Duplicolor automotive touch up paint question

[W117monte]

I just picked some of this stuff up. It says duplicolor auto touch up acrylic laquer. I tried it on a couple of spare body parts and it won't lay down smooth. My question is

1. Has anyone used this stuff

2. Will a clear coat make it appear smooth or do I need to polish the base coat first.

Thanks.

Edited March 15, 2011 by W117monte

[ChrisPflug]

Normally you'll need to polish it- it's a tough finish, though and should polish out nicely

This is rattle can Duplicolor- polished out with no clear coat

[Harry P.]

Duplicolor is "real" car paint... so the expectation is that it will be polished after application. And it polishes out great.

[W117monte]

Do you mean polish with micro mesh? Or using some kind of rubbing compound?

[Harry P.]

Do you mean polish with micro mesh? Or using some kind of rubbing compound?

Well, on a real car you would use rubbing compound. On a model you could use rubbing compound, then polishing compound... or use a polishing kit meant for models.

[ChrisPflug]

If it seems rough or there's a lot of orange peel you'd color sand it first

Polishing kits work great with lacquer

Another great thing is it dries quickly, usually before stray dust lands in it

[W117monte]

Im a little body work illiterate! color sanding is just sanding the base coat with water right?

[shucky]

What is your idea of "laying down smooth?" It will normally dry to a "matte like" (flat) finish, but it should still be "smooth" to the touch. If its rough, you sprayed it too far from the work piece. And if you used primer, ensure that is wet sanded extremely smooth before laying color.

[torinobradley]

Before I started using clear coats and polishing kits, I used to spray this right over the bare plastic. I'd use several good coats and then polish it out with regular polishing compound. My only issues, as I recollect, were seam lines that would ghost. Oh, and I noticed that the hood on my '74 Charger done in duplicolor medium brown metalic now would not fit the body from the paint shrinking the surface. The corners of the hood were drawn up slightly. But at the time, I was getting nice, shiny, glass smooth finishes.

Now, I use duplicolor laquer over cheap primer, giving it a couple of coats and then coat that with cheap-o walmart FreshLook clear. It has low solids so it doesn't build up over several coats. After about 6 coats of clear, let it dry and then polish it with a polishing cloth system. Glass smooth and the panel lines don't have much build-up at all.

[Fender]

I have used the dupi color. I found that if I warmed up the can before painting it layed down better/smoother like you're talking about.- you know- the hot water in a bowl or whatever and then sit the can it in for a little while.

[skulls]

So basically this method will work with any automotive touch up paint?

I am assuming that you are using an airbrush correct? I f this is the case

than I think i just might pick up an airbrush kit because I work at a GM

dealership in the parts dept. and there have been many or times we are

throwing out paint sticks that are old stock, and well I even get a

discount on the ones in stock so I could actually get factory match colors.