Painting Tips

[Doug GerrardParticipant]

Does anyone know if you can put clear coat over vinyl decals? Is it recomended, not recommended? My thought was to decrease the drag for better performance 🙄 just kidding. I just wanted better protection for the decals. Any thoughts?

Doug

[Warren B. MusselmanModerator]

I’ve done it, can’t comment though on durability. They didn’t peel in flight at least. Then the bird cored and that fancy paint job was moot.

Warren

[Jeffrey Joe HintonModerator]

Always a good idea to try a sample decal before applying clear coat on the bird and decal because I’ve had the decals react and the ink smeared. On the other hand. vinyl letteing has stuck very nicely. I’ve been considering using Future Floor Wax or something similiarly acrylic coating type but haven’t tried that yet.

[Ed Dawson]

I tried clear coat over vinyl eletrical tape. It was an orange colored trim used on my 3″ bullpup. Looked good at first, but after a while (about a year) it started to get “dirty” looking.

Anyway, the rocket’s gone now so I don’t notice if it’s getting any worse.

[Conway StevensParticipant]

It will really depend on the Paint. If you use an Acrylic Enamel based Clear vs say a lacquer based paint you will have issues with the latter. I say be sure to use a clear that uses a hardener or activator (like the Acrylic Enamel I use). Not just one that uses an evaporitive drying. The curative agent will allow the paint to harden without the need for large amounts of thinners/reducers which is what normally messes up decals/stickers in those that use evaprorative drying.

[Doug GerrardParticipant]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I use Martin Seymour which does use a hardener but it too has a thinner. I figured that would be the problem, any type of thinner/alcohol could dissolve the vinyl. I’ll probably play it safe and just put the decals on top of the clear coat. I had no protective covering on the Mars Snooper decals and they showed no problems.

I’m finished with the primer, sealer, and base coat and last night I put on the first color and I’m not sure about it. I tried a green and it is an extremely bright apple green. And my other color is yellow! I have some black decals coming to dampen the effect but I’m not sure…

Doug

[Conway StevensParticipant]

Doug, ALL paint of all types will have a thinner/reducer in them so that is no biggie there but the types with Hardeners have less of them in their mixing ratios so the thinner amount srent as strong. most clear coats do not have reducers in except when you mix and even then not much at all. Most of the clear is an acrylic or a urathane with the hardener. I would say if you have some spare pieces of the actual decals and a piece of G10 scrap try it and see. I wouldnt see it not working. Also for any of you that dont know I do sell and mix paint at my work as a Martin Senior and House of Kolor paint store rep. So if anything you guys need help with let me know.

Thanks

Conway

[Doug GerrardParticipant]

Thanks Conway, I thought it was you that worked with the paints. I’ve only recently begun to work with the automotive paints and I’m learning by screwing things up. I still have time before I’m applying the clear coat the think about it. I think no matter what I’m going to apply at least one clear coat before putting down the decals. I’m also considering if I want the decals with a gloss finish. Now that I think about it, I have to coat them if I want to buff the finish. Thanks again, I consider you the next time I buy paint.

Doug

[Ed Dawson]

Conway,

What’s you opinion of the different automotive paints?

I was going to sent a private email to see what you think as this could be considered an off topic question, but I suppose it’s still “painting tips”.

I have played around with the Nason line by Dupont, but that’s it. With the price of these paints you can’t really experiment too much. I see a lot of forum traffic regarding House of Color and PPG.

Since you’re pretty knowledgeable in the area, what do you think? Is one brand easier to use…. or cheaper?

[Warren B. MusselmanModerator]

Personally I’m a big fan of the PPG paints… of course, others will have different opinions…

Warren

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