reason for clear coat?

[Jay87T]

what exactly is the reason for a clear coat? just for shine? Im going to powder coat a set of stock wheels on my motorcar and I plan on using a
Nickel Gold Metallic Polyester Flat, would I need a clear coat over this?

[Hemi-T]

The clear coat actually protects the color coat. Some colors are not very weather or chemical resistant on their own. Chrome powder is a good example. The clear coat protects the color coat and keeps it from discoloring or fading on it's own. I made the mistake of not clear coating some chrome powder I used. A year later, it doesn't look as good as it did when I finished the job. A clear coat would have prevented my problem. I'll be taking my project apart and doing it over again soon

Hemi-T

[Jay87T]

do most powder coats fade without a clear coat? would you recommend putting a clear coat over the "Nickel Gold Metallic Polyester Flat" seeing how this is a wheel and takes alot of wear and tear will it make it more durable?

[Fireblade]

If the gold you are using is a exterior coating then it will be fine, but a clear coat on anything will help the durability, since you have two coats to go through not just one. If you are using a flat gold, then you would want a flat clear as well. One more thing, if you decide to use the flat clear, spray a test piece with the gold then the clear, sometimes the color will change dramatically, and your gold that you liked may be something now you don't like.

[geeb57]

do you cure the color then clear and re-cure?

[WAORacing]

Yes that is exactly what you do.

[dagobert]

I asked this in a different thread, but was curious if it might get other opinions here in the powdercoating forum. Have any of you tried using clear powdercoating over an anodized surface, to use as a protective coating to prevent damage from rock chips, etc. ?

[drfjr1976]

Never have over anodized parts, but I have over polished parts and cheaply chromed wheels. works pretty good.

[Motorhead]

Have you had any problems with paint adhesion to the polished surface? Being a smooth surface I thought that the paint wouldn't get a good bite on the metal.

I've been wanting to try clear coating polished aluminum.

Gary

[Wkillgs]

Originally Posted by Hemi-T

I made the mistake of not clear coating some chrome powder I used. A year later, it doesn't look as good as it did when I finished the job.
Hemi-T

Hemi-T, Are you talking about the manifold you coated with the chrome? That looked soooo nice...has the finish degraded much, or just a little? Putting clear over chrome seems to degrade the finish from a 'polished aluminum' look to a 'painted silver' look... That's a shame.
Is there a preferred way to clear over the chrome powder?
Thanks,
Walt