Decisions on clearcoat, Martin Senour?

S

Satyr

New member
I have a tonneau cover for a car that I am painting in a few weeks. I will be getting the BC from paintscratch, since no one around seems to be able to match the paint with a different brand (specifically, PPG). Anyways, I am looking for a good clearcoat to go over it that isn't too expensive but will still look nice; I have been dissuaded against lacquer CC, so I am looking only for a urethane type that I can order online.

I found the ACME Finish 1 series, have used it before with (what appeared to be) good results. I plan to use it again...as I am still new to painting and it is an easy 4:1 mixture, somewhat full-proof, you could say.

What do you guys think about this type of paint? I know that it's a Martin Senour brand (Sherwin Williams?), and I can buy it locally, which helps. But, if there is something as easy to mix that is better, I would be happy to try it.

Thanks for the help.
 
T

TAZ

Guest
I've never sprayed the Acme myself. I believe member Vettra is spraying a motorcycle right now using a M-S brand paint.
Sounds like you won't need that much clear. Most brands have a minimum of a quart to buy though.

As far as color matching, I would think there would be at least one jobber that is local to you that could help you out...normally they have a matching gun that will help get a formula to mix the paint for you.
 
Vettra

Vettra

New member
Martin Senour Acme

Oddly enough I had just logged on to the forum to post photos of the bike I just finished painting with the Martin Senour line.

I don't have the experience that Taz, Brian and the pros on this forum do. The only paint I have used to compare to is the HOK line. To be honest this paint line is very comparable in the way that it performs with the benefit of being a little less expensive. I get it at NAPA.

Here is the bike


Left Rear..jpg
 
Brian Dee

Brian Dee

Super Moderator
there ya go Satyr, Vettra just completed his bike with that particular brand of paint witout any issues. Let us know how you are doing with your project and if you run into any problems there are lot of people here to help you out. Just take your time,do a little research,and stir the heck out of your paint and you'll be just fine. As Jon Kosmoski of HOK said, 99.9% of failures happen with not using a stir stick.
Brian.
 
T

TAZ

Guest
Guess the other .1% would be because the instructions weren't followed :haha:
 
Vettra

Vettra

New member
If I may add- I think that a lot of guys starting out think you can just pour your paint in a cup and start shooting. It can't be too much harder than using a spray can right? If they start out wrong and don't have some real instruction or a forum such as this, they will keep repeating the same process while making the same mistakes.

The is something in my art background that translates into the painting realm- that is as soon as I finish a project I always feel I could have done it better. But that is how we learn adapt and grow in the field. I really feel that some guys do it because they think it is an easy way to make a buck. The more I do this the more I realize that is definetley not the case. You gotta love it or you'll just become and remain a hack.

IMHO
 
T

TAZ

Guest
Well said...
And then on the other hand, you have alot of painters that 'think' they do a good job, but really don't know what a true show quality paint job is.
BUT as long as you know that there is room for improvement with each job, then you are definitely one the right track to being a successful painter!
 
S

Satyr

New member
Thanks for the responses, guys. I picked up the ACME line of clearcoat a few weeks ago and just primered the pieces I am painting about an hour ago. I am shooting mystichrome on top of it, which is a tricky color...and this is only my second time shooting a basecoat from a gun. Hopefully everything will turn out okay. I will have pictures by the end of the day, maybe tomorrow.

Thanks for all the help and guidance.
 
S

Satyr

New member
Hey guys...got finished up today and am almost ready for pictures. I was painting tonneau covers and ended up getting some clearcoat runs in the paint that I need to wet sand out. I was wondering what methods you all use to buff the finish after wet sanding? I tried it last year and got the clearcoat to be dull/milky, but was unsure what to buff it with.

Thanks for the help!
 
T

TAZ

Guest
There are quite a few different ways to achieve the same gloss and finish when wetsand and buffing, but the way we do it is simply 1500 the paint, then we take 6085 with a white 3M foam pad.
Sounds like in your previous paint jobs, you just didn't buff it long enough.

Be sure and use a good grade machine buffer (not hand buffing or using the drill as a buffer)
 
S

Satyr

New member
Okay, that makes sense. I have a porter cable orbital buffer, and I have the white, blue, orange and yellow pads. Pardon my ignorance, but where can I find the 3M 6085? Do you guys find it locally or do you have to order it online?

Thanks again for the help and your time.
 
Last edited:
T

TAZ

Guest
No problem...I should have mentioned "3M"
you can buy this from your local auto bodyshop jobber. I think it's about $30 a quart.
 
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