Best automotive clear coats according to redditors

Thank you! It seriously looks way better in pictures than person. I made legions of mistakes while doing it. Here's a better pic of the car with the two-tone black and blue: http://imgur.com/tBzpxnj

A couple of things I learned though:

Definitely get a big compressor. The compressor I used had a relatively small tank and was weak. If the compressor is running a lot it can create moisture in the air. Additionally, you don't want to spray while it's running because it'll create pulses in the spray pattern. I painted the black hood and stripes once I had the car back in Texas with a proper compressor and it went way smoother.

Spray more layers than you think you need. I thought I could get away with 3 to 4 layers of color. I should have gone with 6 to 8. The pros will say that's too much, but the pros don't wetsand half of it away to fix imperfections. More paint means you have more real estate to work with after the spray to sand it back and make it mirror smooth.

I would definitely spray a clear coat. The Bellett was parked outside in the elements in Japan for about 2 years before bringing it to the States, and while that didn't ruin the paint job, the constant washing with random towels that I do to keep it somewhat clean put lots of tiny scratches in the paint. Normally, I could buff these out, but a lack of clear combined with not enough layers of color sprayed means I can't do any buffing for fear it'll burn through the color and the primer will start showing.

Also, go with solid colors. I sprayed a solid blue/black on the Bellett and it's so much easier than trying to get some fancy mica or metallic to work. Because I'm a cheapskate, I used Speedokote Jet Black (https://www.amazon.com/High-Gloss-Black-Acrylic-Urethane/dp/B00TXDP85W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492625678&sr=8-1&keywords=speedokote+jet+black) for the gloss black bits (hood, stripes, cowl). It's super easy to work with, sprays evenly, and has a nice strong finish. Plus, it's cheap! You can see on Amazon it's like $80 for a gallon kit, which is enough paint to paint a whole car. So, if you just want a jet black car (with no clear), you could get some high build primer and the Speedokote Jet Black and still be under $200 in materials.

Ventilation is important, but more so for your health than the paint job. If you're doing a garage job, there's nothing you can do to keep gunk, dust and stuff out of the paint. That's another reason why I suggest spraying lots of coats. You can wetsand some of the stuff back to a smooth, clean finish. The ventilation helps pull the paint floating in the air out, which keeps it from getting so smokey in the room that you can't see. However, when I did the hood and stripes on the Bellett, I had no ventilation at all and if anything, the paint worked out better than the blue did (which I hung up plastic sheets and had a ton of fans to try to emulate a proper booth as best as I could).

Hope that helps and good luck with the quarter panels!

Thanks!

Amazon!

I don't know what OP used, as his finish is more of a matte. But I've had great success with this 2K clear coat.

As previously mentioned, spray cans will do just fine for the primer and color. However do not use a regular clear coat for a gas tank, no matter how fuel resistant they say they are, they will still be damaged by gas. You need to get a 2K clear coat, it is a two part paint that will cure and harden and is what is stock on your bikes tank generally. You can buy them in spray cans that have a special valve on the bottom to allow you to mix the two parts.

USC SprayMax 2K Glamour High Gloss Aerosol Clear https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0082LJMC6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_m7qwCbSMY78J1

That is what I used to do my bike last winter, still looks great and is a super hard and scratch resistant finish. The stuff is pretty toxic, you will want to buy a suitable respirator, not just a face mask. You can primer and paint your tank as normal, wait a week or more for all of the solvents in the paint to evaporate (don't rush this, just wait, even if you think it is dry, wait even longer if it is cold out). Once that is done follow the directions on the gloss spray paint. https://imgur.com/Ovmz5mG.jpg

Below is what I used. I did a few coats and then a quick polish the next day to knock down the little bit of orange peel I had.

2K Glamour High Gloss Clear Coat, Aerosol, 11.8-oz, Pt# 3680061 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0082LJMC6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_tH1uybY71238W

This is matte automotive clear coat- Amazon. It's the only matte 2k clear coat I've found

Here is a link: https://www.amazon.com/SprayMax-Glamour-Gloss-Aerosol-Clear/dp/B0082LJMC6/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=2k+clear+coat&qid=1564933969&s=gateway&sprefix=2k+&sr=8-2

I’d highly recommend this.


