Will a clear coat help with oxidation?

[Cptkid570]

Hi Everyone,

RoscottJr and I have been discussing this on another post:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=379123

My situation:
I have a 1996 project boat that has oxidation/faded paint in areas where there is dark green paint. I've wet sanded it, buffed it, then waxed it, and it looks great, but then fades after not too long and the faded look is back. If I squirt it with water, it's looks great, then when the water dries, the faded look is back.

We were discussing whether or not a clear coat would permanently eliminiate the faded/oxidized look? Or, would you basically have faded paint with a clear coat over it. I'm trying to get out of having to repaint the boat as I'd think that a clear coat would possibly be easier to get a good look versus painting it. However, my fear is that I'd then have to sand off the clear coat when I paint the boat.

We'd also discussed using acrylic urethane to clear coat the paint.

Any opinions on whether or not this will help the oxidized area? Any opinions would be great.

 

[roscottjr]

Re: Will a clear coat help with oxidation?

We'd also discussed using acrylic urethane to clear coat the paint.

Gelcoat not paint. We are considering spraying an acrylic urethane clear coat over the faded gelcoat to acomplish a gloss finish. Buffing has not worked for me either. I actually water sanded thru a small spot on the white Gelcoat of my Wellcraft in an attempt to get a good glossy finish.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Will a clear coat help with oxidation?

I'm trying to get out of having to repaint the boat as I'd think that a clear coat would possibly be easier to get a good look versus painting it.

Ayuh,... You can Try anything ya's want....
Shooting with Clear is the exact same effort as shootin' Color....

If ya want to to look Right,....

 

[ben2go]

Re: Will a clear coat help with oxidation?

Poly glo or some other marine wax will slow oxidation.Clear coats will oxidize over time just like gel coats.

 

[roscottjr]

Re: Will a clear coat help with oxidation?

Ayuh,... You can Try anything ya's want....
Shooting with Clear is the exact same effort as shootin' Color....

I think we are aware that we can try anything we want. However, if we wanted to sit around wasting money trying this that and the other then I am fairly certain we would not be asking on here.

Correction, shooting clear is NOT the same effort as color. There is a certain extra degree of difficulty in preventing runs especially once the first coat is on. Because it is clear, it can be difficult to see what you just shot and what you did not. I have never had any runs in color, but have had a few in the clear. Granted these were 3 or more coats of clear to get a deeper looking finish.

 

[gerard143]

Re: Will a clear coat help with oxidation?

I guarantee that if you use automotive urethane clear coat it will look just like it does when you wet it with water for years to come. I use a good HVLP gun. PPG Omni paints are cheap and work fabulous.

get it wet and that is exactly what it looks like with the clear. spray it and be done for 6 years easy. it holds up better then most factory gelcoat finishes. all boats should be painted and clearcoated in my opinion. it holds up a hell of a lot longer.

I am speaking from experience. We've done this on several boats.

on the other subject i feel is the same overall principle whether spraying color or clear.... its just that you apply the clear in heavier coats and it dries a bit slower which makes it more susceptible to runs.

 

[gerard143]

Re: Will a clear coat help with oxidation?

Poly glo or some other marine wax will slow oxidation.Clear coats will oxidize over time just like gel coats.

ya maybe in 10 years. Poly glos good for a season. its a half assed temporary fix you have to do every single season. The hardest part about applying clear is masking everything off.

just clear coat it and forget about it for a decade.

 

[gerard143]

Re: Will a clear coat help with oxidation?

First off you are correct in wanting to use acrylic urethane. This is what you want. It is what is used on all automobiles today in a basecoat/clearcoat system.

You don't thin the stuff like you mentioned in the other post with mineral spirits. Atleast not if your using quality automotive paint.

It is one part acrylic urethane and one part hardener. You can go with slow/med/fast hardeners depending on the temperature.

I am attaching pictures and a product data sheet on the PPG brand paint I use. I go with their omni line in most cases because it works well, it holds up and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. It is quality stuff.

I recommend using a gravity feed HVLP gun. If you are going to the expense to buy one get one of those. For $100 bucks you can get a great gun. I like them more then siphon feeds. A lot of older painters in the US grew up on siphon feeds and Gravitys became popular in europe. Many new painters in the US use gravity feeds. They just feel more natural to me and more balanced when spraying.

