Tamiya Clear:

[LVZ2881]

I can never remember how long to wait between color and clear??

I have good results, both clearing after 20 mins, and the next day, but if i need to wait a few days before i can clear, i understand its 3-4 days??

[crispy]

James, I took the opportunity to print this out direct from Bob Downie.

I ought to make a scan of it and post it whenever this comes up. Anyway, here is an excerpt of what Bob has written about Tamiya clear.

"Spray the color then immediately prepare to spray the clear. Have can ready before you apply the color. After spraying the color, give yourself a few minutes to rest, and check the finish. If it's satisfactory, you are ready to apply clear. Apply in light coats at first. If you don't spray the clear w/in an hour of color you have two choices... wait a month for the color to dry, or spray some more color over the previous coat.... then clear immediately."

Thanks to Bob Downie for the information.

Chris

[LVZ2881]

Wow!! I've waited 24 hours after applying color to apply clear, and so far (3 months later) havent had any side effects, like crazing, lifting, etc......

[jbwelda]

assuming you mean spraying with tamiya clear from the buzz can, ive never noticed any ill effects when ive shot the clear immediately after the color (like 20 minutes i mean) nor when waiting a few hours or any random time up to leaving the body sit for a few weeks before shooting the clear. the clear always flowed out well and never blushed or orange peeled or anything.

one thing though is that i am in california where its warm and dry; i could see problems maybe if you are in a cool and/or humid area.

[LVZ2881]

assuming you mean spraying with tamiya clear from the buzz can, ive never noticed any ill effects when ive shot the clear immediately after the color (like 20 minutes i mean) nor when waiting a few hours or any random time up to leaving the body sit for a few weeks before shooting the clear. the clear always flowed out well and never blushed or orange peeled or anything.

one thing though is that i am in california where its warm and dry; i could see problems maybe if you are in a cool and/or humid area.

I am shooting from the spray bomb. and I'm in Vegas, one thing we are not is cool/humid..

[Zoom Zoom]

The reason for spraying clear w/in one hour was because people had problems with the clear cracking when it was applied at the "wrong" time. I know a couple of people that had that happen, but honestly haven't heard of any problems more recently. Tamiya addressed the problem at some point, saying the clear was a different formula than the colors, and cured at a different rate. They were the ones that suggested shooting w/in one hour, or waiting a month. Results may vary.

[cruz]

I have heard the same thing from a lot of people saying the same thing about the clear cracking if you don't use it soon after your colors. I will be testing this on a scrap hood and see for myself, I think it has a little to do with humidity, cold or other factors. Like Bob says, hopefully this issue was addressed by Tamiya....

[MikeMc]

The reason for spraying clear w/in one hour was because people had problems with the clear cracking when it was applied at the "wrong" time. I know a couple of people that had that happen, but honestly haven't heard of any problems more recently. Tamiya addressed the problem at some point, saying the clear was a different formula than the colors, and cured at a different rate. They were the ones that suggested shooting w/in one hour, or waiting a month. Results may vary.

Makes sense Bob. I had this occur on 1 paint job.....it got clear 7 days after color and is the only paint job to crack!!

[bobss396]

I'm not big on putting clear right over the color coat, too much solvent too fast for my level of comfort. I do the color coat, toss it into the dehydrator and do the clear once it is dry/cured.

I've broken every "rule of thumb" and have disregarded every "old wives' tale" about using the Tamiya sprays and have never had a bad result from doing so. Some would call it luck, but I have too many success stories to fall back on.

Bob

[ZTony8]

I can never remember how long to wait between color and clear??

I have good results, both clearing after 20 mins, and the next day, but if i need to wait a few days before i can clear, i understand its 3-4 days??

The only exception to the "right away or wait" rule is if the TS-65 pearl is used as a mid coat(between the color and the straight clear).I've found that the pearl doesn't promote cracking of the color and that the straight clear doesn't affect the pearl mid coat.