Clear coat options

[gman3000]

Hi, I've just finish painting a car with enamel paint. I have looked online but am a bit confused.  

1 do I need to put a clear coat on? What are the benefits if so..

2 what to use as clear coat over the enamel paint?

I would appreciate your advice 

thanks 

[fseva]

Hi, I've just finish painting a car with enamel paint. I have looked online but am a bit confused.  

1 do I need to put a clear coat on? What are the benefits if so..

2 what to use as clear coat over the enamel paint..

1. Is your enamel paint nice and shiny? Or is it flat? If it's flat, you have applied a basecoat, which would then require clearcoating to obtain a nice shine. If it's already shiny, you have to decide whether or not you want it to look better. You can polish the cured enamel, or you can clearcoat... and then, perhaps you'll also decide to polish the clear, which depending on how much work you're willing to do, could improve that further.

2. My current favorite is Testors One-Coat Lacquer. It's cheap, and it produces instant results. It is also cooler than the modern acrylic enamels, and consequently more useful over a number of paint types. Hope this helps...

[gman3000]

Thanks for you reply.

Yes its glossy. Could just explain why if I had applied a bast coat it would not be glossy?

Is testers acrylic based.?

Im in uk so might have an issue getting that one. 

 

Thanks

[snacktruck67]

What about Future (also known as Pledge) acrylic floor finish?

[fseva]

Thanks for you reply.

Yes its glossy. Could just explain why if I had applied a bast coat it would not be glossy?

Is testers acrylic based.?

Im in uk so might have an issue getting that one. 

Basecoats are normally flat, and therefore require a clearcoat to make them glossy. This comes from the automotive world, where this procedure has been in effect for many years. Testors' Automotive Lacquer System is like this, although I have found that some of their basecoats do develop some of their own gloss. However, it may not be enough for the surface to be able to take handling, etc. So, they still recommend a clearcoat. There is a clearcoat in this line, but I like their 1-Coat Clear, mainly because it's cheaper than the Auto-System's clear. The 1-Coat line is glossy metallics, and do not require a clearcoat, even though there is one in the line.

Both of these lines are lacquer-based. Testors does have a line of acrylics, but unless they're available in Europe, I do not believe they are available in spray cans. Their Aztek Airbrushables are very nice, though, and they are acrylic.

Edited September 10, 2015 by fseva

[gman3000]

Hi Fseva, are you saying if  i put an undercoat then paint a gloss enamel over that, it will not come out glossy?

[Snake45]

I found the Testor/Model Master Automotive Lacquer, uncleared, makes a great 5+ year old "weathered" finish if you want to build a driver, "beater," or High School Hot Rod.

I did put four or five coats of it on a '62 Corvette and rubbed it out without clearcoating, and it came out beautifully. But normally I plan on clearcoating the stuff.