Silver lacquer...to clear or not to clear....

[Greg L.]

I understand that it is common to spray the final few coats of lacquer with a 50/50 mix of color and clear to help with durability, gloss, fade resistance and color sanding and that it is recommended much more so with metalic paints. I don't care so much about the gloss that it may provide but a little more durability is always good with any paint.

My main reason for using a 50/50 mix would be for the benefits of color sanding a metalic paint in case I need to do that after I am done the painting process. Is this clear/color mix something that you all would recommend or should I not bother with it. I want the car to look natural and not clear coated but I also want this added protection over the flakes so that I don't sand into them and get a blotchy spot...

Not sure if it matters or not but the products will be Duracryl from PPG.

As always any thoughts, ideas, recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Greg Linton
#45455

[Mark S. Lovejoy]

Re: Silver lacquer...to clear or not to clear....

Greg,

If you sand through the tinted clearcoat during the buffing process the paint will look spotty, especially with a metalic paint.

My vote is no clear.

[Greg L.]

Re: Silver lacquer...to clear or not to clear....

That's my thoughts too with a true BCCC but I also thought that ANY sanding on a pure SS metalic paint will distort some of the flakes causing spots as well. My understanding is that if you use a 50/50 clear mix and if you have to sand any dry spots or dust out you will only be sanding that surface and not the majority of the metalic paint thus not disturbing the flakes. Or is this not how it really works?

[Kent K.]

Re: Silver lacquer...to clear or not to clear....

Greg,

First, I am not a painter of cars. When my '67 was painted with laquer in the summer of 1993, the painter chose to use a 50/50 mix of color and clear for the final coat(s) of Marina Blue. When he sanded the paint, he remembered what I asked him to do and called me to see his process before he went too far. I had asked him to knock the tops off the orange peel. If you try to emulate the quality of factory paint, realizing that we cannot re-flow the paint, this is about the only way to make them look the same.

If you care to see my paint, the '67 will be used as one example for the advanced judging seminar at Old Town, Kissimmee, Fl. in January.

Regards, Kent Keech

[Bill W.]

Re: Silver lacquer...to clear or not to clear....

All paint starts out as clear . then you add mixing color . I never mixed my last coats with clear. If you want to clear coat just clear over your color. If you want it to look orig. mix all your paint at one time so all coats are the same . lightly sand lightly buff and you have an original paint job. I always give all my parts and body pnls. about 3 coats or until you have good coverage.let it dry hang your doors, deck, etc. sand 600 or 1000 then give it the final paint job. If all the paint is mixed at one time and the coats are sprayed the same you should not have a buffing problem . If you can read the name on your shirt when your buffing its to good.....Bill

[Frank C.]

Re: Silver lacquer...to clear or not to clear....

Gregg

I'm not a painter either, but go by the trial and error policy. I've been told and found to be true, that laying the paint on in one direction only will stop any spotting problems upon final block sanding and buffing. If you start spraying from from front to back of car don't change. Works for me.
Regards Frank

[Greg L.]

Re: Silver lacquer...to clear or not to clear....

Thanks guys and I guess I'll pass on the clear.

Kent, I plan on being in Old Town in Jan so hopefully I'll get to see your car. Can anyone sign up for the advanced judging seminar or do you have to be a judge first? If I can't attend the seminar then would it be possible to see it some other time during the meet?

[Dick W.]

Re: Silver lacquer...to clear or not to clear....

As long as you are registered for the meet you can attend the advanced judging seminar.