Looking for a good Topside Clear Coat, U can brush on?

[danamul1977]

Hay guys, Im looking around for a Clear Coat/Gel Coat I can brush on (neighbors might get mad if I try to spray) I only want to do the topside. Any suggestions on a long lasting product I should use. Thx for any help.

Awlgrip Polyester Urethane Topcoat Paint, (maybe, just started looking)

 

[gm280]

Re: Looking for a good Topside Clear Coat, U can brush on?

Okay, that's a tall order. One thing you have to remember, any type clear coat (or paint for that matter) that can be applied via a roller or brush, has to dry real slow to flow out and avoid seeing roller or brush strokes. So that slow drying time allows much pollen and bugs to investigate. That is one huge advantage of spraying such... I'm not the one to suggest a clear for brush or roll on applications but there are tons of folks on here that will respond shortly...

 

[zool]

Re: Looking for a good Topside Clear Coat, U can brush on?

Hay guys, Im looking around for a Clear Coat/Gel Coat I can brush on (neighbors might get mad if I try to spray) I only want to do the topside. Any suggestions on a long lasting product I should use. Thx for any help.

Awlgrip Polyester Urethane Topcoat Paint, (maybe, just started looking)

Depends on the color you are clearing over, not for whites or pastels...it yellows

Awlgrip clear for a polyester based or Awlcraft 2000 clear for an acrylic based..both for over color only.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Looking for a good Topside Clear Coat, U can brush on?

What are you Painting? Why are you wanting to Clear Coat it?

 

[danamul1977]

Re: Looking for a good Topside Clear Coat, U can brush on?

Depends on the color you are clearing over, not for whites or pastels...it yellows

Awlgrip clear for a polyester based or Awlcraft 2000 clear for an acrylic based..both for over color only.[/QUOT

Sorry, I't a 1983 ranger 375v with brown metal flake. The clear coat is really completely gone and I just wanted to shine it up. Its an old boat but is in good shape, it doesn't have to be perfect. Just wanted to do the top metal flake. The sides are light tan and not faded from the sun.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Looking for a good Topside Clear Coat, U can brush on?

If the clear gel coat is just dull and ugly it can typically be made to look much better without painting. If it's worn down to where you can feel the flake sticking up it can be more work and may not look all that good even when clear coated. If you do need to paint it a solid color normally works out much better than a clear coat.

 

[danamul1977]

Re: Looking for a good Topside Clear Coat, U can brush on?

If the clear gel coat is just dull and ugly it can typically be made to look much better without painting. If it's worn down to where you can feel the flake sticking up it can be more work and may not look all that good even when clear coated. If you do need to paint it a solid color normally works out much better than a clear coat.

So your thinking Wet Sanding? I did wet sand it (that didnt seem to help much, but I did it by hand) and then applied Toon Brite and it had an ok shine for about 4 months or so, now its pretty dull again and im wishing I didn't put that toon brite on. But maybe I should try wet sanding it again. I also tried buffing a few spots with wax, that helped a bit but not enough to make it worthwhile.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Looking for a good Topside Clear Coat, U can brush on?

What Toon Brite product did you use on it?

 

[danamul1977]

Re: Looking for a good Topside Clear Coat, U can brush on?

What Toon Brite product did you use on it?

Toon-Brite Protective Clear Coat for Boats

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Looking for a good Topside Clear Coat, U can brush on?

For anything to work it needs to be removed. After that start working on a few 1'x1' areas to see what works best, fine grit paper (1000 and finer) and a couple buffing compounds from coarse to fine will get it looking better, it may, or may not last though.

Oils in the buffing compounds and wax's can mask the poor surface and make it look pretty good, but once they dry out it starts to look dull again. Sometimes you can get it to look better by using finer paper and buffing compounds, but other times nothing works long term.

Paint is your friend if it continues to get dull again too soon.

 

[danamul1977]

Re: Looking for a good Topside Clear Coat, U can brush on?

For anything to work it needs to be removed. After that start working on a few 1'x1' areas to see what works best, fine grit paper (1000 and finer) and a couple buffing compounds from coarse to fine will get it looking better, it may, or may not last though.

Oils in the buffing compounds and wax's can mask the poor surface and make it look pretty good, but once they dry out it starts to look dull again. Sometimes you can get it to look better by using finer paper and buffing compounds, but other times nothing works long term.

Paint is your friend if it continues to get dull again too soon.

I think Ill try that with a buffing compound (you would use a buffer for that,or by hand?). The metal flake underneath is sun faded but the color is there, I need to get that ****ty toon brite off of it anyway. I just want the shine back, and it sounds like spraying is the only way to go, and mainly because of drying time.

 

[pauloman]

Re: Looking for a good Topside Clear Coat, U can brush on?

the only good ones are LPU coatings (google it) - these two part polys are $$$ and not user friendly - generally sprayed but with practice can 'roll and tip' --- google roll and tip too.

99.9% of them have no uv protection (very $ to add to a clear coat product) - auto clear coat is one exception (note the no one paints a car with a roller and brush)

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Looking for a good Topside Clear Coat, U can brush on?

As ondarvr as said, once the metalflake gelcoat has oxidized to this point, it's next to impossible to bring it back to acceptable standards. It's much better to sand it down and paint over it with a new Solid based color. You can try, but...I fear you are wasting your time, effort and $$$'s Just my opinion.

 

[danamul1977]

Re: Looking for a good Topside Clear Coat, U can brush on?

As ondarvr as said, once the metalflake gelcoat has oxidized to this point, it's next to impossible to bring it back to acceptable standards. It's much better to sand it down and paint over it with a new Solid based color. You can try, but...I fear you are wasting your time, effort and $$$'s Just my opinion.

Your prob right, I like the way the metal flake looks so I prob wouldn't do that. Its oxidized thats exactly whats going on. If I had to sand it down that much I would prob mess up the paint that is on it now, so I think ill have to live with it...:blue: