I Painted my deck lid and spoiler today, and I either put to many coats of base on or sprayed the clear to soon or both. Paint came out real smooth and every thing but you can see that the base coat looks like it lifted or what ever all I know is in a few good size spots of the base coat looks really splotchy. Its probably more noticeable because of the paint being metalic. Spots are about four to five half dollar size spots.

What should be done to fix this? Do I have to sand all the way down to primer or just through the clear to base until its smooth and re base, then clear. I don't have much paint left so I rather avoid going all the way to primer if I dont have to. How long should I wait before respraying after also.

 

That sounds like metallic modulation. Could be caused from wet or lack of sealer, or spraying hte base too wet. Metallics nearly always require a cross hatch spray pattern to prevent modulation. If you are sure it's not actually lifting you should be able to lightly sand to remove nibs then respray. Don't try to get the base very wet or slick as this may attack the clear under it.

Without knowing what brand of paint I couldn't really give you a proper recoat time. Call your paint supplier and speak with them about it. IIRC 72 hours sounds right for unbaked clear.

 

Ok, thanks for the replay, so I can just smooth the clear and re base no need to go all the way through? I wasn't sure I could base over clear. So very thin coat of base then?

 

It also may be mottling. Which may or may not be the same thing as modulation... You can base over the clear you have laid down, but you will have to wait at least 48hrs. in my experience as to not cause a reaction between the clear and the solvents in the base. You need to remember that even thin coats can mottle, your new operating procedure is uniform coats. If you have to, use a flashlight while spraying, shine the light over the medium, and make sure the metallics are "standing up" correctly. Which brings me to another point, humidity, and temperature. Humidity can affect drying time, which will let the metallics mottle. As will temperature mixed with an unsuitable reducer for that temperature.

 

Yeah, humidity is quite high here on most days, and I have no real way of controlling that. I say on a average the humidity is 65%. Today 100% it is pooring so it will get plenty of time to cure as I painted it Saturday and will pickup more clear tomorrow in hopes for better weather. So the consensus is to smooth or maybe even thin down the clear and re shoot.

 

I just realized you're from NY haha. Me too. Putnam County. If by smoothing you mean scuffing with either 800 grit sandpaper, or a gray 3m scuff pad than yes.

 

In St. Lawrence County here. What ifI go 400 to remove most of clear if not all of it then 800 would it be better to remove all or most of the clear as that way I would have less of a chance of a reaction.

 

That's also another option. I would at that point use sealer, then repaint accordingly.

 

Primer sealer or is there another sealer? Sorry for the ignorance as I'm not completely formula with all of the painting stuff. Primer sealer I am because I used this on my primer.

 

Yeah, primer sealer. And no problem, any questions, just ask.

 

Ok, thanks