BodyGeneral body information and techniques for restoration, repairs, and modification.
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I'm about to take on the project of painting my own car, I'm very serious about it, and am willing to take the time and do it to the best of my abilities, so here is what I am wondering.
after I get the car all painted, and wet sanded and looking good and such, when I spray on the clear, is there a certain kind I should use?
I was told that I would have to take the car and have it baked for the clear to cure, is this true? or are there only certain kinds of clear that needs to be baked? or does the bake time just quicken the process?
Please don't mix paint systems. Manufacturers do all the testing to make sure they have a good product, and they will stand behind it if you have a problem. If you mix brands and have a problem... it's your problem. When you purchase the color, buy the clear thats designed to go on top of it.
Most quality paints these days have some type of a catalyst to make them harden and don't need to be baked, but like you said it will speed up the process. Talk to your paint supplier about a clear thats able to be used in the conditions you will have at the time of spraying and that can air dry. With all the different clears, catalysts and reducers, there will be a combination right for your conditions.
Doing it properly isn't easy and it isn't cheap. But it is very rewarding to say "I did it myself".
No bench chemistry allowed unless youre using an acrylic enamel paint, there are a couple 'universal clear coats' that are available (SPI makes one) that you can put over AE. As far as baking or using a UV lamp to cure; you dont need to do that in your home garage. Some base/clear paints are formulated for production body shops to 'bake' them to speed up the process in order to paint more cars that day. This shouldnt be a concern. Make sure you talk to your paint supplier (aka jobber) and explain that it will be curing in a garage. I can reccomend the 2000 series PPG clear and the 15420/15410 clear from Napa (sherwin williams) for garage painting. these cure enough to not let dust stick at ambient temperatures in like 10minutes. Good question to ask though.