USC SprayMax 2K Glamour High Gloss Aerosol Clear https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0082LJMC6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Lw5MDbAW4ZCZN

Remember to wear protective gear like glasses and respirator. This stuff is t your granddaddies rattlecans

So after 1 year of the painted ps4 it has held up pretty well overall. Yesterday i disassembled it again to clean up some dust and throw in some new thermal paste ( i just used as5 as it has never let me down before ) the paint had some marks on it from moving, it does appear that even after 6 months the clear coat still hasnt fully hardened yet. If i were to do it again i would use a clear coat with a hardener ( something like this ) but for the most part it looked ok, i waxed it with mothers synthetic wax and it looks 90% as good as it did when i was done painting it.

Used on floors

I used Rust-Oleum spray paint and this sealant. LOTS of light coats of the white as it can run easily (and it smells like shit!) and then 2-3 light coats of the sealant and 1-2 heavy coats (just enough to see a glassy, shiny surface all over your system). Boom! Success.

http://www.amazon.com/U-Pol-Products-0796-Clear-CLEAR/dp/B009LHER0M/

I used this - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0082LJMC6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can buy spray paint made for leather and vinyl that will last for years.

https://smile.amazon.com/SEM-17373-Dark-Slate-Classic/dp/B00N81YP72/

Thanks dude, they were fucking expensive though... i sold my 68 headrest seats to buy them :( I was gonna leave my back seats out too, but i thought it would look funky without them. Cheers for the link too! i'm planning on putting a discrete roll cage behind the front seats too, its kinda necessary if you're gonna race them.

I just noticed your door pads too, that was my project this week, mine were really similar to yours condition wise. I dont have pics right now, but this is what you need:
http://www.amazon.com/SEM-Paints-SEM15013-Color-Coat/dp/B00B3HXS8A (Has to be 'Landau Black')
It comes out great, but you need to make sure the pads are REALLY FUCKING CLEAN!!! seriously... if theres any dirt or oil they will look horrible. Use this before hand:
http://www.amazon.com/Sem-Products-Vinyl-Prep-Aerosol/dp/4678615343

As far as the door medallions go, i just used some polish and some steel wool. Then i sanded the old red paint out and reapplied it with a tiny paint brush. It looks pretty decent if you spend some time on it.

That's too true, theres nothing wrong with the Camaro's and the Mustangs that you see a lot, but it would be nice to see more mean big block Mopars driving around.

apply a leather dye. leatherique.com and then spray http://www.amazon.com/Paints-SEM13013-Satin-Gloss-Aerosol/dp/B000PL24KI this on it to protect it it will look brand new or ship it to me ill do it for free if you pay for shipping

Have never used this one but it has very good reviews. Make sure to wear proper safety gear: https://www.amazon.com/SprayMax-Glamour-Gloss-Aerosol-Clear/dp/B0082LJMC6?ref_=Oct_BSellerC_15709871_0&pf_rd_p=d9f52cea-e621-5d80-a5d7-8a70b0388f70&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-6&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=15709871&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=HV4T2THK9FYQNA9J1DVX&pf_rd_r=HV4T2THK9FYQNA9J1DVX&pf_rd_p=d9f52cea-e621-5d80-a5d7-8a70b0388f70

I'm thinking of trying this primer, and something along the lines of this for top coat, and this Spraymax 2k 2 part clear. The clear coat isn't very cheap for an aerosol but I think it will hold up well. Would you recommend still using a white base coat in between the white primer and green top coat?

Everyone recommends using this stuff. Supposidly it holds up well vs gasoline. Though it is pretty toxic. You need really good ventilation, filter mask, and make sure you don't have any pets near by. And it's a little pricey.

No, it's not that one. The one I use is a clear coat dip. Here's a link:
https://www.amazon.com/KBS-Coatings-8304-DiamondFinish-Clear/dp/B00DMIE20Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526670966&sr=8-1&keywords=KBS

Also just as a quick tip since clear coating is the topic, check out Rustoleum Matte Clear Enamel. It bonds very well with KBS, and it's how bait companies give their lures a matte finish. Kinda like certain 6th Sense crankbaits.

I came across this stuff on Amazon. Kinda pricey, but I may end up ordering it if I don’t end up finding anything that I can try out here.