How do you get a really glossy clear coat?

DEVL-XR · 04-01-2007, 11:57 PM

Just been doing some painting and wondering how to get a almost mirror like shine on the clear coat. ATM the parts I have painted are kinda dullish. The rest of the car is really shiney, just wondering what spray painters do for this kinda finish.
Also I might add is it possilbe for this kinda finish from a pressure pack can?

Thanks for any help
Braden

JADED6 · 05-01-2007, 02:48 AM

Once given a few coats of clear I guess a light sanding followed by buffing with an orbital sander/buffer set up.

Racecraft · 05-01-2007, 04:44 AM

yep what jajded6 said... After you paint it a quick 2000 grit wet and dry then buff, then polish..

EA2BA · 05-01-2007, 07:53 AM

You should wait a week at least before sanding and buffing to the clear coat set properly as well.

snypereb · 05-01-2007, 08:35 AM

To get a high gloss finish you do need some really good paint and really good clear no cheap stuff thats the stuff that turns out dullyou should be able to escape the sanding part though if you use a good clear!

DEVL-XR · 05-01-2007, 09:20 AM

thanks people, last night i gave them a decent coat of clear, I'm using K&H brand. Its a top coat clear. I have no idea what its like. It's starting to get a bit of reflection, I can see myself in it but not nearly as much as what the car is.
oh by the way I'm painting EL mirrors and an EL fuel door.
I've just given them another good coating so I'll see how that turns out.

snypereb can you suggest any really good brands for clear and where to get it from?

It'd be good to escape sanding but I'll do it if I have to, whats the sanding do exactly for the shine?

DEVL-XR · 05-01-2007, 11:10 AM

heres some photos of where its at:

the primer, paint and clear are in this shot:

as you can see its shiney but not reflective shiney

sphell · 05-01-2007, 11:16 AM

If you are using aerosol can clear coat then give up now. You'll never get the results you want. I'm guessing you are because you said it's K&H brand. You can try and rub it back with 1500 - 2000 wet and dry and buff it with some cut and polish but I doubt it would make much difference.

The sanding flattens all the lumps (orange peel) and removes the shine, then buffing it brings it back up shiny again.

If you want the OEM look, you need to paint it in 2 pack paint, which is only available from proper auto body shops and is a 2 part process. You first spray your basecoat which is the colour coat, then you mix up the clear + some hardener (like aryldite glue but with paint), and you spray this over the top. It will be shiny straight out of the spray gun.

EDIT: you beat me to it with the pics ;) By the looks of that, i'd wait a day or two for it to fully dry, then get some 2000 grade wet and dry and sand it back (make sure you do it under a tap so it's wet while sanding). Then buff it with a buffing machine and some good cut and polish.

DEVL-XR · 05-01-2007, 11:21 AM

ah ok thanks mate. i went and got them priced to be painted and they wanted about $120 per mirror, i dont think its worth that money for mirrors so i thought i'd try myself. do you think it'd be possible for a body shop to clear them for me, maybe i should go into one and ask!

**Polyal** · 05-01-2007, 11:24 AM

If you have a decent tint then black mirrors dont look that bad. Bit late now I guess, id keep on going with what you have.

sphell · 05-01-2007, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradensEBxr6

ah ok thanks mate. i went and got them priced to be painted and they wanted about $120 per mirror, i dont think its worth that money for mirrors so i thought i'd try myself. do you think it'd be possible for a body shop to clear them for me, maybe i should go into one and ask!

Nah you can't put 2 pack clear over the paint you used....it will react and could bubble/crack etc. You have to use the proper 2 pack basecoat. 2 pack clear is relatively cheap from body shops, it's just the basecoat that is expensive. But then you need a spray gun, compressor etc etc.

I'd give the mirrors a sand and buff them, they don't look that bad in the pics.

DEVL-XR · 05-01-2007, 12:09 PM

nah there not too bad at all, i was just thinking there a bit more matt than the rest of the car, ah well it doesnt matter too much. I'll wait a few days and give them a 2000 grit wet and dry sand and then a buff and cut n polish etc etc. i think it'll be alright. cheer mate. i'll post pics soon.

DEVL-XR · 05-01-2007, 03:17 PM

i put them on the car just now, had to drill some holes for the screws to fit.

i think they look pretty good on the car. The EL fuel flap i left of as the colour difference is too much, plus theres a bit of mucking around fitting it by the looks of it.

needaXYGT · 05-01-2007, 09:47 PM

looks tops mate!

Hybrid34 · 09-01-2007, 02:24 PM

hey bradenEBxr6 where did you get that stick on ur window of the forum? ho wmuch where they?

Aaron_EF8 · 09-01-2007, 02:58 PM

Hybrid34 - do you mean the E-Series stickers?

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=43434

EFFalcon · 09-01-2007, 03:02 PM

a good rub back and polish will deffiantely improve them.

95frd · 10-01-2007, 01:06 AM

check out the link ..click on the 1st pooter case pic .
same goes for any object ...
http://www.mnpctech.com/case-mod-pai...od-how-to.html

lots of work involved to get a mirror shine ..but if thats what u want ..

dave .....

DEVL-XR · 10-01-2007, 10:35 AM

I'm happy with how its come out, who knows, maybe one day in a few years i'll get a re spray.

heres the door handles too: