Guys

I’m spraying the hood and roof of my 2015 Tahoe. It’s a metallic urethane paint( SW Sunfire Pro SPB.) Generally speaking, do I have to spray the clear the same day I spray the base? What’s the optimum time between base/clear for metallics?

Mike

Mike69 wrote:Generally speaking, do I have to spray the clear the same day I spray the base?

Generally, yes. Some say they've cleared next day but the manufacturers don't necessarily agree. Nor do I.

Mike69 wrote:What’s the optimum time between base/clear for metallics?

It depends on the base and other factors such as temperature and humidity, but somewhere between 20 and 40 minutes at around 25C. The usual indicator is when the base has fully dulled but this assumes that it was correctly applied. If too thick the top will appear dull but underneath will still be soft and clearing over at this point will result in solvent pop. Always be sure to allow the first coat to flash properly before applying the second coat. Use a tinted or shaded primer or sealer so that you don't need more than two coats of the base colour, saving you money and resulting in a better job.

Your TDS will have specific information for your paint.

Mike69 wrote:Guys

It’s a metallic urethane paint( SW Sunfire Pro SPB.) Generally speaking, do I have to spray the clear the same day I spray the base?
Mike

Which is it?
A metallic urethane paint or a base coat?
Base coats can usually be cleared after 30 min. but a little longer is better.
For urethane metallic paints it's suggested to wait 3 hr min before
clearing over so the clear doesn't disturb the metallics.
Urethane and clear coat is basically the same thing and metallics like
to move around with urethane.

JCCLARK wrote:

Mike69 wrote:Guys

It’s a metallic urethane paint( SW Sunfire Pro SPB.) Generally speaking, do I have to spray the clear the same day I spray the base?
Mike

Which is it?
A metallic urethane paint or a base coat?
Base coats can usually be cleared after 30 min. but a little longer is better.
For urethane metallic paints it's suggested to wait 3 hr min before
clearing over so the clear doesn't disturb the metallics.
Urethane and clear coat is basically the same thing and metallics like
to move around with urethane.

It’s both a metallic urethane paint and a base coat, meaning it isn’t a single stage and has to be cleared.

This is generally the response I was expecting. I will have to plan on a long day when it’s time to paint it.

Mike

If you look up the Technical Data Sheet for your product, it will tell you how it should be applied and how long before the Clear coat can be applied with sanding and respraying.

From what I could see, you have up to two weeks to apply the clear.

Mike69 wrote:

JCCLARK wrote:

Mike69 wrote:Guys

It’s a metallic urethane paint( SW Sunfire Pro SPB.) Generally speaking, do I have to spray the clear the same day I spray the base?
Mike

Which is it?
A metallic urethane paint or a base coat?
Base coats can usually be cleared after 30 min. but a little longer is better.
For urethane metallic paints it's suggested to wait 3 hr min before
clearing over so the clear doesn't disturb the metallics.
Urethane and clear coat is basically the same thing and metallics like
to move around with urethane.

It’s both a metallic urethane paint and a base coat, meaning it isn’t a single stage and has to be cleared.

This is generally the response I was expecting. I will have to plan on a long day when it’s time to paint it.

Mike[/quote MOST, base coats are not referred to as urethanes, as JC was asking. the clear is a urathane. single stage urethanes can be clear coated, and he is correct in the flash time needed. this is where some confusion could cause the wrong info, a base coat flash time is different than a urathane with a clear coat.
Jay D.

This is why accurate information from the product Technical Data Sheet is critical. I will admit the Sherwin Williams website doesn't make it easy to find a TDS. They list every product they make but by number and then you have to click the number to get to another page and then from there to the TDS.

I did not have the product number so just picked base coat.

Mike69 wrote:Guys

I’m spraying the hood and roof of my 2015 Tahoe. It’s a metallic urethane paint( SW Sunfire Pro SPB.) Generally speaking, do I have to spray the clear the same day I spray the base? What’s the optimum time between base/clear for metallics?

Mike

I am a weekender hack, but I usually wait until the next morning to clear. It gives the BC plenty of time to off gas and I found that I get a lot less bugs in the cool mornings compared to summertime evenings.

I waited about 4 days before clearing my GTX because I had forgot to order the clear and had to wait for it to be delivered. That's when I asked the same question as this guy and found that most base coats can go much longer than people think before being cleared. The trick is not to let it be in direct sunlight and to get it cleaned properly before clearing.

This is Motobase LV base coat and the forbidden Euro Clear:

'68 Coronet R/T wrote:...The trick is...to get it cleaned properly before clearing.

How do you clean dried non-cleared basecoat?

I have used tack rags and left little blue strands.