Recommendations on clear coat

[73K5BlazerSS]

Hey everyone, it's been awhile.
I finally got my new truck body installed, which is aluminum. I cheaped out when I saw the paint quote. I didn't realize how fast it would look crummy with water marks.
I'm gonna clean it and shoot clear over it since I like the aluminum look. I've heard diamond finish clear is good for this ? I'm mostly looking for durability.
Thanks

 

[Blue85]

You have an aluminum Blazer body? Where did you get it and where are the pictures?

I would check with the paint manufacturer's specs, to be sure you find something that will bond directly to aluminum. I think Cerakote has one. You might find something good in aviation or marine products. You want to be very intentional with the surface finish and prep. If clear starts to peel, you now have an even bigger mess than if you hadn't painted it.

 

[73K5BlazerSS]

You have an aluminum Blazer body? Where did you get it and where are the pictures?

I would check with the paint manufacturer's specs, to be sure you find something that will bond directly to aluminum. I think Cerakote has one. You might find something good in aviation or marine products. You want to be very intentional with the surface finish and prep. If clear starts to peel, you now have an even bigger mess than if you hadn't painted.

Haha, that would be cool. I wasn't sure if i should post this in body shop or other rides.
Yes stripping the entire body would be a pain. I'll call around to see what companies make clear for aluminum. Thanks

 

[Fastereddie]

I think its called sharkhide.

 

[imiceman44]

I think its called sharkhide.

That's the one Paul was using

 

[imiceman44]

@ryoken

 

[73K5BlazerSS]

I think its called sharkhide.

Thank you! This looks like a good idea, and easy to apply.

 

[ryoken]

don't know the original question...

but yes, I'm pretty familiar with the pro's/con's of sharkhyde... properly prepped surfaces, it does what it's supposed to.... it's relatively durable.. but it should be recoated, probably every yr or so at most... if I let Mutt go 2, 3 yrs, it would be failing... if you stay on top of it, you can basically keep recoating.. if it starts to fail, ya need to strip it off.. comes right off with lacquer thinner...

all the burnished alum on Mutt gets done....

 

[dra1967pool]

Hey everyone, it's been awhile.
I finally got my new truck body installed, which is aluminum. I cheaped out when I saw the paint quote. I didn't realize how fast it would look crummy with water marks.
I'm gonna clean it and shoot clear over it since I like the aluminum look. I've heard diamond finish clear is good for this ? I'm mostly looking for durability.
Thanks

Use sharkhide i think it's called from STACY DAVID show

 

[73K5BlazerSS]

don't know the original question...

but yes, I'm pretty familiar with the pro's/con's of sharkhyde... properly prepped surfaces, it does what it's supposed to.... it's relatively durable.. but it should be recoated, probably every yr or so at most... if I let Mutt go 2, 3 yrs, it would be failing... if you stay on top of it, you can basically keep recoating.. if it starts to fail, ya need to strip it off.. comes right off with lacquer thinner...

all the burnished alum on Mutt gets done....

What do you use to clean your aluminum before shark hide? I've tried a bunch of stuff but they all leave a hazy residue.

I'm assuming whatever I apply the shark hide on top of will just get sealed into the finish?

 

[ryoken]

What do you use to clean your aluminum before shark hide? I've tried a bunch of stuff but they all leave a hazy residue.

I'm assuming whatever I apply the shark hide on top of will just get sealed into the finish?

correct..... for my "burnished", aka sanded panels, I do a soapy wash with clear Spray 9.. than when dry, I do a damp towel/dry with denatured alcohol and paper towels...

as far as cleaning goes. I don't have to worry, cuz mine is sanded.. I do a quick overblock on it to make sure it looks fresh before clean/coat.......

they do have a cleaner for the sharkhyde... i have it, and tried it at one point on something else, and while it did clean the alum well, it left the surface quite rough.. not something I'd wanna put on some polished rims...

 

[bigjimmy82]

So back to the aluminum bodied truck…

 

[73K5BlazerSS]

I'm assuming pics are in order?
This is all I have, I'll post some more tomorrow.
I still need to find a way to clean the dirt spots without polishing it. The more I try to clean it, I just scratch the surface slightly. I might need to burnish it like Ryoken, or just paint it. I like it aluminum, I get some compliments and some weird looks.

 

[Tnsejed]

Clear vinyl wrap?

 

[kennyw]

Clear vinyl wrap?

That would do nothing to seal the surface and corrosion would form under the wrap.