I am painting a car with the only color (navy) that is a close match-- which is only available in flat. I have coated the navy with Testors gloss lacquer. I try to level the lacquer clearcoat job by sanding with very fine grits but keep getting through to the plastic with no warning. I need help, as I have stripped the car twice now and am at my wit’s end. What should I do?
Have you been polishing/sanding the the blue color before you clearcoat?
No, but it is so thin wouldn’t the same thing happen?
Are you using spray cans or airbrush?
It can and will at times. You wouldn’t have to strip it at that point, though, just re coat and smooth. Since the blue is a flat color, it needs to be sanded/polished out for the gloss cote to level out properly. It’s best to sand between coats and build up gradually. One other thing that may be affecting the finish is that the gloss, being a lacquer, may be drying before it can level out, which can cause that rough surface that you’re trying to smooth out, especially if the summer temp are high where you are.
I am using an airbrush for the flat base and a can for the lacquer coat.
I will try your advice, but I think I will use “Future” for the clearcoat this time. I see that acrylics can be polished with Novus. Does this mean plastics and/or acrylic paints?
I haven’t had good results with Future, but that is due to me. I have used Testors custom colors clearcoat lacquer that’s in their custom colors line, and it gives a wetter look versus the regular gloss cote and it seems to handle polishing better. Another idea is a satin finish. Carmakers are using that on showcars these days. It’s pretty interesting.
I thin my paint more then usual and spray at 10 lbs thin coats if any rough spots i use micro fiber cloth then I use model master clear gloss top coat . Future I use for clear plastic.
You use microfiber for polishing flats?
Yes after it dries for a good day or so
Thanks for your help!
If your paint is enamel then you can mix 50/50 or higher MM gloss enamel to it to get a satin or semi gloss finish. Let it sit for a couple of days and polish it out with extra fine grits to prepare it for several coats of MM gloss enamel. Do not sand but let it cure for at least 5 days then polish with Novus or any automotive haze and scratch remover.
This is how I paint my Blue Angels aircraft and the finish is smooth as glass asfter a light polish with no sanding.
The neat thing about this problem today is that it is becoming easier to find really fine sandpaper and sanding pads! Used to be it was hard to find anything finer than #600, even at auto parts stores. Now, auto parts stores carry considerably finer sandpaper, and a decent hobby shop or craft store carries stuff so fine I am wondering if it is any better than paper toweling. I picked up an assortment pack at Hobby Lobby recently that went to something like #10,000!
I have tried using microfiber for polishing Testors MM enamel flat, but it seems to have no effect. I would like anything but sandpaper because it keeps getting through the paint.
I’m sorry it didn’t help it works for me to even out the rough spots of the flat primer
Hello!
I’m no expert, but I have managed not to go through the layers while doing a high gloss on my VW Bus. What I did I have built up a few layers of the base paint, then I put on a few layers of clear ot top of that and I only sanded very lightly between the coats. After everything dried really well I did some sanding (wet!) and I was watching the dust on the sandpaper very closely. When I thought I started to see coloured dust, meaning I have reached the paint layer through the clear coat I stoped sanding, let it dry for a while and then applied some more clear. I could then go on with the sanding if necessary, but usually the new layer leveled everything pretty nicely. I hope it helps you, good luck with your build and have a nice day
Paweł
That is a good tip I definitely will try. Thanks.
Here is a great tutorial I found years ago and still use this method to get glass smooth finishes
What is the finest grit you used?