Looking for MY perfect clear

6

66Z71

The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know. Like now. I need to order some more clear, but there are so many options. Which one is the best for ME?

My ideal clear, would spray easily. Dry relativly quickly, I don't usually do all overs, but rather panel work, and it is in my garage, so it tends to pick up dust rather easily. I want something I can sand & buff to a nice shine. But it should harden to a tough finish in 30 days or so, since I do drive my cars.

Which clear should I get?

Thanks,
Eric
 
Welcome! Others on here could answer your question a lot better than me. From what you described, you are doing daily driver "production" type work. If so, the Production clear sounds like a perfect match. I have never used it, but just read through some posts on here (it gets rave reviews). I'd like to try it, but I always seem to have universal sitting around that "needs used up".
 
I haven't used the production clear yet (have some that just arrived) but I can tell you the MS clear is pretty quick, sprays easily and buff great. The thing is all of Barry's clears are top shelf and with the different activators and polar accelerator you can pretty much dial in what you need.
 
All of Spi clears are fantastic!

i have used UV,5100 and Turbo.

i liked all of them.

i do repair work and i have settled in the 2100 clear as it works best for me time after time.

i get my best results with it.

you may find you like UV or another clear he offers.

you wont be sorry with any of them.

Travis
 
I don't doubt that all of them are great. I am just looking for the one that fits my needs the best.

Which one has the hardest finish after it has cured?
 
Go with the Euro.. It hardens up much faster than the Universal. Technically when the Universal is completely hardened up it will be the same as the Euro.. However it will take Universal longer to get to the point where it scratches less and appears to be harder.. Like I said.. Go with the Euro.. I use it and love it.. On a dark color, its my go to clear.. Dont get me wrong, the Universal is the most user friendly probably of all of them, however it does stay "soft" or "scratch easy" for a much longer period.. Again once its fully cured, that wont be an issue

You also taylor the Euro, be it the 5100 or 5000 Euro with reducer to your liking for spray-ability, flow control, speed etc.. Plus it is really scratch resistant at the 2 week mark.. Big bonuses in my opinion..

Personally, all my own vehicles have Universal 4000, MIXED 1:1 no reduction.. On show work, if its a dark color I use the Euro 5100.. mixed 4:1:1.. If its a light color, I go with the 4000 Universal
 
Thanks Bondoking, that's the info I was looking for.

Since everyone likes pic's here's the latest victim.

BodyOnFrame.jpg


and a little further along.

201201261.jpg
 
Nice truck, Geo Metro Blue? Grabber Blue? I always see corrosion above the windshield on that model, how was this one?
 
Bondoking;17522 said:
Go with the Euro.. It hardens up much faster than the Universal. Technically when the Universal is completely hardened up it will be the same as the Euro.. However it will take Universal longer to get to the point where it scratches less and appears to be harder.. Like I said.. Go with the Euro.. I use it and love it.. On a dark color, its my go to clear.. Dont get me wrong, the Universal is the most user friendly probably of all of them, however it does stay "soft" or "scratch easy" for a much longer period.. Again once its fully cured, that wont be an issue

You also taylor the Euro, be it the 5100 or 5000 Euro with reducer to your liking for spray-ability, flow control, speed etc.. Plus it is really scratch resistant at the 2 week mark.. Big bonuses in my opinion..

Personally, all my own vehicles have Universal 4000, MIXED 1:1 no reduction.. On show work, if its a dark color I use the Euro 5100.. mixed 4:1:1.. If its a light color, I go with the 4000 Universal
Click to expand...

So that explains why I cant even look at my black car without scratching the uv clear. It looks nice outside, but I can see scratches everywhere under flourecent light. I am hoping the clear hardens up by this car cruise season that I dont have this problem so much.
 
strum456;17534 said:
So that explains why I cant even look at my black car without scratching the uv clear. It looks nice outside, but I can see scratches everywhere under flourecent light. I am hoping the clear hardens up by this car cruise season that I dont have this problem so much.
Click to expand...
which clear did you use?
 
Bondoking;17522 said:
Go with the Euro.. It hardens up much faster than the Universal. Technically when the Universal is completely hardened up it will be the same as the Euro.. However it will take Universal longer to get to the point where it scratches less and appears to be harder.. Like I said.. Go with the Euro.. I use it and love it.. On a dark color, its my go to clear.. Dont get me wrong, the Universal is the most user friendly probably of all of them, however it does stay "soft" or "scratch easy" for a much longer period.. Again once its fully cured, that wont be an issue

You also taylor the Euro, be it the 5100 or 5000 Euro with reducer to your liking for spray-ability, flow control, speed etc.. Plus it is really scratch resistant at the 2 week mark.. Big bonuses in my opinion..

Personally, all my own vehicles have Universal 4000, MIXED 1:1 no reduction.. On show work, if its a dark color I use the Euro 5100.. mixed 4:1:1.. If its a light color, I go with the 4000 Universal
Click to expand...
i didnt see the euro 500o listed in ther price section..
 
I painted it in July. I had it together and was driving it shortly after that. Maybe it is cured by now, but I wont find out if it is any more scratch resistant until next season when I uncover it and buff it again.
 
I would be interested in hearing how it holds up.
For reference my R/T has RM Diamont DC5300 clear and it stayed soft for a long time. Now that it has been sitting in the garage for a few years the clear is much harder. I'll need to buff it again when I finally (if ever) get it done. LOL
I planned to use UV clear on my F250 when I repaint it but thinking the Euro may be a better choice for scratch resistance.
 
I suppose it is what you would expect. Fresh clear on a black car is a tough situation if you are driving it when its still fresh. I live in a rural area where the roads get dusty from farmers dragging out mud, gas well equipment, etc.. I end up having to clean the car all the time, which makes things worse. Maybe I should have used the euro...I don't know? Either way, I have enough of it on the car that I shouldnt have to worry about buffing it again after it cures.
 
I'm thinking that the difference in scratch resistance between the different clears might be a bit overstated, it's one of those ideas that takes hold but hard to prove scientifically. I know that when I have subjected fresh Universal clear to heat and humidity, it hardens up real good. Euro is just faster, like fully done curing in a week. It's my personal belief that 6 months down the road, scratch resistance should be very similar between all the SPI clears.

Dark colors and nice cars just get a lot of scrutiny, so any fine scratch or haze will be noticed instantly, but it's not the fault of the clear.
 
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