i wet sanded them with 2000 grit...then cleaned with alcohol...then coated them with niteshades after drying for a few hours i lightly wetsanded again with 2000 now im going to have a shop cc them for me....my only question is...how much should i wetsand them before i bring them for clear coat? i lightly sanded them but you can still see the "specks" that the niteshades forms when its applied...should i sand more? thanks

 

I just took one cross with the sand paper over every section before I cleared them.

 

if the specks are from uneven(low spots still shinney and high spots are flat finish looking) then the clear will flow and fill it, but 2000 grit is abit light for sanding between coats, 800 is about as low as you want to go for the sanding between coats, 2000 is a bit slick and could have adhesion problems, but if the shop is confident in a 2000 sand out prior to last coat let them shoot away and stand behind it. the body shop clear should give you years of clean and clear finish, i dont have much faith in rattle can clear. sounds like you are doing it right, would like to see final result.

would also like to know what kind of clear they shoot. different brands of paint and clear can react in ways you dont want, if it turns out great what brand was shot would help possible problems for many intrested in doing the same

 

I used the clear out of a can and it came out fine, nice and glossy.

 

yeah i didn't sand between coats of niteshades...i only used 2000 before the niteshades and then after the niteshades and before the clear...when i take it to the shop ill ask them if they want it sanded in a lower grit and if so ill just have them do it....thanks

 

I would have gone with about 400 to get them good and scuffed up before the niteshades but you should be fine with what you used.

How dark did you tint them?

 

should i redo them? i did 4 coats...i read a writeup on here and the guy said he used 2000 thats y i used that....i mean its meant to stick with no sanding and i sanded all the clear off before i niteshades them so hopefully they should be fine...

 

Hell no, I would leave them the way they are and if something happens to them I would redo them or touch them up. Unless there's a problem don't fix it.

 

allright cool....i think itll hold up just fine...im prob not gonna put them on till the spring tho...same as my rollbak...winter here in ny now...well right now its raining and 50 degrees out...but im hopefully getting them cleared this upcoming week...ill post pics when they are done...

 

I did not sand mine, or clear them, and they came out glossy, smooth, no light spots or nothing. I dont know how I did it, but it worked out great!

 

i didnt sand at all just cleaned them sprayed the niteshades then cleared after the niteshades dried if you want it glossy smooth id just wetsand and buff after clearing, otherwise you may end up sanding more in one area then the other and when they lightup you would see that, so i say no sanding untill after clear......

 

Id probably just let the shop thats clearing them sand them.




Not trying to derail this thread either, but LoveTheTide...did you ever paint your Ford badges? If so Im curious how it turned out.

 

well i have already wetsanded after the niteshades so too late to not do that....

 

duplicolor makes some pretty tight clear spray bomb, the clear that goes with the wheel paint is awesome clear, and tough.