Swanny's ES-12G

[Swanny]

Two weeks? No, the instructions on the clear said 24 hours. If I had to wait two weeks I'd have to buy another kit to work on!

Thanks Wokka, I'll go back to the 400 wet and dry. I've got four coats of clear to play with.

[wokkaboy]

Hey Swanny what sort of clear did you use ? 2 weeks might be on the long side but I assume you used a spray clear ?

usually after the last coat it's just to be on the safe side to let it cure properly.

24 hours is probably the minimum time between coats but if you are polishing worth waiting much longer

[Swanny]

Wokka, I used a Septone Acrylic Topcoat Clear, which I sprayed on using a compressor.

Instructions on the tin say to "apply 3-4 double wet coats allowing a flash off time of at least 10 minutes between coats. Allow to dry for at least 24 hours before compounding"

The body had a good bake in the sun yesterday, so I'm hoping that helped evaporate the solvents!

[wokkaboy]

ok Swanny, according to the instructions on the can should be ok.

If you got to a soft spot rubbing polish you would have noticed by now so sounds like it's cured enough

[gavinturner]

Personally I always use the smell test. Keep sniffing it til there's no chemical smell at all. Then it's cured!

cheers,
Gav.

[Swanny]

So, Gav, it's sniff until you no longer get that chemical high?

A lot of rubbing back happened today... I'm going to have to recoat the clear after rubbing through it in two places. Hopefully tomorrow won't be raining!

[wokkaboy]

Hey Swanny that's what I was worried about rubbing through the clear coats.
Good luck with more clear coats hope the weather is kind to you !

[dingobass]

General rule of thumb, regardless of what it says on the can is to leave any finish at least 21 days before cut and polish.
Also, unless it is a UV cure finish, don't leave it in the sun.
Exposing uncured finishes to UV light and the heat of the sun can and will cause some funky things to happen

It may feel like it is cured, but it will only be a skin that has hardened on the surface. Below that the finish will still be uncured.

The key to a good finish is patience, Grasshopper

[Swanny]

Thanks dB, I just checked the data, and the clear is a UV resistant, quick drying acrylic lacquer.

I can't promise I'll wait 21 days... but I'll find other stuff to do while I ignore the body... and all the bits and pieces just waiting to be fitted to it!

[keloooe]

I can't promise I'll wait 21 days... but I'll find other stuff to do while I ignore the body...!

Buy another kit!