Originally Posted by
3alarmer
... here is my experience with the Spraymaxx 2K clear glamour paint, which I have now used on maybe 7 -10 frames as the final step.
I have never done any surface prep to the underlying color coats, other than to apply the decals before the final clear with Spraymaxx. One can seems to cover an average frame and fork nicely. There is some cautionary advice in the literature to apply it within a certain recoat window for the color coat...I think it's maybe 48 or 72 hours. But on my projects I have often gone longer than that because I like to let the color coats dry some before I apply the vinyl decals. When applied properly, the stuff goes on as a relatively thick paint layer. So I've never seen any point in trying to wet sand the undercoats smoother than they go on over the primer.
Originally Posted by
2cam16
I've never had a problem clear coating over decals on the bikes that have been done. I wait a couple of days before the next coat...
Originally Posted by
Nessism
To do a proper paint job the base coat should be sealed with the clear within the "critical recoat time," typically 24 hours. Further, the base coat should not be sanded. Failing to follow these steps will affect the durability of the finish. Lastly, with catalyzed urethane paint you don't want to inhale too many fumes, even with a charcoal spray mask, thus painting outdoors with good ventilation is recommended. If you get a dust spec here and there sand it out and polish. That's better than breathing the fumes.
My apologies for bringing back a partial zombie-thread, but I think you folks can help me out.
In the next couple days I plan to paint a bike frame. All the materials are auto-paint grade (PPG). I had the color coats custom made and loaded into rattle cans.
The frame and fork are hand-stripped down to bare metal(steel).
Paint schedule:
1) Dewax-degrease spray
2) 2K primer (Spray Max)
3) Spray color coat #1 (fork, head tube, parts of the top & down tubes, Spray Max 368 2071)
4) Wait 5-6 hrs (suggested by paint desk guy)
5) Mask up parts of fork, top & down tube with auto grade fine-line tape(3M)
6) Spray color coat #2 (frame & over masked parts of color coat #1, Spray Max 368 2071)
7) Wait 2-3 minutes and pull off masking tape
8) Wait ????
9) Apply decals (dry application)
10) Spray 2K clear coat (Spray Max Glamour Coat)
The guy at the paint desk says the base coat needs to be clear coated within 24 hours.
Question 1) I'm not sure how long I have to wait to apply the decals over fresh paint (color coat #2). Any ideas/experience? If I have to wait 5-6 hours to mask off the first color coat and then another 5-6 hours to apply decals...and then do the clear coat, this will be a very long day, assuming the day doesn't go south with wind, humidity....(I'm painting outside)
Question #2) As a fallback option, I'm considering skipping the decal step and going straight to the clearcoat 30 minutes after I spray color coat #2. If I let the clear coat set up for a day or two (the tech data sheet says the 2K clear coat can be sanded and polished after 24 hours), can I apply the decals and then clear coat again? I'm guessing the cured clear coat will need to be wet sanded with 1000-1500 grit, wipe with tack solvent, and then sprayed?
thx..