Spent 5 years blending clear coat wrong without even knowing it

I used to just mix my clear coat by eyeballing it in the cup, never measured a thing. Then a painter who retired from a big shop in Phoenix watched me one day and said 'you're adding way too much hardener, that's why your stuff gets brittle.' Has anyone else been doing something basic wrong for years and only found out because someone called you out on it?

3 comments

3 Comments

tessaperry8d ago

Oh man, that's wild - did it ever cause you problems down the line? I did the exact same thing but with wax and grease remover for years, I thought more was better so I was basically drowning my panels in it. A buddy finally told me you're just supposed to use a light mist and let it flash off, not a puddle that takes forever to evaporate (which actually leaves residue, who knew?). Felt like such a dummy when I realized all those fisheyes I fought were probably from my own over-application.

jordan_hill8d ago

You said "a light mist and let it flash off" but I honestly think going heavy on wax and grease remover is the way to go in a dry climate. @tessaperry, your fisheyes might have been from something else like silicone in the air. I used to lay it on thick and never had issues with residue, just let it sit longer. More product means more surface area cleaned, right? Being too light on it feels risky when you're trying to wipe off actual contamination.

gracethomas8d ago

The whole "more is better" thing is such a trap in this trade, especially with cleaners and activators where it feels like you're getting a deal by being generous. A light mist with a dedicated clean microfiber is the right play every time, letting the solvents do their job without leaving a film behind. If you're in a dry climate like Phoenix, going heavy just means the thinner parts evaporate first and the heavier waxes or silicones get left behind as a residue. Fought ghost fisheyes for months in an old shop before a veteran showed me how to check by doing the water break test after my wipe down.