Problem with clear not geting a shine

[onlouds10]

Ok it painted the bed of my Dakota is a black truck and I the base came out great not runs or problems. I them waited the 30 mins for it to tack kup to shoot the clear i shot 3 heavy coats of clear on waiting the time in between. and then I waited 15 hours to start the wet sanding. Some areas around the back end were smooth as glass and then the other areas had a orange peel so started off with 800 to knock it down some and then in to 1000, 1500.. It then tried to buff it out and shine is not there it is kinda hazed almost like there is a polish on it and needs to be wiped off. any clues I didn't break though should I try and buff it out again. I was using Wizards Turbo cut and final cut with a wool pad. Maybe I should go to a foam pad. ( wool pad was the jobbers idea he said it works best on Wizards. I wet sanded on friday I'm I just out of luck now and have to start over???

 

[Stretch]

Sounds to me like you may have started into the clear a bit early. You may want to double check the tech sheet.

As far as pads, I've had good luck with Scott's recommendations of a foam pad for cutting and the waffle pad for polishing.

My problem is I can get the finish back to that glassy finish, but keeping it that way is nearly impossible. If I get any spec of dust on the surface I end up with marks from wiping it off. I try not to dry wipe the surface but still get marks. I guess I need to stop using black and try using some metallic paints, they seem to hide these marks.

Thanks-Stretch

 

[rex]

It's one of 2 things,the first compound was real coarse and imbedded in the soft clear or it is grease clinging to the scatches the wool pad leaves.First try buffing it with a fine compound like 3Ms Perfect It 3 on a foam pad and then the polish on a waffle pad.It wouldn't hurt to knock the top off with 2000 first.If it's a 2 coat clear you should have waited longer like Stretch said,those 3 heavy coats are probably 5 in reality but it's hard to say from here.

Stretch,doesn't that drive you nuts?Black is aweful but some clears are just soft enough to do it.The way I see it is I can live with fine polishing scratches to avoid more chips.

 

[onlouds10]

So do you think that if I hit it again with 2000 and thing take and it it with a foam pad and compound and a waffle pad and polish that it may come out of it.

I looked at it to day and in some areas its shiny but others look like they have a haze on them. In low lights it is really reflective but in the sun it looses the reflection. Thanks for the help so far. . . . .

 

[rex]

Before you do that try washing it well with Dawn detergent and if you can use luke warm water that would be great.It sounds like the compound carrier oils are still smeared on it.A good hand glaze will usually take this off too but some are greasy too.Even if this cleans it up it's a good idea to run over it with a waffle pad and a good fine polish like the Perfect it to clean up the wool pad marks.Even the fine polishing wool pads leave marks the foam one will remove.Don't wax it for 30 days or so either.Let us know what happens.

 

[Painter]

How Much air flow is in your booth, or is it in your garage? Alot of clears that don't have enough air flow will do almost absolutly nothing. Ran into this once before years ago and my paint rep looked to see what it was doing and went directly to the booth, Bingo to slow of air flow over the surface. Corrected the problem ( intake filters ) have never had the problem again. I had to sand it again with 1500 to get rid of the haze and finished with 3000 1 week later finally got it , oh by the way what clear was it ? What happens when you pound on that much clear is your trapping the solvents and when you sand and got to buff you re open the finish. I usually start with 1500 finish with 3000 and let it set open for at least 6 hours, hope this helps.

 

[onlouds10]

The clear was a new product that I had not tried before and the jobber told me that he loved it and has had no problems or complaints. Its made buy Montana and it was the Big Sky clear.

The Air flow clould be an issue but I turned on my fan between coats and after. Its a big fan and a small space I tried on tank wit it on and it did not work good.

I will try washing it and then if I need to wet sand some more and then hit it with compound and polish.

On a side note has any one tried the Wizard turbo cut and final cut again the jobber said that he like it better than the 3M stuff. It states in the tech sheet that you can use the compound and polish and then wash the car good and then paint over the area. It is 100% water soluble. Thanks again for the help hope all this works

 

[TWISTED]

I just used the Big Sky clear a few days ago for the first time. My jobber recommended it and I was very happy with it. My exhaust fan burned up a few days before so I sprayed it with the garage door open and it layed down like glass without buffing. Did 3 coats wetsanded the next day to knock off the tape edge and layed 2 more coats. It was on the bike the next day headed for New York from Cleveland. Came back covered in mud this morning and after it was hosed down It looked just as good as when the clear was first put on.

I like rex's solution best. A good wash and fine polish should do it for you.

 

[rex]

Glad it was the easy fix.You know you have to paint the rest now to make it match

You have a good eye to see the mismatch if it's color and not the usual illusions.

 

[onlouds10]

Well I washed it yesterday and then took some compound to it and then polished it up and it turned out like a a new truck I still have the passenger side to hit in a place or two and I will be happy with it. Now that I got it looking good I can tell that the Black is a tad off in matching the factory but I think it will do. Thanks guys for your help.

 

[onlouds10]

Actually I will be painting the rest of the truck but not till I get a job I was laid off as a Graphic Designer so in the time off I used the time to work on the truck. I welded up the factory lights and I then put in a set of Cadiallic lights and whileI was at it I flipped the tailgate handle and smoothed out the tailgate in hopes of putting some art on it, Next will be the handles being shaved, a new ram air hood, shaving the 3rd brake light, and the quarter panel emblems. Then I'm going in and laying out some killer graphics on it. I just need the funding.

Again thanks guys for all your help

 

[rex]

Sounds like a nice ride when you're done.Hope the job situation works out fast,sucks going broke.