Opinions on my paint design

clear coat is the last thing to be done.

leon

Okay thanks Leon

no sweat.

leon

Yes, clear is the last thing to go on.

BTW, any pin holes left from the bondo or any minor repairs can be filled with glazing spot putty. When you sand before you prime use something flat, like a sanding block. Never use your bare hand on large flat surfaces. Use an epoxy high build primer, sand, tack cloth, then apply your base coat. Whatever you do between the base coat and clear is up to you. Wetsand with 1500, tack and apply the clear coat. When the clear is dry, wet\sand 1500 then 2000 to remove any orange peel. Buff with polish and apply a few coats of wax. The polish is what gives it the deep lustre.

Yeah I just want to make sure that when I put the duplicolor metalflake over the duplicolor black enamel that I wont ruin it . Will tape it up tonight and see what happens.

Last question , the base and the metalflake both say 7 days to fully cure. Yet I read all the time that you have to apply the clear coat before the paint dries completely.

Do I have to wait 7 days for the metalflake to cure or can i put on the coats of metalflake and then clear coat within the hour . I want to make sure the ear coat will stick but also make sure the metalflake cures properly .

Dry and cure are two different things. The duplicolor should be "dry" in a couple hours, then you can sand/clear it. Your taping/pinstriping will determine how dry the paint is if you start pulling the paint up. When I did my Z1 tank I think I was waiting 45 min to an hour between coats.

We'll the tank has been in a room that's 65 degrees for about 5 full days . So as far as the paint pulling off I don't think it will . Anyone who thinks it will please speak up with a reason . Otherwise I'll tape it up tonight and spray it tomorrow.
Also just to verify. I was told after spraying designs to pull the tape up before it dries to prevent the paint from sticking to the tape and ripping the edges. Is this true?

I don't know what your design is, but I was taping over fresh paint. So if you're only masking over 5 day old paint you're fine.

Yes, use the right tape and remove it as soon as you can. When it's tacky, not fully dry or real wet.

Okay thanks