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I priced mat clear coat at a local paint supply and @ $240 per quart, it just didn’t pass the grim test, so I decided to use some gloss clear that I had laying around in the hopes that I can figure an easy way to remove the shine and make it look more like a mat finish.
Two questions-thoughts:
1. Does anyone have a recommendation on how to remove the shine from clear coat? Or for that matter should I even attempt it.
2. I have never intentionally played with painting patina and obviously haven’t a clue beyond what I can read on the internet. Recommendation’s going forward are encouraged.
thanks
Driver front Driver rear Passenger rear - I actually like the way this fender came out. Not as much black showing.
Passenger front - Saving the final fender for our 12 years old grand daughter to patina. Which supervision of course.
I'm not an expert, but there used to be a flattening agent that you add to the clear, the more you added the higher the percentage of flattening. You might check the local body supply house to see if it's still an option?
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Around here flattening agent is getting more rare for some reason. More prevalent for suppliers to sell the pre-flattened clear. You can experiment by adding talc to gloss clear. That’s how old-timers did it.
Another option is once the gloss clear has cured you can remove the shine with scotch-brite pads.
I can remember when I was a kid some of the older cars that were well cared for had what is now referred to as patina. Owners were usually older, very clean always and the cars actually had the paint waxed off of the high spots. But even the primer shined. Remember my aunt telling me my uncle was out in the garage waxing that black Mercury again this week, she also commented that he was going to rub all the paint off it soon. If it comes out to glossy for you use the finest scotch brites.
Here is a link to matte clear for $109 a gallon. I have never shot their paint products but i have used several of their other products which have been very good. https://www.tptools.com/Kirker-Low-G...html?b=d*12783
I don’t know if this method will work on a truck, but on the neck of some of my guitars I take 0000 steel wool and lightly rub the shine off. This helps prevent the neck from getting stick with sweat. It will actually shine back up by just playing.
Id test that on a small piece, might work for you.
Wow! I had no idea such an agent was out there. After reading all the reply's, I think I'll try the scotch bright pad approach, and if that doesn't achieve the look I am going for, I'll go ahead and purchase a gallon of mat clear recommended above.
Around here flattening agent is getting more rare for some reason. More prevalent for suppliers to sell the pre-flattened clear. You can experiment by adding talc to gloss clear. That’s how old-timers did it.
Another option is once the gloss clear has cured you can remove the shine with scotch-brite pads.
Gregstith,
Talc, who would have thought..
It appears there are many available options online for flattening agent and although temping, I think for now, I will try scotch-brite pads and see where that takes me. I did try 2500 wet dry sand paper on my first attempt, but I have a bunch of orange peel and the clear would need to be sanded flat - much more work than I want to put into a patina truck.
Thanks for all the help and I'll update this post with what worked best for me.
Thanks for the information. I played around with scotch-brite pads yesterday and I am just not seeing the sheen that I am looking for. I may very well windup spraying a less expensive matt clear.
Thanks for taking the time to res[pond. Going into this, I thought; Hey, it's a patina truck, how hard can it be right! Well, I am finding out that it's not as easy as spray sand spray - done... LOL.
The problem with flattening agents (besides being expensive) is they only hold their matte appearance if you don't scrub on it after applied.
Meaning, if you scrub on it (rag, sponge, other) while washing to remove bug spots, tar, other dirt, it will buff that area you scrubbed which will then add a dull shine to it different from the other matte surface.
I know a bunch of guys who painted their vehicles with a matte finish and then when they washed them and took car of bugs on the front clip, now they have matte and shiny spots on their finish. Very noticeable on dark colors.
Thanks for the feedback. I’ve tried scotch-brite pads and they seem to produce the dull sheen I am looking for. The scotch-brite pad actually reaches into the imperfections (orange peel) that would normally be sanded smooth during the color sanding process. After it is all said and done, I might just stay with the gloss finish. I’ve seen high end patina trucks on line with gloss clear and it seems to have a following. Time will tell.
Originally Posted by F100fun
The problem with flattening agents (besides being expensive) is they only hold their matte appearance if you don't scrub on it after applied.
Meaning, if you scrub on it (rag, sponge, other) while washing to remove bug spots, tar, other dirt, it will buff that area you scrubbed which will then add a dull shine to it different from the other matte surface.
I know a bunch of guys who painted their vehicles with a matte finish and then when they washed them and took car of bugs on the front clip, now they have matte and shiny spots on their finish. Very noticeable on dark colors.
You could try the Vice Grip Garage shine juice. Boiled linseed oil plus mineral sprits and touch of penetrating oil. The more mineral spirts the duller the finish. Apply with microfiber cloth. Caution, very flammable.
