Spray can clear coat

[Ashbo]

Hiya all.

Once I finish touching up the playfield on my EM, I'd like to protect it for future. Has any any recommendations for clear coat from a spray can? I'd look to do multiple thin coats and sand in between and understand it will never be as good as from a professional spraying set up, but interested in experience of others with products and techniques?

Thanks in advance

Ash

 

[Gary Flower]

Ash, many years ago I touched up my Spin-a-card and sealed the newly painted area with, IIRC, water based acrylic varnish.

 

[Dex-Jay]

If you were applying with a paint gun for example, you'd de-wax and de-silicone, mask, spray 2-3 coats, give it time to harden then sand with a abrasives & finally a polish and wax. You can get some 2K lacquer in aerosols now just be careful when you spray it. Certainly not in the house (cough) and make sure you wear a decent mask.

I've not used this myself but if I didn't have access to a paingun & compressor I'd go for one of these > https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293684632565

Good luck whichever way you go.

 

[M4carp]

I sprayed my sons bonnet last year with spray cans, I have done some gun spraying in the past though.
As said just make sure it’s cleaned properly, once cured/dry you can flat and polish it. That bonnet was rubbed down with soapy 2400/1200 grit sandpaper then had a cut and polish with a machine. Came out pretty good then he sold it!!!
Just make sure it’s clean and do 50% overlaps as you spray and go past the ends and you should be fine, you can sand out any mistakes after then polish it up.
It wasn’t the best finish but after the sanding and polishing it looked miles better.

 

[Ashbo]

Thanks all, cracking input and really appreciated. Assuming this is a summer / warm weather job to improve the curing process?

 

[M4carp]

Yep, don't do it in cold/damp conditions. Also you don’t want any dust to be able to settle on your fresh clear coat if you can help it.
If you are in a garage/shed warm it up first and wear the correct mask and open window/door.
Wind was blowing in my garage and I was running around with cardboard trying to block it but got away with it.
Getting it clean and silicone/wax free is very important as it will react with the paint and not look good.

 

[Ashbo]

Yep, don't do it in cold/damp conditions. Also you don’t want any dust to be able to settle on your fresh clear coat if you can help it.
If you are in a garage/shed warm it up first and wear the correct mask and open window/door.
Wind was blowing in my garage and I was running around with cardboard trying to block it but got away with it.
Getting it clean and silicone/wax free is very important as it will react with the paint and not look good.

I'm scared now, perhaps I should be

 

[astyy]

Another option for you is to make a DIY playfield protector, totally reversible and will flatten inserts too. This is what I plan to do on my Bally EM.

 

[Ashbo]

Another option for you is to make a DIY playfield protector, totally reversible and will flatten inserts too. This is what I plan to do on my Bally EM.

Sounds interesting, reversible sounds good. What material do you make them from. Mylar is old-school and hard to remove??

 

[astyy]

Sounds interesting, reversible sounds good. What material do you make them from. Mylar is old-school and hard to remove??

Yeah defo not Mylar, something close as possible to what Playfield Protectors use PET-G/Vivak/0.5mm. Search on here for DIY playfield protectors to see some good examples.

 

[Ashbo]

Another option for you is to make a DIY playfield protector, totally reversible and will flatten inserts too. This is what I plan to do on my Bally EM.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/homemade-playfield-protector ??

 

[astyy]

^^^ that looks good, may try one that way. Longer term, I was planning to attach everything over the protector sheet, like seen in this shop log

In Progress - 1983 Bally GOLD BALL - Further Adventures in Budget Restoration

I love the smell of a fresh shop log in the morning! They said it would happen. And it did. You can't buy just one pinball machine. It always leads to others. But now I've filled my humble pinshack to capacity! So, he she is, my 1983 Bally GOLD BALL: No idea really what states she's in...

www.pinballinfo.com