[way_2fast_4u]

Hey all. Got a question for ya about adding a coat of clear after I already painted. I have already repainted and put three coats of clear on the piece but I have since bought some decals and want to clear coat over it. So I was thinking of roughing the current clear with some 1000 grit, cleaning it of course, put on the stickers, let it sit for 24hrs, then clearing it. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[willys36@aol.com]

I would use 400 or 600 grit (still plenty fine enough and does a better sanding job) but otherwise should work like a champ.

[77Cobra]

I was going to do this on my Mustang Cobra.Clear coat over the stripes and decals but a local body and paint man told me not to because there will be rough edges and that could cause the clear to start to peel plus the reducer in the clear could cause the decal to start to lift off and take the clear with it.

[trees]

Don't know about lifting decals, but a local artist/pinstriper has turned out some fantastic work on rods and cycles. He sands the area to be painted, applies the artwork and now comes the grunt work of sanding, clearing, sanding clearing until the entire surface is smooth and the artwork is fantastically embeded in the clear.

Trees

[ April 17, 2003: Message edited by: trees ]</p>

[way_2fast_4u]

Thanks for the input and advice everyone. I am going to give it a shot over the weekend. I will take some pics and post them up.

[willys36@aol.com]

[quote]Originally posted by 77Cobra:
<strong>I was going to do this on my Mustang Cobra.Clear coat over the stripes and decals but a local body and paint man told me not to because there will be rough edges and that could cause the clear to start to peel plus the reducer in the clear could cause the decal to start to lift off and take the clear with it.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I have heard you can clear coat those vinyl decals but I wouldn't try it for several reasons. First, the vinyl likely has a different thremal expansion rate from the paint, second there is the adhesive that goes bad over time and 'floats' the decal, and third they are so thick that to look good, you would need to lay on a bunch of clear and sand it flat.

Water slide decasl on the other hand are nothign more than a film of lacquer paint so once dried, can be clear coated and become a permanent part of the paint job.