort

You've got your bike looking darned good!!!

Nortstudio · « **Reply #37 on:** April 05, 2011, 09:30:11 PM »

Thanks Gaither. Getting there..... Slowly!

Duanob · « **Reply #38 on:** April 06, 2011, 10:51:57 AM »

Looking good Nortstudio! Are planning on painting the tank to? It looks good from here.

What's up with the wire rats nest off the back of the seat? Some kind of New Yawk City anti-theft device?

Nortstudio · « **Reply #39 on:** April 06, 2011, 11:15:56 AM »

Thanks!

The tank project is coming soon. Thinking of leaving it bare metal (may be a failed experiment). The tank is not good enough to go too nuts on, so it can be experimental for now. I'd have to learn bondo, but that might be cool.

Just having side covers is a step in the right direction.

The rats nest is a helmet net. I wrap it under the seat (locked) when parked so someone doesn't snag it.

Duanob · « **Reply #40 on:** April 06, 2011, 11:35:17 AM »

There are some good posts concerning fillers on here. read them all. i wished I had before I started. Bondo brand is crap don't use it. No matter what you do you will get air holes even if tiny, they are still there and it sucks. Use the sanding blocks so you don't over sand your filler area and have to refill it again. Use the 2 part bonding primer. Kong has a great post about that. I used duplicolor laquer paint because it coats and adheres well with the 2 part clear coat (Spraymax2000) and it wet sands nice and smooth. With the 2 part primer and clear coat you don't have to worry about the paint so much as far as chemical resistance and sunlight.

these are just some of the things I learned doing my tank and side covers.

Experience is something you get, right after you need it"

Nortstudio · « **Reply #41 on:** April 06, 2011, 12:01:55 PM »

That all makes sense. I was just using the term Bondo as the generic version of body filler. You know, like I heard the kid in high school talk about when he was fixing his '73 Nova that had the Pink Floyd Dark Side of te Moon prism on the hood

Pretty sure he also had the Iron Maiden mascot on the back of his denim jacket....

ColinMc · « **Reply #42 on:** April 10, 2011, 08:40:37 PM »

One of my first paint projects was a 1986 Yamaha FZ750 that I stripped the tank down to bare metal...polished the bejesus out of then clearcoated. Looked awesome. For that you are most certainly going to want a good fast 2 part clear coat that you would need a gun to spray. You need something that is going to lock up quick to prevent adhesion problems or the metal from oxidizing.

I used a clear that dries rock hard in 15-30 min. Held up right up until a couple years ago when I gave the bike to a friend and painted it black with an orange stripe for him lol.

Nortstudio · « **Reply #43 on:** April 10, 2011, 08:44:25 PM »

I picked up the SprayMax 2k which was described by a few members as a better rattle, 2 part clear.

I'll give it a shot, see how it holds up. The alternative seems to be just hitting it with Penetrol or WD-40.

ColinMc · « **Reply #44 on:** April 10, 2011, 08:58:28 PM »

The trick is polishing it, but then making sure you CLEAN all the polish off with prepsol or surface cleaner. So you'll lose some of the shine. Air bubbles will be your nightmare using the rattle can 2 part clear, but it's worth a shot. Worst case you can strip it off easy heh.

Nortstudio · « **Reply #45 on:** April 10, 2011, 09:05:51 PM »

Sorry, are you saying to polish the bare metal before clear coating it? Clean that polish off before applying the clear?

ColinMc · « **Reply #46 on:** May 16, 2011, 09:49:04 PM »

Quote from: Nortstudio on April 10, 2011, 09:05:51 PM

Sorry, are you saying to polish the bare metal before clear coating it? Clean that polish off before applying the clear?

Sorry for the long reply, but yeah that's what I usually do and have had good luck...BUT only with fast curing high end clear coats.

Duanob · « **Reply #47 on:** May 17, 2011, 12:36:26 PM »

Just buff it with anti swirl or other fine buffing compounds and a 7" yellow foam pad. Use clean dry cloth to remove dry compound. Repeat if necessary. looks awesome.

Nortstudio · « **Reply #48 on:** May 17, 2011, 01:04:59 PM »

That's what I did after wet sanding it. Made it look pretty good. It's not like glass, but man, does it look better than it looked with NO covers

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Author Topic: Wet sanding clear coat? (Read 43019 times)