Clear Coat

[KerTiZ]

Hey, With all the snow gone, i finally was able to paint my lip pieces for my car. I already primed it and painted it. On my last coat of paint.. am i supposedd to sand it again before i put the clear coat on? cuz if i sand it.. i'll get weird texture marks and it won't look as nice.

[KerTiZ]

oh.. i might as well ask this also... Am i supposed to sand between after i apply the clearcoat to make it smooth? or do i just leave it.

[ripley's99]

are you wet sanding? and are you using a high grit sandpaper...like 1500 or 2000 grit? b/c that is what i would use, it doesn't leave marks etc.

later,
Keri

[chcwf]

With a base coat clear coat paint system you should follow the recommended process from the paint manufacture. Most say to apply the base color until all primer/sealer is covered , doing this in several coats . You must let each coat of paint flash (that is the amount of time the manufacture has determined it will take at a certain temp. for all the solvents to dry before the next coat is applied . The clear coat must be applied with in a certain amount of time after the last color coat is applied. (clear coat usually is applied 5 minutes to 24 hrs after last coat of paint . If it goes past 24 hrs you must sand and reapply the color and then clear it with in the first 24 hrs. Sanding the clear after it dries is up to you if the clear lays down nice and no dirt is in it then no sanding or buffing is needed.

[wontonjohnny]

its almost impossible to get a mirror finish without cut polishing

you should put aleast 3 coats of clear coat

allow the final clear coat to dry for 2 days of good weaher,, and then sand with 600 wet dry then a buffing compound.. that should leave a better than factory finish

[CamNub]

How much did that cost ya? You did DIY right?

[KerTiZ]

total cost was 80 bux with tax... for primer, paint, clear coat and sandpaper. I painted the front and rear LIP pieces for the gen 4 TRD kit. I figured i might as well give it a try. It was definatly very fun and i appreciate it much more cuz i did it myself rather then some paintshop (altho.. theres woulda been much nicer probably) >_<

[war0827]

theirs would have been nicer, but...

1. You saved a hell of alot of money
2. The kit isn't gonna stay perfectly painted forever, esp. after driving around for a bit and having crap from the road hitting it.

Plus you get the experience of DIY for next time as well. Post up some pics. I'm pretty sure everyone would like to see how you did. i know i would cause i'm planning on DIY my kit when i get it

[KerTiZ]

Alright.. here are the pics.. unfortunately.. the match wasn't perfect.. but.. if you see it in person its really hard to tell.. but some reason in the pictures.. they kinda stand out more... also.. no side skirts .. so if any of u are selling your gen4 TRD sideskirts.. gimmie a shout.. i'm in desperate need of em.. even if they are fiberglass ones i'll b fine with it.. =p

[luisitol]

looks like a good job man. What type or airbrush did you use?

[KerTiZ]

hmm
i just used those paint cans u buy at Canadian tire. Dupli Color. ^_^

[woody]

Now that the paint dried and cured, you have to sand before painting with clear. Do it by hand with 600 grit wet. I am afraid you might cut through your paint into the primer, but if you do, respray the whole piece with color, then wait about 1 hour (up to 12) and spray the clear over it. I think the duplicolor stuff has recommendations on time. Check canadian tire for the big gallon cans, same stuff, but they have more instruction on them usually.