! Help! Can't get the clear coat right!! / repainted bumper

[JCheong87]

So I repainted my bumper over the weekend, took many hours prep work, sanding super smooth etc, painted with several coats, then clear, but when I can't seem to get that ultra shiny reflective look.

Is there anything I can do get this mirror look, I buffed, waxed, and polished the clear but still not as shiny as the rest of the car. Perhaps I didn't apply it properly, should I just try to take it to an autobody shop to get them to apply the clear?

Suggestions are welcomed please!!

Thanks.

See the attached images:

[911fanatic]

Looks like the last coat of clear didn't go on wet enough. Maybe just lightly sand it and have a bodyshop respray the last coat of clear.

[Truenosan]

The clear is too dry. I'm guessing you are applying it via rattle can?

It is hard to spray such a big surface smoothly/evenly with a rattle can. When applying, making sure you overlap about %50. If you apply enough on, you can always try to wetsand/polish it afterwards.

Chances are, if you take that to a bodyshop, they are going to charge you to repaint the whole thing, as there is a possibility that the current coat of clear on there could contaminate the clear that they use.

[JCheong87]

yes I sprayed it in my garage with an aerosol can... I tried to overlap like 75% I used an entire can and more haha. Maybe I should've sprayed a heavier coat?

I did the wetsand with a 2000 grit paper then polished and buffed like crazy but still no perfect shine.

[Phil@rise]

Wet sand and cut polish then a final buff.
To wet sand use 1000 grit paper soak it over night to soften the backing to prevent edge scratches use lots of water to lubricate and clean the paper while sanding (I use a squirt bottle) doing this knocks down the dry orange peel and evens it out but be careful not to sand through the clear coat and stay clear of corners and edges. Then get an orbital polisher and a cutting compound and polish it up in two stages first start with the cut compound till some shine comes back and then move to the final glaze/ swirl remover till it gleams and again do not go near the corners and edges for to long and keep your polisher speed down to prevent burning through or overheating the paint.


If all else fails do the same shitty clear job on the rest of the car

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

^

lol at least that will be even