Details
Car: 1994 Dodge Stealth
Paint used:
Background
Dilemma
I laid the clear coat on extremely thick, having read how well Nason clear is to work with; no need for a tack coat, technique, etc. In fact, so thick, that I could see the finish rippling as I went across the cars body with the gun. I also caused a few runs, but they'll be easy enough to get out. The paint laid down perfectly smooth almost everywhere. There are a few places that need the lightest sanding to even, but I could absolutely get away not even sanding, cutting, or polishing the finish - I was impressed to say the least.
In fact I was so impressed, I went inside to eat a large steak and celebrate with several champagne bottles. I woke up the next morning (yesterday) to find a cured coat. D'oh! This was my first paint job, but that's no excuse, I'll never let this happen again. So ruling out a chemical bond, I'll now have to scuff the beautiful clear to lay a second coat hoping for a strong mechanical bond.
Quantitatively, I believe I laid 'two coats' in a single pass, I really did hammer down. I cleared the hood and doors of the car with three medium coats, and I can't tell the difference between them and the car's body; same sheen, same apparent thickness, same texture. I really think I can get away with lightly sanding and buffing the car without going through the clear. And I consider using a mechanical bond for a 'second' coat of clear risky - I don't want delamination. And the most obvious reasion, it looks sooooo good, I'm more than happy with what I have.
Here's the problem, its not my car. The car belongs to my dad, who thinks that by not following the directions on the can, I'm half ***'ing the job. He's more worried about the posterity behind using two coats than the reasoning behind why two coats should be used. We also painted the car because the original clear coat began to peel away and oxidize after 16 years under the sun, so of course he's worried about longevity of a 'single' coat.
I'd like to hear what some of you have to say about this, if anything I'm trying the quell his discontent, but I absolutely want to know if I'm off base and suggesting we make a wrong turn. I was just outside looking at the car, disgusted at the possibility there is to destroy and risk what looks perfect for only the posterity of saying "we laid two coats per the manufacturer's instructions".
Here's what it looked like Sunday an hour after I finished clearing.
Here are some pictures I just took. Sorry about the lighting.
I'm worried the most about the black roof section, as it will require the most polishing to get the glass look I'm after. Reclearing a small section such as the roof doesn't really bother me, more so the lower portions of the car that will be subjugated to more wear; road debris, car washes, minor bumps, etc.
Tell me what you think..
-Paul
Car: 1994 Dodge Stealth
Paint used:
- Nason Select Prime 421-19
- Nason Ful-Base PRN
- Nason 498-00 Select-Clear 2K + High Temp activator (70 degree weather)
Background
- Car was taken down to original primer.
- Two/Three coats of primer were sprayed. Dry/wet sanded 400/500 respectively.
- Three coats of base. Prep work on primer allowed the base to lay out ideally smooth.
- I used high temp activator and 498 specifically because I wanted a wet clear that would lay down exceptionally well.
- I cleared the car in our driveway; one so that I could see what I was doing in the direct overhead sunlight, and two because the air was relatively clean (no bugs, light breeze, no pollen.)
Dilemma
I laid the clear coat on extremely thick, having read how well Nason clear is to work with; no need for a tack coat, technique, etc. In fact, so thick, that I could see the finish rippling as I went across the cars body with the gun. I also caused a few runs, but they'll be easy enough to get out. The paint laid down perfectly smooth almost everywhere. There are a few places that need the lightest sanding to even, but I could absolutely get away not even sanding, cutting, or polishing the finish - I was impressed to say the least.
In fact I was so impressed, I went inside to eat a large steak and celebrate with several champagne bottles. I woke up the next morning (yesterday) to find a cured coat. D'oh! This was my first paint job, but that's no excuse, I'll never let this happen again. So ruling out a chemical bond, I'll now have to scuff the beautiful clear to lay a second coat hoping for a strong mechanical bond.
Quantitatively, I believe I laid 'two coats' in a single pass, I really did hammer down. I cleared the hood and doors of the car with three medium coats, and I can't tell the difference between them and the car's body; same sheen, same apparent thickness, same texture. I really think I can get away with lightly sanding and buffing the car without going through the clear. And I consider using a mechanical bond for a 'second' coat of clear risky - I don't want delamination. And the most obvious reasion, it looks sooooo good, I'm more than happy with what I have.
Here's the problem, its not my car. The car belongs to my dad, who thinks that by not following the directions on the can, I'm half ***'ing the job. He's more worried about the posterity behind using two coats than the reasoning behind why two coats should be used. We also painted the car because the original clear coat began to peel away and oxidize after 16 years under the sun, so of course he's worried about longevity of a 'single' coat.
I'd like to hear what some of you have to say about this, if anything I'm trying the quell his discontent, but I absolutely want to know if I'm off base and suggesting we make a wrong turn. I was just outside looking at the car, disgusted at the possibility there is to destroy and risk what looks perfect for only the posterity of saying "we laid two coats per the manufacturer's instructions".
Here's what it looked like Sunday an hour after I finished clearing.
Here are some pictures I just took. Sorry about the lighting.
I'm worried the most about the black roof section, as it will require the most polishing to get the glass look I'm after. Reclearing a small section such as the roof doesn't really bother me, more so the lower portions of the car that will be subjugated to more wear; road debris, car washes, minor bumps, etc.
Tell me what you think..
-Paul