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Good quality clear for a resonable price?

24K views 43 replies 20 participants last post by  deadbodyman 
#1 ·
Any suggestions guy? Any opinions on the shopline euro clear?
 
#5 ·
Never heard of it either. I have always used PPG, or Duponts Chroma line of clears.
I have recently heard of someone who swears by Transtar. I personally havent used it, but the person recommending it swears by it, and has been using it for quite a few years. Ive seen the finished product fresh out of the booth and was impressed with the gloss and how well it layed down.
So much so, that i'm trying it on a current clients project.
[ only after receiving his blessing on using it of course ]:D
 
#9 ·
I really love ppg's deltron, awesome stuff! Kinda pricey though. Transtar is pretty good I usedit a few times. For the price you really can't beat it. And if you know someone that works at O'Reillys that can get you there employee discount you can get some of there nest clear for 100-125 bucks.
 
#7 ·
I used Sherwinn a few times. It lays nice and has a great gloss. Its like trying to sand a diamond though! Really not user friendly to color sand and polish. The other thing I dont like about the Sherwinn line of paints is that they have a wax base in them. this means that if you get a little speck on your base coat and decide to sand it, then recoat the area, you have a pretty good chance of the paint lifting in that spot. The sanding actually makes the paint almost slick like. The other thing is the blending. You have to almost flick your wrist with a small quick snap of the wrist in order for it to blend properly.
I will give one piece of advice on another brand of paint. Matrix. DO NOT USE THEM!!!! Matrix SUX!!!! I have had nothing but issues with their product. Its almost impossible to blend, the clear does not lay well, and actually settles a bit after it is sprayed. This makes it challenging trying to get it wet without running it.
 
#12 ·
Had a local freind with a small body shop. Tried to get him try use some Spi even gave him a quart. Finally one day his painter was doing a rear bumper and he put the spi on for the clear. The guy asked him how he liked it and {I've used a lot of clears but thats the best stuff I've ever used} Now that all the use.
 
#16 ·
I use to use the SPI Universal and loved it but it got to expensive for me.
I switched to SPI "EURO" clear, around $100 a gallon w/ activator (delivered)
and I like it just as well, maybe better because it seems to be a harder
clear which is nice for dark colors, makes it easier to remove the swirls.
 
#20 ·
What you say seems to make sense because universal is apparently soft enough to buff at any time, but have you done any tests? I have seen this stated by some others also, but then Barry says that all his clears are similar as far as hardness.

I haven't tried either clear yet, but would like to use one that would not be so likely to get fine scratches from normal use of the car. It just makes sense that if it buffs so easy, then it would also get marked or scratched easy.
 
#21 ·
I haven't done any tests,
The Universal just seems softer to me than any clear
I have ever used. The Euro seemed harder.
Either way, I like them both, it's the price that made me try the Euro.
The price is actually closer than it looks when you consider
the Universal with activator makes 2 gallons of clear,
where as the Euro makes 1.25 gallons.
But the Euro is definitely thicker, I reduce it 20%.
(So I guess it actually makes a little more)
The Universal flows better, I'll pick it when I don't want to buff
afterwards. It's great for bumpers.
I still think the Euro is better for dark colors that are going to be buffed.
 
#22 ·
Its only SPI for me ,great products at a reasonable price with the best tech support you'll ever see...
I've tried everything else in search of the the best at the most reasonable price and if you spend less than what you can get SPI for your not getting a high quality product...This is high end stuff to be compared with the the top brands...My hunt is over...yours will be too if you were to try it....
 
#23 ·
Another thing I would like to add.
I still recommend the Universal Clear to anyone that's not an
experienced painter. It's the easiest clear to get good results
with because it flows so well and is so easy to work with.
It's the most "user friendly":thumbup:
 
#24 ·
Best clear ive ever used is Motostorms Glamour Clear. (motostorm.com)
SPI used to be my favorite clear, but one day I ran out in the middle of a job, and had to use the Moto I had just got in. Not only did it have quicker build, but it went farther. I was able to mix up the same, or less, and achieve more coverage.
The gloss is the best ive ever seen straight outta the can. And buffs like a dream anytime, being a poly.
 
#31 ·
here it is with clear coat 2 coats 600 2 coats done no wheeling nutn just like oem
SW is some great clear. right up there with the best But so expensive... Same with Glasurite, fantastic stuff ...Unfortunatly its way to expensive... SPI sprays just like it and looks just as good, same with the buffing If I didnt know better I would think SPI IS Glasurite in a different can..
 
#26 ·
PPG gets my vote. Sands well and won't die back on you. When you shoot bad clear they seem to sand like rocks and you're always buffing them again, at a later point, and/or it will die back on you. What's the point of taking more material off if that's your last line of defense from the elements? Want that deep gloss that stays for years get PPG. Just my opinion.
 
#28 ·
inexpensive clear coats

im an older painter and have used most all of it...it was mentioned about " wanda " I agree that it is an affordable product with the "AXZO NOBEL' symbol behind them...a newly acquired line with a little Sikkens engineering behind it..I cant comment on the durability nor the longevity of U.V. protection...but it does give you nice results with ease of color sanding and polishing...each of us have our favorites but sometimes its ok to go outside our comfort zone to spray something less expensive...I think its worth a try
 
#30 ·
I've used a lot of different clears over the past 30 yrs,
a lot of the cheapest ones out there and a few of the best.
Everyone held up just fine.
The differences came more from the prep and application than the brand.
some sprayed easier, some harder, softer, but the end product
looked just as good if buffed properly and lasted just as well.
 
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