flatting paint for clear coat

[efiste2]

As per my original thread, I have now got my "rigid" plastic engine cover painted up and ready to prep for clear coat, but have a few questions before I cock it up. I have used a gloss black and gloss "race" red, rattle can paint (not enamel) from Halfords.

Im happy with the results at this stage but its "peely" in places so could do with a flatting down.

Please excuse my nievity, but using a 1200 or 2000 grit paper will take the glossy look away. Am I correct in thinking that once flatted down, despite it loosing its gloss appearence, applying a few coats of clear laquer will bring the gloss finish back.

Next question how long should I leave the paint to "cure" before attempting to "flat" it down, bearing in mind the ambient temp at the moment.

My final question (for now) is regarding the actual wet sanding, can I sand straight across the two colours without loosing the defined edge or damaging the finish etc etc

Thanks for any advice ;-)

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[sorted]

Looks very nice. If it was mine, given it’s an engine cover and not a body panel, I would just clear it and fit it!

But to get rid of the orange peel, flat it as you say, I go 1000, then 1500 then 2000. If you weren’t going to clear coat, this is the point where you would then buff it with a finishing compound such as G3 to bring the shine back, but as you are don’t worry about that. If you want a mirror finish after the clear, repeat all the above steps to the clear coat.

Halfords cans should be fine to flat in a couple of days, probably less in current weather! I would avoid rubbing over both colours at same time if you can avoid it, it is not impossible for some of the wrong colour to get rubbed into the wrong finish as it were. No such worries if flatting the clear coat later of course!

Hope that helps.

[chippie]

My dad used to do coach painting as a profession…..


So, as Sorted has said, but I would add….

Use plenty of water, if the paper is still a bit coarse, you can use a little bit of soap ( a bar of soap…) to help ‘lubricate’ the surface..

Avoid using circular motion, back n forth is good…don’t get too close to the edge where the two colours meet, use your finest paper if you need to flat the surface.

Once finished rubbing down, wash with plenty of water and allow to dry thoroughly….

Several thin coats of lacquer is better than one thick coat…

Best of luck….