clear coating a canopy?

[torquen]

Hello all, I have a 40% canopy that has some rub marks that have buffed the canopy into a fog. I'm painting the canopy hatch today and was wondering if clear coating the canopy would get rid of the fog? I have tried the Novus 3 stage polish and it helped some. Have any of you ever put clear on a canopy and what were the results. If so what did you cut the paint with? I have been using acetone but fear that the acetone might melt the canopy.
Garrett Morrison

[JimC-MD]

Hey Garret,

I cleared my hatch and canopy with system 2000 clear. It worked very well. The only limit was my spraying ability and the gun I used (HVLP detail gun). The clear is urethane and was sprayed over the entire hatch after the base cote was applied. The canopy was scuffed with 800 grit prior to application with wet sandpaper. I had some sanding scratches from where I blended in the canopy to the hatch and they are all gone. It works and any future scratches can be buffed out.

Credit to Tony Russo for the idea. He said he has been doing this. You can also add a couple drops of color to the clear if you want a tint or hue to the canopy like blue or red or a couple of drops of black for smoke effect.

[50%plane]

I've never cleared a canopy, and I don't know the level of experience here, but be careful when using clear. It can run very easily. I always setup the gun to spray with low pressure and medium-high volume, but that's my personal taste. I've seen it at high volume and high pressure.(think 100PSI through an HVLP) I've sprayed everything from low pressure to high pressure, low volume to high volume, the main thing to be careful of is putting it on too thick. Do not rush it. If you think you've sprayed there, you probably have and another coat won't hurt in a couple minutes.


hope this helps someone,,,,
Chris

[dbcaster]

I also cleared my hatch and canopy on my Dalton by Tony's recommendation. It gets rid of the ridge from the base coat a tape line as well. I sanded mine with 1500 wet/dry before painting. It does create a fog but as soon as the clear is on it completely goes away. As was mentioned, the best thing is. If you do get a scratch later you can buff it out.

[torquen]

Thanks for the help guys. I wet sanded the canopy with 1500 to get a nice fog. I then cleared and the canopy became clear again. I have some slight haze from the clear not being put on perfect but I think it will rub out just fine. Its a little tricky clearing such a big canopy. Clear on Clear is not to easy.
Garrett Morrison

[JimC-MD]

	Quote: Originally Posted by torquen
	Thanks for the help guys. I wet sanded the canopy with 1500 to get a nice fog. I then cleared and the canopy became clear again. I have some slight haze from the clear not being put on perfect but I think it will rub out just fine. Its a little tricky clearing such a big canopy. Clear on Clear is not to easy. Garrett Morrison

HEHE, I had the same result. I had not sprayed paint in years, but the result was good. If you can see it, you are standing too close to my plane! "Excuse me, could you please step back?" LOL

I look at it this way. I learned, it worked and the next one will be better!