Duplicolor Clear

[StevenGuthmiller]

Anybody use or have experience using Duplicolor clear? I've tried it in the past & had some "fogging" issues. Was wondering if any one uses it on a regular basis or if you've used it & had trouble with it. I'd like to use it if possible. I've had a few issues with Testors clears lately & am exploring my options. I really like the "fan spray" nozzle with the duplicolor paints. I wish Testors would use them. Steve

[Longbox55]

I've never had a problem with it, though I do know that Dupli Color will blush if the humidity is high. If have an airbrush, you might consider their Paint Shop clear. It comes premixed ready to spray in quart cans. I've tested it over most of the common finishes that are used in the hobby, so far I have yet to see a bad reaction. Another alternative, Dupli Color also has a acrylic lacquer clear that sprays very nice, and dries faster than any clear I've used before. I haven't tried on hobby finishes, yet, but intend to.

[Erik Smith]

I have used it quite a bit - but the humidity here is usually very low...like 10 to 20 percent. So I've not had any fogging. It is quite hot as far as paints go - I've had it bring colors and mold lines through multiple coats of primer and paint.

[Ace-Garageguy]

If have an airbrush, you might consider their Paint Shop clear. It comes premixed ready to spray in quart cans. I've tested it over most of the common finishes that are used in the hobby, so far I have yet to see a bad reaction.

Good to know. A really cost-effective way to get a good clear, and if tightly sealed, it will last virtually forever in the can.

Edited December 31, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[Ramfins59]

I use DupliColor clear on almost all of my models and the only time I've had it "fog" or blush is when the humidity is high. It is great stuff and as long as you spray it on in light coats every 10 minutes or so and build it up you shouldn't have any problems. It works well over decals as long as you spray light coats and build it up, and it polishes out very nicely using either polishing cloths or Novus 2 polish. Just give it a good day or two to fully harden up and gas out.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I have used it quite a bit - but the humidity here is usually very low...like 10 to 20 percent. So I've not had any fogging. It is quite hot as far as paints go - I've had it bring colors and mold lines through multiple coats of primer and paint.

That's the sort of reaction I've had with it also. I'm not too worried about the humidity here this time of year, but I tried a little bit on a firewall tonight & it really didn't leave much of a shine. dried almost as dull as the paint after 3 coats. I'm thinking I ma try & use a few coats of it to build up a "polishing base" & the put on a final coat of Testors to shine it up. Steve

[Erik Smith]

This is what I use now:

Big can of lacquer clear gloss from hardware store. I haven't had any issues with it...yet. It's relatively in expensive - about $6.00 or so IIRC.

[Mike_G]

Dupli-color clear is good but not as good as TS-13

Avoid the DL1695, that stuff takes forever to fully cure.

[StevenGuthmiller]

As far and the fogging goes, it has always polished out for me. And I really I've noticed that the "fogging" tends to happen more with their color coats. I don't know, maybe that's why I have adhesion problems sometimes.

Well, as far as I can tell, it went on ok. No fogging that I can tell. The only thing I don't like about it is the tendency to "dull" down. I used four coats about an hour apart. Looked great right after spraying, but 10 minutes later it lost all of it's shine. But it went on nice & smooth & I do like the fact that it goes on thin So as not to cover any detail. The Testors stuff, with those horrendous nozzles, goes on a lot heavier. This isn't as shiny to start with, but I think it should polish out just fine. Steve

[DeeCee]

I use alot of the Duplicolor clear,.... what i always have going when painting is a spot lamp, which puts out a nice amount of heat, i tend to put my clear on VERY wet, if it starts to fog,

i hold it under the lamp, a few seconds and it gone, also helps to get a glass like finish.

[Hawk312]

Anybody use or have experience using Duplicolor clear? I've tried it in the past & had some "fogging" issues. Was wondering if any one uses it on a regular basis or if you've used it & had trouble with it. I'd like to use it if possible. I've had a few issues with Testors clears lately & am exploring my options. I really like the "fan spray" nozzle with the duplicolor paints. I wish Testors would use them. Steve

I use duplicolor clear almost exclusively. I try to avoid all others whenever possible. The big scale beauty car was all Duplicolor from memory:

Now I have had fogging issues, but only when humidity is high, and it also tends to diminish when I let it cure inside the house. This Willy`s actually looked primer gray (not an exaggeration!!) after spraying about 5 coats of clear. After a couple weeks of curing in air condition, and after a good rub down, it looks like this to this day:

Go easy on me with the graphics. It was built 15 years ago, and I was "experimenting."

[StevenGuthmiller]

I use alot of the Duplicolor clear,.... what i always have going when painting is a spot lamp, which puts out a nice amount of heat, i tend to put my clear on VERY wet, if it starts to fog,

i hold it under the lamp, a few seconds and it gone, also helps to get a glass like finish.

I put it on pretty wet & this time of year I actually set my parts in front of the fireplace in my family room to sort of flash dry them. I also heated the paint before spraying. I thought that may help as well. So anyway, no fogging, just not real impressed with the initial shine. But, as I said, it should polish out well. Steve

[StevenGuthmiller]

I use duplicolor clear almost exclusively. I try to avoid all others whenever possible. The big scale beauty car was all Duplicolor from memory:

Now I have had fogging issues, but only when humidity is high, and it also tends to diminish when I let it cure inside the house. This Willy`s actually looked primer gray (not an exaggeration!!) after spraying about 5 coats of clear. After a couple weeks of curing in air condition, and after a good rub down, it looks like this to this day:

Go easy on me with the graphics. It was built 15 years ago, and I was "experimenting."

Great looking stuff David! I've just become very disillusioned with the Testors clears as of late & would really like to find a good alternative. I'm hoping this is it! Oh, & by the way, the great looking paint makes up for the graphics! Steve

[Steven W Zimmerman]

You can get a temperature / humidity gage for under 5 bucks at Home Depot. I have one in the shop and one on the back deck, and pay attention to them both religiously. Sometimes what you 'feel' is low humidity.....ISN'T !.....Get one or two, it will help your decision on whether to paint or not..........'Z'