Hi guys.

As many people, I decided to bring a new look to my HHR Waterfall. I used this paint

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/texturedMetallic/

I applied two primer coats, three paint coats and two clear coats. I waited about 24 hours to begin to sand and apply polish compound. I sanded it with 1500 grit, applied polish, but the cloth that I used to polish had black color on it (coming from the paint that i used), and brought a dull finish to the waterfall instead shinny on some areas

I assume that I need to make this again, BTW I never worked before on metallic paints. Will be ok if I re-sand the whole waterfall with 600 grit, apply again three paint coats, wait enough time to dry the base coat and apply about 5-6 clear coats?

I´ll apreciate any help.

 

It may be the "textured" part that's messing you up here.... when you sand it after the clear coats you are sanding through to the color paint.

If you want it to be truly smooth so you can polish it you may have to shoot several coats of clear, lightly wet sand, shoot more clear, wet sand again, etc. until there's enough clear to sand it flat without going through to the textured paint....... It's a lot of work and I'm not sure if it's the look you are going for. Part of the whole "textured paint" deal is that it's textured, no?

 

Got it.... Well, I´m afraid as you say, that I´ll need to bring several clearcoats in order to keep the metal texturized (and obviously covered hehehe)... I did this on the Windows, sunroof and steering wheel cover switches and looks really good (Pictures coming soon). I´m afraid that the waterfall was ruined in due that is a big area to paint...Do you sugest to sand and repaint, or just add clear coats grey?

 

If the color looks okay and you used a paintable polishing compound then you could just add more clear..... If you are not sure about the compound it would be better to start over. You don't want fish-eye to ruin your day.

 

well, will be start again... Thanks for the comments grey!

 

Its dull in some spots and glossy in others? How deep did you end up sanding it before actually painting? I swear that there is some sort of coating on my stock waterfall that gives it a pseudo rubbery texture...maybe some but not all of that coat was removed and what you're experiencing now is seep and bleed.

 

Actually I sanded the stock finish (rubbered) with 600 grit and rid it almost all. Then, I applied primer (two coats). Doesn´t look that is bleeding. Looks like in some places looks shinny, in others dull (Irregular). I´m afraid that The just two clearcoats wasn´t enough and I ruined the "texturized" finish and color removing the paint coat.

 

In part of the prep, I use "Grease & wax remover"..

But I also block-sand with a flexable block.. & for the 1500 wet or dry I use water with a drop of dish soap, cleans & keeps the sandpaper gliding along.

You get it shot, put it out in the sun. That will help level the paint, & bake it on...

Shooting metallic, need to shoot even layers, (allowing it to 'flash' in between coats) or it can look kinda like stripes.

Just sayin..

 

Following your tips and hints, I remove the clearcoat and paint coat applying wax & Grease remover, 200, 400 & 1000 grit sandpaper, a lot of patiente, and then re-apply several thin coats of paint (don´t ask me how many, probably 5), and then apply 4 thin coats of clear. I did these last on the morning and looks like this:



Notice that the clearcoat is fresh. I´m going to wait many many time in order to allow to dry and avoid the issues that I already had. Lets see what happen

 

Jeez how much is a new one? - Boneyard? GMPD? Just do it again?