Paint Problem

[jcgafford]

After leaving my valve covers at a powder coaters for a month I dropped in without calling to find out what the hold up was and found them exactly where I had left them. Needless to say they are back home and I decided to forgo the whole powder coat thing and paint them myself. Prepped them well and did two coats of primer dried for 24 hours and then two coats of paint and let dry for another 24 hours. They were perfect. Then, as suggested by many threads, I sprayed the two light coats of clear coat. Everything went south. The clear wrinkled before my eyes in about ten minutes. Tenty four hours later it is still somewhat tacky put still impossible to sand or scrape off. So back to stripping and repainting I guess. My question is. How important is the clear? Can I just skip it and everything will be fine?

 

[90_Red_LX]

Was it shot with rattle can or a gun? Some paints will not bond with a clear. Before you sprayed the clear, did the dried paint feel fairly hard or soft?

 

[blackstangt]

I just used a single stage paint, if you're happy with the shine and don't chip them up they should be good to go.

 

[fiveohwblow]

Sounds like you shot clear and didn't use hardener. You have to start all over. It will not dry, ever.

To get it off, use a ton of lacquer thinner and rags, trust me it eventually comes off.

 

[tca7291]

Glass bead them, if you have the resources, and start over. Shoot them with a rattle can hi-heat paint and you should be good.

 

[tca7291]

P.S. You really have to make sure the clear and paint that is used is compatible, if you use a enamel for the paint and then use a more solvent based clear, it will act like stripper on the paint that was already laid down. Sorry, I don't know the paints now a days, I'm used to using lacquer, that is nearly impossible to find now.

 

[Fox8950]

Never seen something wrinkle because clear was put on with no catalyst, just run off the panel and of course never harden like was said. Need more specifics to answer tho, was this rattle can stuff or what products did you use?

 

[RangerJoe]

Use the high temp engine enamal paint that comes in rattle cans. I did mine 1.5 years ago and they hold up well. Very resistant to scratches too. Although, it does not come off easily. I didn't like the first color, and even aircraft stripper was having a hard time with it. But sandblasting took care of it.

Joe

 

[jcgafford]

hight temp engine primer and paint by duplicolor. used their matching clear too. i already stripped it off with gel paint stripper, two applications and 15 minutes each and everything is off with help of a steel brush. going to paint and prime but skip the clear. i am following their directions to a "T" and it will take 7 days for the complete cure of the paint. Everything was great until that clear application, it went on the hardened finish layer of paint and curled before my eyes. it was still tacky today when i stripped it so it is not even a consideration anymore.

 

[jcgafford]

ok. they are reprimed and repainted. three light primer coats sanded and cleaned in between every coat. two coats of paint sanded and cleaned after the first coat. they have been sitting since and every day have spent ten minutes in a 170 degree oven to help dry and cure them. the finish is hard as a rock and looks good. now, do i just install them or am i going to be ticked i didnt clear coat them?