reduce clear coat?

[seigfred]

seigfred

November 1, 2011 at 3:45 am #33946

Hi there,

Still kinda new to the hobby and still learning.
Why is it that both paint stores I went to say do not reduce the clear when I’ve been told by quite a few people that you can actually reduce the clear coat by 10% to help with the orange peel.
If I were to reduce the clear, can I just use any universal reducer? should I just use it on the last coat and does that change the flash time requirement?
I tried the Omni, Matrix and Finish1 brand clearcoat and none of them mention a reducer in the techsheet or maybe I just don’t understand the term used in there.
I’m having better luck with the clearcoat since I used the Astro HTE with 1.3 tip, at least much better compared to my harbor freight gun but I’m still getting a bit of orange peel but I heard reducing clear rally lays down clear flat.

Need any info or advice from the refinish gurus or anybody.

Thanks in advance

[Ben Hart]

Ben Hart

November 1, 2011 at 6:05 am #33950

[quote=”seigfredm” post=23381]Hi there,

Still kinda new to the hobby and still learning.
Why is it that both paint stores I went to say do not reduce the clear when I’ve been told by quite a few people that you can actually reduce the clear coat by 10% to help with the orange peel.
If I were to reduce the clear, can I just use any universal reducer? should I just use it on the last coat and does that change the flash time requirement?
I tried the Omni, Matrix and Finish1 brand clearcoat and none of them mention a reducer in the techsheet or maybe I just don’t understand the term used in there.
I’m having better luck with the clearcoat since I used the Astro HTE with 1.3 tip, at least much better compared to my harbor freight gun but I’m still getting a bit of orange peel but I heard reducing clear rally lays down clear flat.

Need any info or advice from the refinish gurus or anybody.

Thanks in advance[/quote]

Well…

Follow the tech sheet. That is the best way to mix the products. Some clears require mixing the clear with hardener and reducer. Some just require the hardener. The only difference is that the reducer in some products is already in with the hardener and/or clear. Makes for more simple mixing and less products required to stock. Do not add more of the hardener to the mix, even if it is also the reducer.

As far as adding extra reducer, I don’t recommend this since you are fairly new to this. As professionals, we know what we are doing and know the products we use everyday quite well. Some products spray great as is, others can bennefit from slightly more reducer. More reducer can help when painting large jobs, hot conditions and overall finish with some products. Other products can be worse with more reducer and cause problems. More reducer can also increase the chances of runs.

I suggest sticking to the proper mix for now and hone in on your skills the best you can. Most products can lay down very nice and flat without extra reducer if you do everything else well.

[Jayson Munro]

Jayson Munro

November 1, 2011 at 7:05 am #33951

If you add more reducer you increase your chances of solvent pop and dieback.If you turn up your air pressure a few psi you can do the same thing as adding more reducer but it is safer.

[seigfred]

seigfred

November 1, 2011 at 9:31 am #33953

thanks guys, I’ll try playing around with pressure and guns settings for now

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