Any tips on polishing Zero 2K clear?

[klutz_100]

My current build is coated in Zero 2K clear.

I had some gobs and dust get in during application. I have sanded some of them out but I am having trouble polishing it back up to a shine comparable to the original 2k coat.

I have tried using Maguire's ScratchX, the full range of micro-mesh cloths, Polishing wax, cleaning wax and The Treatment Wax - none of which is working for me. I am always left with a semi gloss/dull finish.

The clear coat is fully cured (applied 2 weeks ago approx.)

Any similar experiences? any tips for polishing it to a shine?

Thanks in advance

[gionc]

Steve: I got several issues with the Lechler Macrofan, a hi-solid coating similar to the Zero 2K, having got issues (craters..) I've been in the needs of sand down and polish it. I never find troubles (despite I agree, it is too gloss indeed by itself) but I found extra strong (like glass), I ever used 2K grit plus all the mesh range, from the 3200 to the 12K, than quite a minimum of compound is needed.

One other product useful in the intermediate stage is a coarse compound, we got here one called "Arexons rimuovi graffi" , I think you'll find something there by Arexons usful for scratch: it is much more coarse (even too much, you'll easily expose the paint is the coat is thin..) but will help the work of Tamy fine compounds.

At last..... "elbow's grease "

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by gionc

At last..... "elbow's grease "

Yep, I think that was the missing secret ingredient

Just tried again - with the same processes I used before - but with more elbow grease this time (and I admit, more patience ) and it is much better now.

Thanks!

[drunken monkey]

not much help but something to think about:
the 2K clear you guys use is pretty much what they use on 1:1 cars and they use big heavy rotary polishers on those.

[360spider]

Steve, I use progressively higher sandpaper grits to bring it to shine, and then 3M polishing compound, followed by tamiya fine, and then treatment wax. Seems to be working fine. Keep in mind that 2K clears polish a lot better when you generate some heat while polishing.

[stevenoble]

I've had good success using Farecla products. They are intended for 1:1 cars in the automotive trade, but they do make easy work of polishing the 2K clear which can be a little hard to polish sometimes. G3 paste and G10 Liquid Compound are the ones from their range that I have used before with good results. I also do the Micromesh sanding process, usually start at 6000, then 8000 and finally 12000, then on with the Farecla stuff....

[klutz_100]

Thanks Alex and Steve for your thoughts.

Mea Culpa I think - I really wasn't trying hard enough. I managed to sand out and polish back several places now and I am quite happy with the results considering realistically how qucikly I rusged the job

I am interested to try out these products you mention though and I will keep an eye out for them.

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

not much help but something to think about:
the 2K clear you guys use is pretty much what they use on 1:1 cars and they use big heavy rotary polishers on those.

I can't see me taking a full size rotary buffer to my model but I could imagine a modified Dremmel fitting on lowest speed... hmm.....

[XterraRacer]

There's an idea! If you can't buy it, Make iT!

[drunken monkey]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

I can't see me taking a full size rotary buffer to my model but I could imagine a modified Dremmel fitting on lowest speed... hmm.....

...that's what I meant...
my dremel came with a polishing kit (like this one) but it's for metals I gather but there's nothing really (apart from blind fear of a buffing pad at 10,000rpm going near paint) stopping me from using it with tamiya compounds.

hmm... might have to give it a go seeing as I do have a couple of failed models sitting around.




EDIT: well, i'm not going to do that ever again.

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

EDIT: well, i'm not going to do that ever again.

Ouch! Sounds ominous
Care to share more of the gory details?

[drunken monkey]

not much really.
i put on one of the polishing pads, applied some tamiya coarse to it and set it at minimum (2000rpmish) and set to work on an old painted kit.
to begin with, it did quite a decent job of flattening it out and bringing up a shine.
however, after a while, you can feel it "grabbing" a bit more and then the friction actually actually melted the paint, through primer and to plastic where the edge of the pad caught a raised part of the kit.

that and it doesn't feel like you're really in control of it.


EDIT: since I posted this, I found out why it melted the paint/plastic so easily.
i er.... misread my dremel.
what I thought was 2000rpm was at least 10,000rp.

oops.

I'm still not doing that ever again.

[BVC500]

Man, I almost threw my 360 spider at the wall tonight trying to polish out 2K. Its my first time using 2K. The model is black, which is already bad enough, but even with a ton of pressure, I can't get it to a decent shine.

[cjsbosox]

Well I just applied 2k clear for the 1st time and hav yet to polish.. one thing to consider it sanding the base coat or primer before paint. If you are using pearls clear it. If your color is a solid you can try sanding it smooth if needed, then clear it. That should help in trying to get as flat/smooth a surface in the end, which leads to more gloss. But of course, if the clear is not applied well you will have to do a lot of polishing.

Looking at my 2 kits at the moment, I hope to have little polishing. I guess I will find out soon enough!

[gpz900ra7]

I never polish my kits after clearing with 2k clear, as the shine is amazing straight out of the airbrush.

I built a Tamiya Z3 not long ago and tried using some MicroMesh cloths for the 1st time, it smoothed the clear like it should but the actual shine was a little bit down from when it was originally sprayed .

I have used 2k for years and have never bothered polishing it, so I find it strange to hear that a lot of people are having issues with it.

gpz900ra7

[BVC500]

I had to polish due to dirt and orange peel. It's my first time using it and I need to adjust my airbrushing techniques to avoid orange peel.