So a few weeks ago I was walking by my truck and accidently bumped a pad of steel wool on the old greyish blue paint and realized how much oxidation is really on that old paint..well...I ended up sanding the entire truck and turns out my truck is a very nice skylight blue with some of the paint flaking off to reveal a maroon colored primer and theres virtually no rust, maybe 3 small spots of surface rust on the entire body. The truck really has great character and Id like to leave it for now till I can paint it later. Would it better to put a clear coat on it to protect the paint/body or to just leave it the way it is?

 

Excited to get some feedback on this since I feel the same way about mine. I actually really love the old patina and just want to shine it up and protect it.

 

Exactly what I'm wanting. One of the things I'm worried about is the clear coat won't bond correctly to the old paint and might flake off but I would really like some extra shine and protection

 

Here is a little help and direction from a thread yesterday I replied to. I excited to hear more.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ds-a-home.html

 

So I take it you are talking about original paint on your truck? Could the maroon primer be the actual red lead primer instead? If so then you probably have an enamel I am assuming. That being the case if you have a good solid adhering original and cured color coat, no cracking or chalking, then you could sand with 600 grit. From there you could apply a clear coat.

Remember that lacquer could react with catalyzed clear.

 

I'm pretty sure it's origional paint. How would I apply a clear coat? Is it something only a professional can do?

 

Well do you have a decent capacity compressor and decent gravity feed spray gun?

 

I have decent one for painting houses

 

Someone (maybe Eastwood - I'm not positive) makes a clearcoat paint specifically for the purpose you describe...clearcoating original patina. I'm sure it comes with application instructions regarding the delivery device, preparation and substrate.

 

Just saw that stuff. Problem is they only sell it in 16oz spray cans. Not very practical and as such WTH were they thinking.

 

Check with these guys at Southern Polyurethane..Home
They make some incredible clears and the owner is very accessible for questions.

Just a thought, if you're going to clear the patina, I'd consider satin or semi-gloss because really shiny patina just looks fake to me....