Do I have to clear coat to polish?

[aN4rK1]

Ok heres my question. I read all the FAQ's and stuff just have 1 more question, do i HAVE to clear before i polish and wax? or can i just wait for the wet coats to dry and then polish and wax. I ask this becuase i hate using clear. EVERYTIME i use it i mess up the finish. I dont know why, the paint comes out perfectly fine and then i hit it with the clear and get orange peel.

[pre98zetec]

yes, especially if it's a mettalic color. If you try to polish a mettalic color without clear you will rub all of the mettalic particles out.

[tigeraid]

If I may, I was just schooled in this here:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t401683.html

[Jaymes]

if it's not a metallic color, you don't have to clear.

[aN4rK1]

ok ic, define mettalic colour lol. I usually use the Tamiya Spray cans, can i have some examples of maybe the TS-XX colours that are metallic?

[MPWR]

Like Jaymes said, you can polish out anything but metallics (and pearls/mica/whatever) without bothering with clear. Acrylics, enamels or laquers. The only reasons really to use clear are to polish out over a metallic, or to protect decals- just make sure your clear is safe on decals when you do!

TS metallics? Gun metal is definately a metallic. So are racing blue, mica blue, etc. Got a specific color you want to know?

[aN4rK1]

tigeraid: THANKS FOR THE LINK!! awesome help! i cant believe i missed that one
MPWR: thanks i understand clearly now. And no no specific colour. Hmm what iam trying to say is how will i know if its a metallic colour if it doesnt already say on the can?

[mike@af]

Using clears can create a depth when polishing.

[Amazon]

If it doesn´t say that it´s a metallic ( or any in that "family";pearl,metalflake, e.t.c.) on the label, look closely on the canlid. Paints with metallics have a specific shine. Often you can actually see the micrograins of metallic..
Try holding the lid in sunlight; no sparkle= no metallic.

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by Amazon

If it doesn´t say that it´s a metallic ( or any in that "family";pearl,metalflake, e.t.c.) on the label, look closely on the canlid. Paints with metallics have a specific shine. Often you can actually see the micrograins of metallic..
Try holding the lid in sunlight; no sparkle= no metallic.

But, keep in mind that the can caps are molded in plastic, not painted in laquer. Tamiya does a pretty good job representing the color in the can on the lid, but it will never be a totally accurate representation of tthe paint. Metallic flecks in the lid color should tell you if the paint is metallic or not- but if you still want to be sure, ask!

[aN4rK1]

ok awesome guys thanks for the help, i gotcha.

[drunken monkey]

don't know about you, but the ts cans i get have a little sticker on the lid that refers to the clear coat (can't remember the ts number...)
i've noticed this on the metallics and the mica cans. it's in japanese but i'm guessing it's telling you to clear before polish when using them paints or something similar.