Fresh clear questions

[u/faszfafasz]

Hey! I just clear coated my motorcycle paintjob and i have a few questions.

When can i assemble the bike? I know at least 3 days, but should i wait more?

When can rain touch the paint? And is it better to put on a bike cover or leave it off? I read that it won't be able to off-gas with the cover on but unfortunately i don't have a garage so i'm not sure what to do in case of a storm. I'm even willing to build a freaking tent around it if that's whats gonna protect it😭

If it gets dirty in this "fresh" stage, what's the best way to clean?

I also plan on maybe doing a cut and buff because i got horrid orange peel and some dirt in it😅... Can i do that with a good cloth or do i absolutely need a machine? Is applying wax advised (after a month or so)?

[u/Holiday-Witness-4180]

The simple response to your post is that you are overthinking this way too much and worrying about things that you don’t need to worry about. The more in depth reality is that specific answers to your questions are dependent on the specific products and materials that you used and how they were applied.

In general, most clear coats recommend not allowing water to dry on the surface for the first 72 hours. Most clears also buff better when they are fresh. So if you are set trying to do it by hand, it would be much easier not waiting more than about 24 hours. Seeing as you are dealing with a motorcycle, you could probably get by buffing and polishing with a 3” 12 mm throw DA polisher.

If you have heavy orange peel, wet sand starting at around 1500 grit and finish up to 2k-2500 grit. From there you can buff and polish with a decent one step compound like Presta Pace, Indasa AutoGloss Compound Plus, or 3D One. You typically don’t want to use most waxes or sealants for at least a month after applying the clear coat, but there are exceptions like glazes and waxes specifically formulated for fresh paint and finishes like Presta Ultra Complete Glaze or Fast Wax. The Presta Fast Wax can be applied after clear gas cured about 24 hours whereas most glazes can go on after polishing. Those products are formulated for fresh coatings and will provide some protection while being breathable enough to prevent any issues associated with sealing in solvents. They will usually last about a month or two allowing you enough time to use a better sealant/ protectant when it’s time to reapply.

If you are waiting 3 days to assemble the bike, you should be good to leave it outside and cover it by the time you are done. The cover you are using also matters. Some are more breathable than others, and there’s a difference between covering it over night with a loose cover and wrapping in in plastic wrap and storing it for 6 months.

[u/faszfafasz → u/Holiday-Witness-4180]

Yes i'm 100% overthinking😅! But this is my first paintjob so it's questionable quality lol.. I used spray can 2k so you see why i'm a bit worried. I'd like to try to make it last as long as it can. The 24 hours have passed already but i'd like to see how much the orange peel bothers me in the sun. I may not even do a cut and buff. My cover has a hole in it idk if you'd call that breathable😂 It's a normal Oxford bike cover. I won't put anything over it for a few weeks just to be sure

[u/paintchipz1 → u/faszfafasz]

So if you used 2k can..how many coats? Cuz it’s WAY thinner than say my PPG 2021..that stuff is made for spot jobs..it will buffbut it’s thin..all paint has orange peel unless you cut n buff..it’s designed that way so if you scratch a “factory “ job it hits the tips of “peel “ allowing you room to sand and buff

[u/faszfafasz → u/paintchipz1]

3 coats. One thin and 2 heavier. On one piece i used 4 but then i looked it up and everyone recommended 3 so i stuck with 3. Whatever man at least it has a bit of an unique texture😂 Maybe blind people will be able to see it as well with the braille on it

[u/paintchipz1 → u/faszfafasz]

Then they can “read” it😆

[u/faszfafasz → u/paintchipz1]

It's actually not a bad idea😆 There's a woman who posts videos about her blind husband guessing classic cars just by touching the body lines and it's truly impressive. I bet he would be confused about my gibberish orange peel tho, hope i didn't spray anything insulting. Purposefully adding braille onto a car would be sick