Good Clear coat spray paint?

[scooter44]

On my last audi, i smoked the tail lights using night shades and DupliColor clear coat. To me, the taillights didnt look at "glossy" as i wanted.

I got an extra set of taillights and i plan on smokeing them. Can anyone recommend a good clear coat that has High gloss and has that Shiny finish?




TIA

[sushi_turbo]

I'm also have an extra set of taillights and 5 bottles of Nite Shades and am looking for good clear coat.

Scooter could you post pics of your smoked taillights?

[scooter44]

sure, im not sure if i have any good pics. but ill go look for some.

[scooter44]

Originally posted by sushi_turbo


Scooter could you post pics of your smoked taillights?

pic of rear


another pic of rear at night


smoked sides


smoked rear


see what i mean by the frosty (not shiny) finish? ^^


but yea, im looking for a good clear coat! haha sushi_turbo, is that enough pics. lol. wait, how come you have 5 cans of night shades? do you wanna hook it up?

[sushi_turbo]

I just want to make those tailights super dark and glossy! Don't have to worry about them since they're a spare set.

Scooter how many coats of Nite Shades & clear coat are in those pics??

[diegomatrix]

hmm...u sure u guys spraying on correctly? the distance and angle that you spray it on is critical to having glossy finish. When i did my taillights, my first few coats had the same 'dull' effect like yours... but then i adjusted the distance and angle and then i was like "@##@$#$@ holy shiiit...".. it was super glossy...

oh yea, make sure you have a fan or something to blow the fumes/paint evap away....or else it might turn back to being 'dull' once the fumes settle on ur taillights while ur taillight is drying...

[marked001]

if you really want them glossy...you're gonna have to do some post paint polishing..... you can wetsand them with some 1000 grit, then buff them with rubbing compound....then wax..

[Burntaudi]

There is no such thing as GOOD clear coat in a aerosol can.

The only way that your gonna get the kind of gloss that your looking for is with a good clear coat like a body shop uses that gets mixed and has a hardner and a reducer added to it just before you use it.

You could try what marked001 said but your still not gonna get the same shine that a good Automotive clearcoat can offer. If you are gonna try the wet sanding and buffing option make sure that you put on a good amount of clear so that you can sand it without burning through.

[LateraLex]

Opposite question:

What is a decent clear coat (spray) which has a very flat finish? I plan on painting my shift surround and want a clear coat which closely matches the stock stereo black finish (very flat color)

[onemoremile]

for a factory plastic finish skip the clear coat and do several coats of matte black. i had to respray my instrument cluster housing and it is a very good match.

the best spray can clear i've ever seen is Dulipcolor Suv clear. i use this stuff when painting parts for our trade show displays. for nest results let the can sit in a tub of hot tap water for a little bit. shake the snot out of it and use several very thin coats. gently heating the can in tap water will get you a bit finer mist and keeps it from spraying globules.

http://www2.duplicolor.com/products/truckvansuv.html

[scooter44]

Originally posted by sushi_turbo


Scooter how many coats of Nite Shades & clear coat are in those pics??

this is three coats of night shades.


yea i guess ill try the fan thing, and i did wetsand the lights before i did these. also, ill try a differnt angle too. But i was following directions and kept the car around 12" away from the light while spraying. i guess ill have to experiment.

[LateraLex]

Originally posted by onemoremile
[B]for a factory plastic finish skip the clear coat and do several coats of matte black. i had to respray my instrument cluster housing and it is a very good match.

Thanks man - I will definetely try that. I used Duplicolor Flat black on my front grill and was very happy with the result.

The warm water tricks sounds excellent.