Duplicolor lacquer and clearcoat

I no longer have a compressor or a good spray gun - which is OK because I only have a few small parts to paint. I'm a fair hand with surface prep and painting, but the Duplicolor acrylic black lacquer and acrylic lacquer clear (spray cans) just turned out horrible.

I sanded everything down and primed with their high-fill primer then followed up with lighter weight sandable primer. I used multiple grades of sandpaper, and finished up with 600 wet. I cleaned it thoroughly, tacked and sprayed the (so-called) gloss black. It wouldn't flow smoothly, and had a velvety look to it. I sanded it back down, wet sanded again - same result. I thought that the clear might bring out the gloss, but it's velvety also.

The part was completely dry after wet sanding. I let the various coats dry for the recommended time and followed the instructions exactly. Temperature was around 80F and humidity was a tad above 40%.

I guess I can try color sanding and buffing it out - but I just may sand it down and go with enamel.

Question: Were the conditions wrong, am I a horrible painter, or do Duplicolor spray bombs just suck?

I think you are expecting the same results from spray bombs as spray guns. In most cases you will only get what you are now getting. You can maybe color sand and maybe buff it smooth. I have done what you are trying and have had to settle for the best I could get .

The paint in rattle cans is thinned so much in order to get an effective pattern through that tiny nozzle that it's extremely hard to get the film thickness that brings good shine, and to fill the surface enough to support much color sanding. You might get there, but you're going to need about a dozen coats of clear before you try to cut & buff, IMO, and the temptation is to lay it down heavy, but it's so thin that it runs at any hint of a heavy coat.

I haven't had any good luck with spray bomb clear. But, some paint shops will mix up the good quality paint and put that in a poof can. I have had good luck with that. It is kind of pricey for a poof can, like $20 I think, but in this situation may be worth it.

Pre-Val sprayers are awsome for this.. Instead of using Dupli Color, I'd use Rustoleum black because it is my experience that, it will always shine.. They sell a clear coat now too, but only in spray can

Like Matt said, I have used a lot of duplicolor poof can stuff and it lasts quite a while. Not near as nice as out of a gun though.

Lacquer is typically not real glossy without sanding and buffing.

I also have had good results with the Pre-Val sprayer on small parts. Several years ago, I popped for an air brush and compressor so I have not used one recently. But they are a good alternative to a poof can, inexpensive, and you can shoot regular auto paint through them.

I used to use an old tire to supply my air brush, it was cheaper than an air compressor, quieter too.

Clever idea. I never thought of that.

Thanks for the input. I should have realized that lacquer - clearcoat or not - would need to be cut and buffed. I've tossed that out, and am looking at a different angle. I'm going to use a spray can of some sort because I only have a small amount to do - dash and window frames. One thing I did learn was NEVER to use Duplicolor's version of Prepsol. It lifts paint.

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Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

Thanks for the input. I should have realized that lacquer - clearcoat or not - would need to be cut and buffed. I've tossed that out, and am looking at a different angle. I'm going to use a spray can of some sort because I only have a small amount to do - dash and window frames. One thing I did learn was NEVER to use Duplicolor's version of Prepsol. It lifts paint.

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Jack,
You might want to visit a good independent automotive paint shop and talk to them about charging up a couple of rattle cans for you. They can mix the paint to match the color you want, then thin it appropriately for use in their cans.

I need to touch up my wheels where I've removed the trim rings. More than ten years ago, a local parts store stocked a full shelf of Dupli-color rattle cans and I was able to match the custom mixed color close enough for touch-ups. I misplaced the last can I had during a move four years ago, but I swear the color code was GM 1101 or GM 1104. The Dupli-color site, like most, wants to "help" by matching a factory color, but that doesn't help me.

Any thoughts on this? I'd like to avoid the time and expense of taking a wheel to a local body shop and having them mix up some paint for me, if they even would.

Thanks for any help,
Dorsey

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Originally Posted by Dorsey

I need to touch up my wheels where I've removed the trim rings. More than ten years ago, a local parts store stocked a full shelf of Dupli-color rattle cans and I was able to match the custom mixed color close enough for touch-ups. I misplaced the last can I had during a move four years ago, but I swear the color code was GM 1101 or GM 1104. The Dupli-color site, like most, wants to "help" by matching a factory color, but that doesn't help me.

Any thoughts on this? I'd like to avoid the time and expense of taking a wheel to a local body shop and having them mix up some paint for me, if they even would.

Thanks for any help,
Dorsey

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Did you really just dig up a 4 year old posts to ask your question? Really :rolleyes: