clear-coating woes

I haven’t tried KRYLON’s matte clear coat yet, but I have used the matte black base coat and the glossy clear coat. I use latex gloves throughout the entire painting process to prevent fingerprints on the paint, but only if
I absolutely had to touch the piece. I have my space set up so that I can move around it, and adjust the height,
if need be. My experience with spray paints, is that you have to actually walk around the piece, spraying lightly and in layers, with 20 minutes between sprays. Sometimes more, if the piece has a lot of detail. I also found angling the can to get into deeper crevasses in the piece helped a LOT. Also, I don’t touch my work for at least two days after the project is finished. Just to make sure that everything is set and dried.
In the link below, you can view the piece I repainted. I had to hold it to add the details, for which, I used DecoColor liquid metallic markers.

Example of my work here, and not posted directly in the Thread as per Forum rules

I have used Krylon Semi Gloss and I do the same as above. I put my piece on plastic or paper on a table I can walk around or a big box if I crouch down and I shake it super well before spraying. I do it outside or in a ventilated room with windows open if it’s too cold outside. Sometimes spray comes out uneven at first especially if it hasn’t been shaken enough. I usually spray a paper with a couple sweeps first to see if it’s coming out right, then start spraying back and forth in sweeping motions from top to bottom on one side. Then I move a bit and do it on the next side and go all the way around. I also sometimes point it downwards, then straight, then upwards to make sure I have gotten it in every crevice. I would say do one layer first, wait 20 min., then see how it looks and then do it again trying to catch any spots or crevices missed. Again as said above, it can take 2-4 coats to get it all covered. I would practice again on something else first. Also make sure you press it with good even pressure so it comes out smoothly. If it isn’t coating well, move it a bit closer to the piece but still keep it back a few inches so it doesn’t end up too thick in parts.

This is all excellent advice! I can’t add much except for one thing that I’ve had happen to me when I’ve used spray paint outside. Watch out for gnats and other bugs! I was spray painting a mailbox and gnats kept committing suicide by landing on the wet paint and sticking. Ugh!

These are all reasons I switched to brush-on clear coat. I live in Oklahoma, and you can’t depend on the weather for anything. Even a nice day, the wind blows dust into the clear coat. I almost cried after a couple of things were ruined, so I opt for control now. I know a lot of people have very good results with sprays, I just don’t.

😀 Same here! Georgia’s weather is not conducive to sprays most of the time. And I HATE waiting for perfect weather. So the control I get with brush on clear coats is a blessing.