Make sure you use a respirator and also having a nice tyvek suit helps keep lint off paint jobs from your clothes and it also keeps you very clean underneath. So much of the job depends on excellent masking so don't shortcut on taping off and masking stuff. Use the green painters tape.

I took a photo to give you some hints. See in the photo how I loop the hose over my shoulder and hold it with my other hand. This keeps the hose from bumping into the paint job and you can use your other hand thats holding the hose to feed you more slack and pull back on slack. Its very natural and easy this way. Also make sure you use some kind of water seperator filter. You can see on the bottom of my gun is a cheap orange disposable type. That'll work fine for one paint job. It's all you need. Also notice the rag wrapped around the quick disconnect fitting. This is to catch any water drips. It's amazing when painting how much condensation builds up inside the compressor. A tiny drop of water at this connection can ruin a paint job if it drips on the paint. So this one small step is worth it.

I can get into paint technique and give you some pointers and some commons mistakes if you've never sprayed. just let me know. also... Always have a test panel.... like a big piece of cardboard too so you can check fan pattern adjustment on the gun and how much paints flowing etc on the cardboard first.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Will a clear coat help with oxidation?

Can you roll and tip with clear coat? I guess I'm different than Rosco as I've never sprayed a boat, but I've rolled and tipped with decent success (with white paint). I guess I'm more paranoid to roll and tip with a darker color because I feel that it will show my imperfections more... I figure that if I role and tip with a clear coat, it may not show imperfections as much because it's clear.

So, if you can roll and tip a clear coat on, what product would you use?

 

[gerard143]

Re: Will a clear coat help with oxidation?

Can you roll and tip with clear coat? I guess I'm different than Rosco as I've never sprayed a boat, but I've rolled and tipped with decent success (with white paint). I guess I'm more paranoid to roll and tip with a darker color because I feel that it will show my imperfections more... I figure that if I role and tip with a clear coat, it may not show imperfections as much because it's clear.

So, if you can roll and tip a clear coat on, what product would you use?

I've never even tried it. I'm just so used to spraying. I am curious how it would come out though myself doing clear only.

 

[roscottjr]

Re: Will a clear coat help with oxidation?

gerard143, thanks for the information, that is most definately helpful. I did notice when you mentioned it was for automotive use that I gave the wrong type of clear. This clear coat is an acrylic polymer. Here is the link to the clear:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120541606929&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I have never been one to buy paint when I dont know how old it is but hey, for the price maybe it would be worth a trial run. What do you think? If nothing else I do have a junk boat that I could spray a section with this clear to see how it does which I plan on using a section of this junk boat for testing anyway.

I guess I mentioned acrylic urethane from working at my dad's bodyshop so much.

Yes I will be spraying with an hvlp gravity feed gun.

 

[gerard143]

Re: Will a clear coat help with oxidation?

imho laquer paint sux compared to urethane. also shelf life on paint isnt very long so i'd be very leery on ebay.

it's up to you. but ppg omni paints arent very expensive.

heres some info...
Because laquer paints do not require hardeners as the urethane paints do, they thus become more prone to chipping and wearing than comparable urethane paints. Many restorers cite the durability of urethane paints as their number one advantage and point out that laquer paints tend to last just five to 10 years on a car with normal use; after so long, they will fade, crack or peel. Urethane paints, on the other hand, seem to have indefinite lives when well-kept

But laquer is really not very good paint. Brittle, labor intensive, and not very durable.

Acrylic Urethane is where it's at, not just in OEM finishes, but in custom paint for street rods and the like.

Finally, urethane paints just looks better, many restorers told us.

also this is important..

Lacquers dry very quickly, sometimes within two or three hours depending on the weather conditions. Weather is very important when painting. If it's humid and wet, the dry time can almost double. The hotter and drier the weather is the better. Warning: If you decide to use acrylic lacquers, stick with a lacquer product line! From the primer, paint and clearcoat, never mix lacquer and urethane paint together.

It's like fire and water; you will kill the process. Even though you can shoot a urethane clearcoat over a lacquer paint job, you cannot shoot a lacquer clearcoat over a urethane product. Lacquer clear coat will "eat" the urethane in a heartbeat. A urethane product will go over anything and not cause any damage, even on enamel. Remember, lacquer clear can only go over a lacquer-based paint