Post by gallitzin on Apr 17, 2019 14:55:05 GMT -5
After finding an appropriate color and giving it a week or so to dry, I realized that I might need a clear coat to protect the color from dirt, abrasion, and gasoline that might spill around the tank.
Has anyone tested any of the following clear coat finishes over painted plastic body panels for gasoline spills?
* Water-Based Helmsman Spar Urethane (Exterior use) Crystal Clear - Synthetic Bristle Brush
* Helmsman Spar Urethane (Exterior use) Amber - Natural Bristle Brush* Water-Based Polycrylic™ Protective Finish (Interior only use?) Crystal Clear - Synthetic Bristle Brush
* Rustoleum Stops-Rust Protective Enamel Spray Paint - Crystal Clear - (Oil modified Alkyd)
Between urethane, polyurethane, polycrylic, lacquer, and oil modified alkyd type protection; I'm not sure what is the most practical for a clear finish that can protect the color beneath. The water-based finishes may remain clear, where the oil-based/traditional urethane and polyurethane finishes all create an amber tint that gets darker with time.
Authentic clear coat seems to be a two-part solution with hardener, which becomes one-shot-use-only, and is fairly-toxic but with best results:
I'd hate to buy $20 of real clear coat for two small body panels, but I don't want them unprotected either. I suppose I could attempt to use just any clear coat in general if I let the paint and clear coat dry completely between coats. I could always use the real stuff later when I have enough body panels prepped to spray all at once. The Water-Based Helmsman Spar Urethane seems impossible to find, although it might be cheaper than the USC SprayMax 2K stuff. I have no idea if the Rustoleum Crystal Clear (Alkyd) spray is gasoline resistant or not.
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