Clear over paint marker
 

Hiya Folks,
I've been trying some lug lining, and eventually got decent results with a DecoColor Liquid Gold paint marker (extra fine):

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3079dfd9dc.jpg

However I've now hit an issue: the gold smears when I try to clear over it.
I waited 24 hours and then tried a solvent based varnish (brush) and it just smeared, the only upside was I could just wipe if off with white spirit.

So my plan is to try some or all of the following:

• Wait 4 days and see if it still wipes off
• Try a different paint marker, possibly one actually called 'enamel' - eg, Testors
• Spray it with UPol clear and varnish over that

Does anybody have any experience of clear over a paint marker, or any other bright ideas ?
Cheers.

Back in the day, lug lining was last. Yes, it oxidizes when ‘gold’ metallic.

possible to make your own using metallic inks and solvent and a paint pen. The Keith Anderson (retired to more profitable work) way.

I tried a Fluid Writer with One Shot Metallic Gold, and didn't have the manual skill to use it properly.
If I could fill a paint marker with One Shot Metallic Gold that would work.
I'll do some research.

Not the most durable clear but often works when others won't is Krylon Cristal Clear, an acrylic spray.
Whatever you use try testing first (on a trash fork, maybe) and make the first pass (and maybe the next 1 or 2) VERY light "misting" coats with enough time between for at least some dry time (but CC is very quick to dry). What the painters call "flash off", it's lost some solvent but not fully dry.
As the coats build there is LESS chance for bleeding and running, but that's why you test.
To be 100% sure

Cheers, I did find some web stuff saying acrylic clear works over DecoColor oil paint pens and I've heard of Krylon.
And yes I'm testing, quite a lot, on my £20 1952 Bertin :) https://www.bikeforums.net/22947534-post6547.html

I was hoping to clear with 151 Yacht Varnish, since that's what I'm using to do the red flake layer.
So I've ordered a cheap ruling pen to see if I can get the One Shot metallic gold to work.

One Shot is generally better than most paints you find in Art Supply or Paint Shops, since it has been made for "the sign painter's trade" for decades and not for all us amateurs.
But I never used that metallic gold One Shot so cannot give a first-hand review. I'd trust it to flow out better and have better coverage than most other enamels, but no idea how ANY popular clear-coats will interact with it.
You can test and give us the results, professor...thanks and best of luck!

Is it really necessary to clear over the paint pen results? What are you worried about happening without the clear?

It's pretty difficult for someone, or something, to touch the sunken lines.

By the way, nice lines. That pen is a keeper.

Yep, I like how easy the pen is to use, and it's a good colour and opacity.
The pen is fine, if you don't want to clear over it.

I need to clear over the red layer (it's got red metallic flake in it), and I thought protecting the lining at the same time would be a good idea (also UV protection).
So for the frame thatsI could instead doI just seems like a good idea to protect the lining.

I've done a test sample for Friday - 4 days hardening time.

uncovered “gold” will oxidize. Many chemistries just seem to get removed quickly with typical cleaning.

A few days later ...

Let the ink harden for 5 days and then tried brushed varnish and sprayed UPol clear:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6364756c6f.jpg

Left to right: 151 Yacht Varnish | UPol Clear #1 | UPol Clear #1 with 151 Yacht Varnish on top.

So varnish still smears it after 5 days, but I could UPol clear the gold pen areas and then varnish over everything.

In theory I should do it cleanly: Fluid Writer and then just varnish over everything.
But I had real trouble getting a smooth line with the fluid writer so I think I'm going to cheat: DecoColor pen with UPol clear over it :)