ANYBODY EVER USED THIS CLEARCOAT?

[71 MONTE 4 YA]

It says it's high solids. This is what my cousin uses. He likes it.

[stangeba]

Try it over whatever base coat you are using on an old door skin or metal piece, to verify compatibility. Looks like a two part perhaps with isocyanate activator, so be sure to wear proper protective equipment, respirator, etc.

Bruce

[Leghome]

Just because it says High solids does not make a good product. We have several different clears at the store I work at part time. The clears with activator range in price from $66 (USC #10)to over $300(Dupont Chromaclear #72500). The higher the cost the better the product usually. Nason(duponts entry level) products range $100 to $200 per gallon with activator. We have 5 different Dupont Clears. It is all in according to what you want. The Nason and USC clears are considered to be 3 to 5 year clears. I have seen these products last much longer if they do not sit out side in the weather. The best shine comes for the upper grade Dupont clears and most of them have lifetime warranties. Bruce(stangeba) more than likely has a whole lot more technical info than I have.

[7tonemonte]

Ive used Southern Poly before Plenty of times, its a low budget clear that generally doesnt retain its shine for a long time if exposed to the elements. It has a purpose in a shop when your painting a couple of panels on say a 89 Escort, but personally I wouldnt waste the money to do anything Im planning on keeping for any length of time, and never used it on any resto work we did.

One of the shops I work at occasionally at nights uses it on certain vehicles, it doesnt have a great gloss to it IMO, and like I said, Ive seen the vehicles after a few years, it didnt hold up well. Like usual Rodney, you get what you pay for. Id hate to see you do all this work on your car, and not be happy with it after 2 years, and then spend the money to do it right next time.

[71 MONTE 4 YA]

Thanks guys for the comments. Thanks Tony. I've seen some of the cars my cousin did with this clear and it really does have an extreme wet look at all times but I haven't seen any car with it down the line. So your opinion really counts here as you have seen the aftermath. But I have a question, Could said results have been from lack of someone not taking care of their car ie washing, waxing and so forth? I will not be driving the Monte in messed up weather at all.

[7tonemonte]

Rodney,my opinion on clearcoat is to not skimp on the final part of your paintjob. I like to not skimp on anything to do with paint.Ive seen too many jobs go bad after all the body work is done and the car is painted, have an issue with cheap primer bubbling up off the bodywork or clearcoat delamination. As far as the clear,Ill try and put it in perspective, You can either pay 100 bucks for Southern Poly, or pay 400 for something good. In the grand scheme of things, your saving 300 bucks, and a few years down the road you will spend way more than that to do it all over again.

That being said, I understand the situation your in, and it may be ok to use that with you keeping the car in the garage and out of the weather and all that if your willing to chance it, it does not however change my opinion on it, 300 bucks just isnt worth it in the long run IMO.

Your cousin may use it and have success with it, the only thing I can suggest is maybe try and find some cars he has done a couple of years ago and see how they are holding up.

 

[71 MONTE 4 YA]

Well my car is really no where near being ready for paint. I just wanted to get some opinions on the clear since this is what my cousin swears by. He actually wanted me to start this thread. I have told him your opinion and he is going to call some of his old customers and see if everything is still holding up.