Clearcoat advice?

[dano12]

I'm not having a lot of luck with clear-coating. Instead of a nice gloss finish, I usually end up with a grainy, not-really-shiny finish.

I've tried all sorts of clear coats: acrylic, rustoleum, gloss polyurethane, duplicolor clear coat, etc.

I have procured a toaster oven and experimented a bit with that, but the finish isn't the "new car" gloss I'm looking for.

Any advice? Thanks!

[markm]

Sounds like there may be a reaction between the 2 different paints going on here.
Sometimes the color coat and the clear just don't like each other and react.
Also, be careful of the baking, too much heat will do what you describe as well.
   MarkM

[KORGULL]

I've had good results with Rustoleum's "crystal clear enamel."
Allow plenty of drying time between the last color coat and the clear. Don't bake the clear coat.

[stumper1]

I've had good results with Rustoleum's "crystal clear enamel."
Allow plenty of drying time between the last color coat and the clear. Don't bake the clear coat.

Ditto.  DO NOT bake the clear.  Most toaster ovens get too hot for clear coats.  Even if you bake the last color coat, give it several days to cure all the way through.

[blanik]

also clean the totaly dried color coat with a little lighter fluid on a rag and make shure your hands are vrey clean when you touch the case before applying the clear (clear coats don't like fat)

i also found that putting the can in warm water 10-15 min before using it helps eliminate the grainy finish (DON'T PUT IT ON A STOVE TOP!!) just filling a container with the warmest tap water and letting the clear can sit in there for 10-15 min will warm the clear and it will spread more evenly... and keep 10-12 inches between the can and the box...

[disto]

i have never used an oven. i always use standard enamel spray paint and use a clear sealer on top (currently both are plasti-kote) i haven't really had problems apart from using too thick a coat and not waiting for previous coats to dry. so i suggest lots of thin coats and wait for each one to dry well!

[markm]

For my paint projects I too have been using Rustoleum Clear.
It's a good idea to let the color coat harden quite a bit before clearing and
I usually wetsand with 1200 or 1500 before shooting clear.
Here's what I do to help along the "hardening process"......
Leave the clearcoated enclosure outside in direct sunlight in the morning,
when you arrive home from work at night, it will have cured much more than
it would have if left indoors.
The guys at the body shop I work at do this with cars sometimes and it works.
I also will shoot my project with a heat gun between coats sometimes too as this helps to speed up dry time.
Lastly, if you're wet sanding between coats, use cold water......hot or warm water
will soften fresh paint where as cold water won't.
   Enjoy,
      MarkM