Newbie clear coat question

[Clint Burnett]

Newbie here with a question on the universal clear. Another forum i was reading suggested that if your a novice that you should reduce the universal clear. They did not say why. Can someone explain to me how this could help me with spraying. Thanks and great site, its a privilege to part of it. By the way, I'll be spraying a 69 nova that I'm currently restoring.

 

[Jorge M.]

Newbie here with a question on the universal clear. Another forum i was reading suggested that if your a novice that you should reduce the universal clear. They did not say why. Can someone explain to me how this could help me with spraying. Thanks and great site, its a privilege to part of it. By the way, I'll be spraying a 69 nova that I'm currently restoring.

Reducing the clear lowers the solids content and it makes it easier to spray for a novice. But it also depends a lot on the spray gun being used and how you set it up.

With the right advice for settings, a proper air supply and a good spray gun you may find you don't need any reducer at all.

I wouldn't add more than 5% reducer to the Universal, I hardly ever need to reduce it at all.

 

[Clint Burnett]

Thanks for the fast reply Jorge. I'll be using the Tekna copper with either the 1.3 or 1.4 tip. Being a novice and painting in the garage I'm looking to be able to lay a nice coat down without any runs and minimal orange peel. Any gun setup recommendations?

 

[tomsteve]

its been a while since i sprayed a complete, but have the tekna and spraying UC was awesome. fluid control i set by havin the trigger bottomed out, then turned in 1 1/2 turns from bottom. 28 psi at the gun, adjust fan pattern to knock off the corners, and about a 70% overlap each pass. 1.3 tip,too. gun about 8" from surface if i recall right.im far from a pro, but got some pretty awesome results with minimal OP-it was just in a couple areas for the most part.UC flows out nice.
id suggest shooting for no runs or OP but plan on having to color sand.
its wise to walk the vehicle with the gun empty and practice keeping the distance from the surface and travel speed consistant-a skill in its own.
not only that, practicing that helped me to clear my path so i didnt have to be concerned about anything in the way.

 

[tomsteve]

note: i think there was something about the tip size,but where i was living(northern michigan) the 1.3 tip would be ok. i remember something about something that the 1.4 tip was for southern state sprayers?