Rustoleum musings

I'm just about finished painting my frame with rustoleum appliance epoxy, but I ran across something new today -- rustoleum automotive clear-coat. Now this clear-coat is supposed to be gas and oil resistant, even more so than the appliance epoxy. There is also the potential problem that the appliance epoxy does not have UV inhibitors in it, but the clear-coat does, so would this protect the deep black finish on the frame? And finally, would there be any compatibility problems between the paints as long as I waited more than the 48-hour drying time before spraying the clear-coat?

I've been leary of clear-coats due to personal bad experience, and seeing a lot of other folks getting a bad orange-peel from the clear. However the extra protection this could likely give to the frame paint seems like it would be worth adding. So has anyone done a combination of paints like this before? Any thoughts on the long-term results? Any suggestions to ensure I get a good glossy finish from the clear?

Rustoleum's website stinks. What clear are you planning on using? -->> link or product number or something.

Unless it's known for certain that the clear is fuel-proof, I would use a 2-part Urethane clear such as SprayMax. It's expensive but would be worth it imho.

I think this is the one I saw being discussed, seems to match up to the descriptions...

www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consum...paints/engine-enamel

Rustoleum part # 248944, Automotive Engine Enamel

I tried to paint over it and got fish eye. Rustoleum has fish oil in it.
Steve

I haven't had any problem with multiple coats of the paint I'm using. I started with the self-etching primer, which then had a week to cure before I got started on the paint last weekend. Their directions say to paint multiple coats within a 1-hour period, or wait at least 48 hours before applying the next coat, which I've been following. Since the clearcoat is also a rustoleum product, I would think that increases my chances of things working out fine... however the paint is epoxy and the clear is enamel, and I don't really know how those two will interact.

Try on a test piece.
Steve

I could do that for the basic compatibility test, but it doesn't really tell me if the clearcoat will give suitable UV protection to the epoxy over the long term, nor which one actually stands up better to gas and oil spills.

Why not just ask Rustoleum this question?

I wouldn't bother. Adding a clear coat won't improve durability enough to matter. Recoating Rustoleum is a recipe for disaster too.

Ok I'll bight, why not?
Steve

swest wrote: Ok I'll bight, why not?
Steve

Why not what?

Cheap enamel's like Rustoleim often craze when you recoat. Don't ask me how I know.

How do you define 'recoat'? I've been working on layers of primer and paint on this piece for over 2 weeks now without any problems. Is there a difference between adding a layer of clearcoat, adding layers of paint, or switching between primer and paint layers?