One last question haha....I have a good 4-5 coats of clearcoat on...it came out really good, however it kind if has a matte finish...I bought some Meguiar's PlastX and I have some Turtle Wax Polishing Compound...Should I sand down the clear coat with 1500 grit (think I am out of 2000 grit) and then put on the polishing compound followed by PlastX? Or should I just leave the clear coat how it is and dont sand it, but still hit it with the PC and PlastX

 

anyone??

 

Well if any thing that has clear on it sand 1500 or 2000 than use a buffer with compound and finsh with a glaze

also don't wax fresh paint

 

thanks

 

On my project smoking tail light I did 4 coats of Dupl;icolor in one section and 2 coats of Rustolium on another, following proper wetsandings, and polishing with certain products, both are shiny, but the Rustolium looks clearer than the dupli does, though it did look much better before the 3rd and 4th layer. I think the key is to do 2 coats max, with a final 2000 grit wetsanding to smooth out orange peel texture, and follow up with proper polishing, a week later, re-polish and give them a wax. Good to go.

 

I would have used a polishing compound after the rubbing compound, as opposed to the PlasticX since the tails are no longer plastic (you should treat them as you do your truck paint).

Do some 1500 until almost smooth, then 2000 to finish it off. Rubbing compound (having a machine really speeds things up) then a finer polish to finish it. I've been able to get pretty good results with 1500 followed by just 105, white LC pad with the G100 on 5.

 

thanks for the replies...I just ended up keeping them the matte black finish...I dont think i could really get a shine out of them, but I still think they awesome

 

Wheres the pics? rattle can clear will never give you that sleek glassy like finish.

 

Dont give up too easily, it can be done, and it has been done, by myself personally . It takes 6" - 8" gentle spray passes, and light wetsanding, polishing compound, and basic paint polish.

Fresh clear


After a half hours work of wetsanding and polishing

 

Still looks pretty dull in those pics. need some outside pics, Darren.

Heres niteshades w/ automotove clear and lots of wet sanding



and heres automotive clear with a spoonful of black. This method requires ZERO prep work and uses minimal wet sanding. real easy to regulate the darnkess as well.

 

How's this?


Its not as good and clear as automotive clear, but the Dupli Color Acrylic Enamel does a half decent job with some wets anding.

 

You can still see some orange peel, though it's considerably less than non-wetsanded clear. Depending on how many coats of clear you did, I'd consider another going at it with sand paper. It's the reason I like to lay 3-4 coats of clear, to have plenty to work with when wet sanding.

 

Thanks for the advice! I just did as you suggested, sanded and dried it until it was completely dot/orange peel free, only orange peeling on the lens now is to the bottom corners which i'll slowly work out later, otherwise now the light looks great!


Its two layers of dupli color enamel clear. Should I lay on a couple more layers and repeat the sanding? Or will that fog things up?

 

Unless it starts to peel, I'd let it be. Maybe wait a week or two, wash your truck, and put some wax on them.

If it does start to peel, sand it, lay a couple more layers of clear, and wet sand to get rid of orange peel.

I think the reason automotive clear looks better is that it orange peels less (since it lays on smoother?), therefore it's easier get smooth. But, that's just a guess...

 

thanks for the replies...here is a pic of them...far away dont have any close ups...i just left them matte black...im super hesitant to wet sand them again, seems like that will just scratch them up and blur them up...but whatever