intercoat then flames or clear, sand, intercoat?

[Squirt]

Newbee question, sorry if I sound stupid but ,In the process I will paint my base coat, and apply flames and graphics in 4 different colors. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gifDo I first spray clear over the whole base coat, sand with 800 and apply my 1st set of graphics over the unbuffed clear then intercoat clear the graphic area. then 2nd and so on ? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gifOr, do I paint base, incoat the whole bike, then apply 1st set of graphics the intercoat over them and then move on? Finally apply my finish clear over all? Thanks, without ya'lls help I wouldn't attempt this.Squirt :

 

[ezrider]

Squirt, i always use top coat clear over my original base color then sand with 600. it may seem like more work but i think you get a little more depth in the end result and protects the base a little better than the intercoat clear dose. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/luck.gif

 

[Squirt]

After I paint base coat , use a top coat clear then sand, I do not buff this clear before I apply graphics do I? After my 1 set is on, do I intercoat the whole peice, or just the graphic itself? Thanks

 

[kxmotox247]

I agree with using some regular clear. I just tried using intercoat clear for the first time and didn't like it. We had a problem occur where I needed to wipe off some artwork I just sprayed on. Unfortuanately, the intercoat clear disolved underneath the artwork exposing and damaging the 1st base color. So now I'm back to square one where I have to re-base everything. Traditionally, we've used a coat of UC-1 clear to seperate our artwork from the bases used. Although solvent may still soften the real clear, i'd rather take my chances with it than the intercoat clear from now on. That's just my opinion...I'm sure others will diasagree but I know what's worked for me and what hasn't.
I would scuff whichever clear you use with 600 grit. Don't buff before artwork...you need the sand scratches for adhesion. Good luck!

 

[flamethrower]

I don't know what could have gone wrong with your intercoat clear. I use it between base coat and graphics and have never had a problem with it. It shoots like a base coat, not a topcoat clear, maybe you are putting it on too wet? I use medium coats with the SG100. Just a thought.

FT

 

[kxmotox247]

Sorry...my post might have been a little confusing.
I was painting a cycle earlier this week and had sprayed everything with a blue Shimrin Base, then I sprayed 2 medium coats of intercoat clear over everything. I scuffed it with 600, then taped out my flames. We decided to experiment around with some flake in the silver for my flames. When we shot it on, some of the flake was visable, some was not. Everywhere that the flake was under the silver, it made what looked like litte goose bumps. We didn't think it was going to look good in the end so we quickly used some solvent to wash off the silver. Unfortunately, the silver and the intercoat came off together and it even messed up my blue base. I knew this was going to happen but I would rather wipe off everything back down to my sealer under the blue base than have to wait to sand off everything later...especially since I was going to kandy over everything.
My point was simply that if I had used some catalyized clear in between the blue and my flames, the solvent might have stopped at the clear...or at least it would have taken off enough of the silver that I could have just hit it up with sandpaper later.
Sorry if I got everyone confused...and I'm still not sure if this was any more clear??? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/freak.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I'm still really new at a lot of this...I'm sure intercoat clear works well when used by people not experimenting at the same time...hahaha.

 

[rex]

KX,you just learned a valuable lesson the same most of us have.

To answer the original post,it's best to clear the base and sand for the grafix like EZ said.If you have tapelines in the grafix clear and sand each set of them too.If you're having airbrush work done 2 or 3 coats of intercoat can level them out but remember any tapelines and 'lumps' will show in the next set of grafix if it isn't cleared and sanded level.

 

[myfamiliacc]

KX. Been there done that, so don't feel bad /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[kxmotox247]

No sweat... A little disappointing, but I sanded everything smooth last night. Hopefully tonight, I'll be re-sealing and re-basing.
At least now I know to keep my flake in clear or Kandy. I'm still curious as to what rainbow flake might look like under 5 coats of Kobalt Blue. I don't know if it'll even be visable.

 

[4bear4]

I've put Ultra mini rainbow flake under 2 coats of cobalt and it showed thru. I also did a job with a cobalt kandy base and a little intensifier added for the flames. Then I added the flake to the first coat of clear for the flames, cleaned the gun, untaped and finished clearing. Turned out great! If you're flaking the whole thing, I'd put it in clear just before the final clear. Just my thoughts.
Bear