Universal Clearcoat 2.1 - WOW!!

bob92121

New Member
Hi all, I've been lurking on here forever, finally making my first post. I don't have a lot of experience painting (a few panels and a full job on a dually for my neighbor). I've used a couple of different base coats but always Universal Clear 2.1 (Low VOC California). I have a door from a 55 ford f100 that I have painted and re-painted multiple times to practice. I usually have a bit of orange peel in my clear. I finally figured out the secret (for me anyway) of laying out the clear like glass. I am using an Iwata LPH400 1.4 silver cap at 30psi. Full fan and air with fluid 2 1/4 turns out.

So I've read everything about "spray it the way you want the finish" and overlaps and such. When I tried to put it on too wet I would get runs. Drier and I would get texture. The secret for me was to move much faster so that the pass was not super wet.... but with a LOT of overlap. I've heard 75% overlap... I am at least doing it that much if not more. So the way I am putting it on, if only did one pass across the panel and stopped, it would be too dry. It is the multiple passes over the same spot that make it wet. If I try to make one pass across the panel wet, then once I overlap 75% I have multiple passes over the exact same spot and it runs. So the "wet" to me is cumulative, NOT after one pass. Keep in mind that 75% overlap means 4 passes over the same spot. Anyway, here is the pic. This is a reflection straight off the gun after drying for two days. Universal Clear 2.1, slow reducer (there is no extra slow in CA) and a little bit of retarder. It was around 82 degrees the day I painted this. Was done outside so some dust in the finish. The basecoat is Summit Mocha Metallic.
 

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There ya go, that's something to be proud of. Good write up of how you apply the clearcoat.
 
Keep in mind that 75% overlap means 4 passes over the same spot.
Great job. :cool: Super slick.
I'll just clarify this comment for others cause 75% overlap doesn't actually mean 4 passes over the same spot. 75% overlap means after one pass, with the next pass you cover 75% of the previous pass. The next pass covers 75% of that pass. And so on and so on.
 
Great job. :cool: Super slick.
I'll just clarify this comment for others cause 75% overlap doesn't actually mean 4 passes over the same spot. 75% overlap means after one pass, with the next pass you cover 75% of the previous pass. The next pass covers 75% of that pass. And so on and so on.
Chris, that is correct. Let's say you have an 8 inch fan pattern. Second pass covers the bottom 6 inches of the first pass. 3rd pass covers the bottom 4 inches of the first pass. 4th pass covers the bottom 2 inches of the first pass. That means the bottom 2 inches was passed over 4 times. That will be the case on the entire surface of the panel when you are done,

Understanding that multiple passes layered in to any given area is what gave "wet" instead of one heavy pass was the key for me to get slick without runs.
 
The secret for me was to move much faster so that the pass was not super wet.... but with a LOT of overlap. I've heard 75% overlap... I am at least doing it that much if not more.
Funny you came up with fast passes and extreme overlap same as I did recently.
I by no means can match the glass like finish in your photo but my most recent shoot was much improved.
 
Apologies if that answer was not to the actual question you were asking. Re-reading your question in the context of the earlier posts I think it wasn't. Anyways, good luck on your project.:)
 
This is super helpful. I am using an ANI F160 plus 1.3 tip and I wrestle with texture. So far I have been able to sand and polish to a good finish but I am determined to solve this problem. I think I need to open the fluid setting more, but also based on this discussion I think the large fan size of this gun makes it ideal to try 75% overlap.
Accidents can be teachable moments. I accidentally had the cap in the wrong orientation and briefly put on more paint as a result. That spot had the finish I have been looking for.
 
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