reduce clear coat?

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  • seigfred
    November 1, 2011 at 3:53 am #33948

    Hi there,

    Still kinda new to the hobby and still learning.
    Why is it that both paint stores I went to say do not reduce the clear when I’ve been told by quite a few people that you can actually reduce the clear coat by 10% to help with the orange peel.
    If I were to reduce the clear, can I just use any universal reducer? should I just use it on the last coat and does that change the flash time requirement?
    I tried the Omni, Matrix and Finish1 brand clearcoat and none of them mention a reducer in the techsheet or maybe I just don’t understand the term used in there.
    I’m having better luck with the clearcoat since I used the Astro HTE with 1.3 tip, at least much better compared to my harbor freight gun but I’m still getting a bit of orange peel but I heard reducing clear rally lays down clear flat.

    Need any info or advice from the refinish gurus or anybody.

    Thanks in advance

    Barry Overby
    November 1, 2011 at 4:16 am #33949

    You shouldn’t need to reduce any of those clears.

    Scott
    November 1, 2011 at 7:04 pm #33961

    get a tec sheet on the clear you are using and follow it exactly how it is stated, if not you are asking for trouble. you should be able to obtain a tech sheet at your local jobber or online. Orange peel can come from many variables, gun distance,gun set up, air pressure, in-experiance, etc.

    WEIDERMAN MOTORSPORTS
    November 2, 2011 at 3:37 am #33968

    Unless you are using MS-20 the Matrix clears will lay very flat no reducer ever needed.

    Steve Baran
    November 2, 2011 at 8:44 am #33971

    Well, getting orange peel can be from a lot of factors;

    Too far away
    Moving too fast
    Too fast drying product
    Poor atomization
    Going over something that has texture (like poorly sprayed base)
    Gun setup wrong
    Not enough air VOLUME to the gun

    Reducing the clear will lower the viscosity, making it easier for the spray gun to shear the liquid stream into droplets. Requiring more coats to get the necessary film build expected. It will also put you outside VOC compliance, this may not be an issue (for you personally) but the stores cannot recommend it, or they could be held liable.

    So if you can’t get all the other factors dialed in to your liking, adding a bit of reducer is a option. Plan on that extra coat, and I’d personally get the best and cleanest reducer you can to do the job, you don’t want any other crap in there laying around to change performance of the clear. Try to stick to a medium to fast solvent as you also don’t want it hanging around in the paint film any longer than to get on the surface and get out.

    Hope that helps…

    Scott
    November 2, 2011 at 10:46 pm #33977

    [quote=”Red Baron” post=23405]Well, getting orange peel can be from a lot of factors;

    Too far away
    Moving too fast
    Too fast drying product
    Poor atomization
    Going over something that has texture (like poorly sprayed base)
    Gun setup wrong
    Not enough air VOLUME in the gun

    is there an Echo in here ?

    Jayson Munro
    November 3, 2011 at 3:16 am #33979

    Come on smooth,you only listed 4 out of Red Barons 7 reasons :rofl :rofl

    Carlos Garcia
    January 14, 2012 at 2:23 am #35276

    Come on Smooth mentioned etc, that should count for at least 4 more

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