Spray painting question number 48

[Frog]

Every time I get a nice glossy coat on my top coat, sand it to take off the shine and apply lacquer, it ends up really dull.

What happens if I don't take the matt of the top coat before I apply the lacquer? Everyone seems to recommend against doing this, but I can't work out why - unless it won't key properly?

This is on a front fender and a tank, btw.
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CBT 23/09/10 - Theory 19/03/11 - Mod1 19/04/11 - Mod2 06/05/11
Bikes: CBF125 (sold 30/10/10-25/09/12) - CB400 24/06/11 (broken) - ER6-f 25/09/2012

[andy_uk]

What grade paper are you using to sand it down?
You need to be using 1000 grade wet'n'dry as a minimum (using it wet too).
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Aprilia Classic 125, GS500E, ER5-A1, ER5-C4, ER6 & an XJ6 project frame...

[Frog]

I've tried 1200 and 2000, both wet.
It could just be that I'm crap tho...? It is my first few goes.
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CBT 23/09/10 - Theory 19/03/11 - Mod1 19/04/11 - Mod2 06/05/11
Bikes: CBF125 (sold 30/10/10-25/09/12) - CB400 24/06/11 (broken) - ER6-f 25/09/2012

[kerr]

it could be crap lacquer, or try applying thiner coats.
or try rubbing down the lacquer with 2000 then t cut and polish (once its cured)
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aprilia 125 Af1 Futura >> Suzuki gsxr 600 srad >> J1 zx6r >> cbr 600rr >> Speed Triple

[jjdugen]

The best finish I can get (backyard spray booth), on Celulous is to paint, rub as smooth as possible, (dull is GOOD) and then laquer in one go. The beuty of laquer is that if it runs you can rub it smooth and then respray. I aim to get at least a couple of laquer coats on....BUT. To this day I cannot get the glass smooth finish of a proper oven bake finishing shop. A really high quality polish does go some way to giving a nice finish, but it soon washes/fades.
I'm plucking up the courage to go 2-PAC, It self levels and gives a gloss finish, as well as giving off highly toxic fumes.......

[GSTEEL32]

I've just ordered additional lacquer to try and alleviate the same problem. The paint I was using said it didn't need a lacquer but I found the finish to be a bit on the dull side. However after a quick sand down and 2 coats, the lacquer did make a difference. I did sand down with 1500 through, with soaking wet paper.

However this lacquer was from a can after painting the base colour with a compressor. My next paint job will be shooting lacquer through a gun too as there simply isn't any comparison between the control you get from an air gun, compared to an aerosol.

Also I know if one or two people that put perhaps 4 or 5 fine coats of lacquer on, as opposed to one or two.

[Frog]

Cheers all. My dull fender now looks gloss... I guess the curing process sorts it out, and I've applied another two coats of lacquer, and i can now see my face in it

Next sunny day, the tank is getting it's lacquer, then I'll finally have my 'big' bike again
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CBT 23/09/10 - Theory 19/03/11 - Mod1 19/04/11 - Mod2 06/05/11
Bikes: CBF125 (sold 30/10/10-25/09/12) - CB400 24/06/11 (broken) - ER6-f 25/09/2012