Body Guys - Clearcoat recommendations

[roger1]

Southern Polyurethanes. I've been using their Universal clear for years.

As sprayed. No color sanding or buffing. Sprayed in my garage using an Iwata LPH-400 spray gun.

 

[jlcustomz]

Was going to mention SPI also. Their universal clear is the highest solids product, it does best with a really good air supply to spray it smooth as possible. I think it was said to be comparable to older ppg 2021, not sure if I got number right. They also have their euro clear which is still great, but not as high of a solids content. They have a lower cost production clear and now a fast dry clear that can be sprayed back to back on a few panels at a time, no flash time. All their clears buff easy.
They also have great epoxy primer, 2k primers, and a few single stage colors. Roger did his el camino white & I'll be using their black black.
In general their products are a high quality at a lower price, just not many colors to choose from. They will ship direct if you don't have a local jobber of theirs. Great forum also, products on homepage.

Southern Polyurethanes Forum

SPI Forum

www.spiuserforum.com

 

[melloelky]

Thanks Chris, I’d actually really appreciate that. More options and feedback the better at this point.

I spoke with my tech rep today,explained your situation and all.in your neck of the woods he recommends envirobase ec550 EN-V.the EN-V is the version that makes it's compliant further up north than down here with us Yankees.he says it's comparable to the concept you've run in the past and being an overall/the general scope of the project(sanding buffing etc etc) you can surpass the recommended coat limit that the sheet indicates. and yes no worries about top coating that omni line etc.

 

[Rktpwrd]

“I spoke with my tech rep today,explained your situation and all.in your neck of the woods he recommends envirobase ec550 EN-V.the EN-V is the version that makes it's compliant further up north than down here with us Yankees.he says it's comparable to the concept you've run in the past and being an overall/the general scope of the project(sanding buffing etc etc) you can surpass the recommended coat limit that the sheet indicates. and yes no worries about top coating that omni line etc.”

Wow, that’s fantastic news Chris. Thank you so much!
As mentioned before, I was already kind of leaning towards the EC-520/30/50 line so this is excellent and incredibly helpful. The next time I’m in at my distributor’s I’m going to price it out.

I’m glad to hear it’ll accept more than the recommended coat limit (usually 2 now, sometimes 3 with these new clears), did he happen to mention how many it’ll take? The painter I spoke with on Friday said any more than 3 and you’ll likely start experiencing sagging, solvent pop, die back and a whole host of other problems.
😕

 

[Ribbedroof]

SPI is pretty popular over on the HAMB

Figured if I ever paint another one, I'd give them a try.

 

[08Malibu]

We the ec530 on good cars and it has a nice gloss, I find it tough to get it to flow. The 550 is supposed to be better in that respect, but no personal experience.
This is 530. A bit more orange peel than I’d like.

 

[Rktpwrd]

We the ec530 on good cars and it has a nice gloss, I find it tough to get it to flow. The 550 is supposed to be better in that respect, but no personal experience.
This is 530. A bit more orange peel than I’d like. View attachment 145024

I see what you mean. I’ve heard that about the 530, probably due to it’s only 5 minute flash time. Sounds like they use a little too aggressive of an activator in it, looks like it kicks before it has much of a chance to flow out.

Thanks for the feedback, it’s all helpful.

 

[08Malibu]

I see what you mean. I’ve heard that about the 530, probably due to it’s only 5 minute flash time. Sounds like they use a little too aggressive of an activator in it, looks like it kicks before it has much of a chance to flow out.

Thanks for the feedback, it’s all helpful.

My tech rep said that he used to bump the pressure up when he sprayed it. It may also be my technique. The clear I’m used to runs very easily so I tend to hold back a bit when I spray knowing that it’ll flow out. It’s funny that I’d rather spray the $80 a gallon clear we use than mess with the $270 stuff, even though I wouldn’t put the cheap stuff on my kids bike.

 

[Rktpwrd]

I’ve been watching a couple of videos from a guy that runs his own YouTube channel, Motivated Painters. He gives very helpful tips, tricks, techniques and reviews of everything from clear coats to spray guns. He really knows his stuff, and I’ve picked up quite a bit from him already. He’s done reviews on the EC520, 30, and 50 clears, and I feel pretty confident that I could spray these clears with a little familiarization beforehand.

 

[melloelky]

Wow, that’s fantastic news Chris. Thank you so much!
As mentioned before, I was already kind of leaning towards the EC-520/30/50 line so this is excellent and incredibly helpful. The next time I’m in at my distributor’s I’m going to price it out.
I’m glad to hear it’ll accept more than the recommended coat limit (usually 2 now, sometimes 3 with these new clears), did he happen to mention how many it’ll take? The painter I spoke with on Friday said any more than 3 and you’ll likely start experiencing sagging, solvent pop, die back and a whole host of other problems.
😕

i wish i could report on the higher side of things but he did say two's the norm and three's more than acceptable and i agree with that number.you're meeting the minimum mill thickness-even post sand/buff so no worries there..everyone's got a different hand with the cutting/polishing (i hate flow coating/and myself for doing it yet i still do it) but again they do call for "wet coats" 😉
i don't know what the booth is that you've got lined up but if it's temp controlled you can choose your reducer and put that portion out of your mind at least.