Any coloration difference in ~clear coats~ -- wheel repair...

**pingable** · 05-10-2008, 11:17 AM

uuggh. Coming home last night, exiting the freeway, I fishtailed ever so little that my rear touched the curb (it was raining and wet).

So the rear has a slight 3/4" gash on my brand new wheels.

Have not done a wheel repair in ages, but I just wetsand, prepsol, 3m Bondo, wetsand, paint and then clear. The paint I will use will be matching paint ...similar color characteristics of the powdercoat on the wheels.

I know clear is clear right ~optically ?? but before I start the repair, I`m curious have you guys ever notice a differentiation in opticalness between different brands of clear ?

**AppliedColors** · 05-10-2008, 11:30 AM

Nope. Clear is clear.

Wheels are so low on the car and have so many shadows and angles that your repair doesn`t have to perfect and will still look GREAT.

By the way, prepsol before you wetsand.

**Setec Astronomy** · 05-10-2008, 11:38 AM

I specifically bought a can of clear enamel (as opposed to laquer) at Pep Boys for my last wheel touchup and have found that it has yellowed, to my dismay.

**Stanger'66** · 05-10-2008, 12:32 PM

You want urethane clear. Lacquer and enamel don`t hold up well to UV.

**Setec Astronomy** · 05-10-2008, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Stanger`66

You want urethane clear. Lacquer and enamel don`t hold up well to UV.

Now you tell me!

**Stanger'66** · 05-10-2008, 01:28 PM

Haha, yeah, its a little late for you. The key is that the paint is catalyzed. You can`t get a catalyzed paint out of a spray can so a gun is required. I would suggest Omni or Nason urethane clears. They are a little less expensive than the other lines and will do a great job on your wheels.

**AppliedColors** · 05-10-2008, 05:28 PM

I should clarify that you must use catalyzed urethane clear coat. There`s tens of brands, but for wheels an inexpensive brand like Omni will work best.

There is actually a catalyzed urethane clear coat in a spray can:

PaintScratch 11.8 oz. Catalyzed Clearcoat (Spray Can)

I haven`t used it and cannot comment on its quality.

**Setec Astronomy** · 05-10-2008, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by AppliedColors

There is actually a catalyzed urethane clear coat in a spray can:

PaintScratch 11.8 oz. Catalyzed Clearcoat (Spray Can)

Wow, really interesting product! I will caution any other readers of this thread to heed the isocyanate warnings on that page as I have heard of people getting into real trouble really fast spraying paints with polyisocyanates without the proper protection (as in cardiac irritation, intensive care, etc.).