Clearcoat Mystery

Ok, so i drain some Dupli Color clear coat to airbrush it onto my model, the same way i airbrush the color. I mix it with some Gunze Sangyo retarder (2:1) So I start airbrushing the clear coat, immediately i see little holes? Whats that all about? I guess i'll just have to stick to spraying the clear coat:( Maybe i put too much retarder?

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNzgyNDM4NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg

PS: Did i spell mistery right? I forgot:lol: If i did can anyone please fix it:)

Sounds to me like the two might be incompatible (But it could be something else).

So the clear doesn't handle being decanted like regular spray paint?

Have you tried spraying the duplicolor clear from your airbrush with out the retarder? I have never had any problems spraying it after i drained it from the can to use in my airbrush.

PS: Did i spell mistery right? I forgot:lol: If i did can anyone please fix it:)

Nope, will edit the title for you. :lol:

Bad luck, that sounds like the third for you recently, things should be looking up from now. I guess it proves the value of testing first, even if it can be laborious. I was thinking about doing the same type of thing with Tamiya TS-13, will be sure to take it carefully after this warning.

Welcome to my nightmare. I would suggest experimenting with thinner ratios (in your case - starting with 0) and pressures. Also if these are silicone craters, it may be caused by contaminants in the air, paint, or on the surface. I have been trying to find a solution for this problem for a year, and while I think I'm getting there, I'm not quite there yet. But good luck.

Don't know exactly what caused the problems, first I would attempt spraying it w/o thinning, secondly it could be some trapped propellant still in the paint, or it might be contamination or incompatibility of the paint w/the thinner you used. Mr. Thinner doesn't work with some pre-thinned paints. It does work w/Tamiya sprays and Black Gold paints that haven't been thinned. You can add a few drops of it to Cobra Colors paints if necessary, but past a certain point it reacts...but you'll notice that immediately by the paint clumping and separating from the thinners...makes a real mess.

Incompatibility. Never ever cross mix, or cross breed paints...ever. You mixed Duplicolor with Gunze Retarder, which created a reaction where the two paints wanted to seperate. Thus causing fisheyes. And Im betting the base coat is a different brand as well?

The only real way to fix it is try sanding it out, or starting over. Either way use the same brand/type from start to finish.

why not just spray if from the can? i've never had a problem with duplicolor paints straight from the can. Also did you rub the base coat out? if you did and it was a silicone based compound. that is the answer to your problem. this has happened to me numerous times

I always use it right from the can also, turns out really smooth after sanding and polishing.

Sounds to me like the two might be incompatible (But it could be something else).

So the clear doesn't handle being decanted like regular spray paint?

This is weird because the base color is from dupli color as well and was applied with retarder and it came out spectacular

Have you tried spraying the duplicolor clear from your airbrush with out the retarder? I have never had any problems spraying it after i drained it from the can to use in my airbrush.

Nope, i'll have to try it without any retarder mixed. I put retarder right away because i guess it would work lovely since it did a hell of a job with the base coat.

Nope, will edit the title for you.

Bad luck, that sounds like the third for you recently, things should be looking up from now. I guess it proves the value of testing first, even if it can be laborious. I was thinking about doing the same type of thing with Tamiya TS-13, will be sure to take it carefully after this warning.

:lol: Thanks for fixing the title:)

This weekend has definitely tested my patience:( Yea, i tried testing it on the hood of the R32 first but didn't see anything wrong. Then when i moved onto the Ferio everything bad started to happen:( Good luck with the TS-13, I have lots of bad memories with it, specially when applying it on certain decals. But hey im Joeham and i have no friggin luck:(


Welcome to my nightmare. I would suggest experimenting with thinner ratios (in your case - starting with 0) and pressures. Also if these are silicone craters, it may be caused by contaminants in the air, paint, or on the surface. I have been trying to find a solution for this problem for a year, and while I think I'm getting there, I'm not quite there yet. But good luck.

Man, makes me feel better to know that I wasn't the only one that has had this problem. I'll try experimenting with different ratios and pressures. The surface was untouched after i applied the base coat, I didnt even sand it like i usually do since the paint when on soo smoothly. Good luck to you my friend ! If you find the solution feel free to post:) Cheers!

Don't know exactly what caused the problems, first I would attempt spraying it w/o thinning, secondly it could be some trapped propellant still in the paint, or it might be contamination or incompatibility of the paint w/the thinner you used. Mr. Thinner doesn't work with some pre-thinned paints. It does work w/Tamiya sprays and Black Gold paints that haven't been thinned. You can add a few drops of it to Cobra Colors paints if necessary, but past a certain point it reacts...but you'll notice that immediately by the paint clumping and separating from the thinners...makes a real mess.

Hmm, now that i think about it maybe i should've given more time for the propellant to leave. I mixed the Retarder in about 10 minutes after i drained the Clear. Oh boy, i hope non of those happen to me! :(

Incompatibility. Never ever cross mix, or cross breed paints...ever. You mixed Duplicolor with Gunze Retarder, which created a reaction where the two paints wanted to seperate. Thus causing fisheyes. And Im betting the base coat is a different brand as well?

The only real way to fix it is try sanding it out, or starting over. Either way use the same brand/type from start to finish.

:lol: You've always told me this Mike. Yea well I guess the retarder doesn't always work too well on everything. The base coat is from the same paint and was mixed the same way as the clear coat though. This morning when I went to check up on the cars the little holes were smaller so i sanded them down with 2000 Grit and now the surface is smooth:)

why not just spray if from the can? i've never had a problem with duplicolor paints straight from the can. Also did you rub the base coat out? if you did and it was a silicone based compound. that is the answer to your problem. this has happened to me numerous times

Well, Yea. I was just experimenting and trying to find a solution to help me with all the darn polishing i always do. Polishing for me takes soooooooooo long. Nah, this time i didn't rub the base coat like I sometimes do.

I always use it right from the can also, turns out really smooth after sanding and polishing.

True true, I guess i'll just spray it from the can as usual:( Though my lazy side is telling me to give it another try :biggrin:

The photo is really hard to see, but it APPEARS that you're getting "fisheyes" due to undersurface contamination...as others have elluded to above.

Sand, clean the surface, respray and see if that solves the problem

Bill

:lol: You've always told me this Mike.

And you'd think you would've listened by now.

I used to get these types of holes in my paint as well with an airbrush. Mine was caused by water vapor in the lines, do you have an inline water trap or a water filter on your compressor? that will help as well if its quite humid in your area

I used to get these types of holes in my paint as well with an airbrush. Mine was caused by water vapor in the lines, do you have an inline water trap or a water filter on your compressor? that will help as well if its quite humid in your area

Nope, i have been tempting to pick one up but have been too lazy. I'll get one ASAP:) thanks!