Anyone use House of Color " Clear" ??
getting ready to spray my 66 in original color "Aztec Bronze Metalic" with Duponts Base Coat in Chroma Premier..knowing that there are different qualities of clear out there it has been suggested we consider using HOK clear for even a better finish ...is it better ?? does it spray out any different ?? Looking for input Thanks
Bill

I've been seeing some nice results with Dupont's 7900 clear in the shops I visit. I haven't sprayed it myself but heard it is very high solids. Dupont's Chroma Premiere clears are very good products. You will void any chance of having a warrantee coverage if you mix products.

Thanks for the reply Bob, I understand the downside of mixoing products. I guess I should have asked if Dupont makes a high end clear ? Will check out the Chroma premiere Clear.

The HOK clears are very economical when comparing price to the Premier line, unfortunately I've never sprayed them so a comparison by me is unavailable. Hopefully someone here with HOK experience will chime in and add their 2 cents. :cool:

HOK is by far the better paint for custom NON Production work. Don't believe me? Next time you watch Monster Garage or American Chopper look and see what paint they are using on that bike that costs as much as your/my house.

Call John at Adjustable Flex Sanders (the inventor of the foam flex AFS sanders we all can't live without), he will tell you what he has had shoot the best in his 35 years of painting and what paint is better left for the wham bam thankya mam colision /Insurance money machine.

I am well aware of HOK paints I was looking for feedback from those who have used their "Clears"

HOK clear is incredible! I've used on all the cars I've painted and the clear is drop dead gorgeous. I just painted a corvette last week and when people see it in the garage they are amazed at how shiny it is even though I haven't polished it yet. I used the UFC35 on this one but I'm not sure what the real difference is between that and the UC35.

Lee

Lee ... Thanks as I understand it HOK clears are supposed to have more UV inhibiters in them a real benefit in southern climates like AZ and Calif etc , also some say they wet sand and polish out easier than most other clears ?? And I've also heard they take a long time to set up before you can wet sand and or polish ???
Do you use HOK clear over National Brand bases or ??

As I ask around about clears most advise me to use the best quality Dupont clear with my Dupont base ( even the local HOK dist told me that)

Not sure if this true or not but when the major companies come out with a new improved "clear" they patent it, their last version's patent then becomes public domain and the generic mfg. of clears copies it so say Duponts "old" best clear can now be made by anyone and typically sells for a lot less

Anyway I'm just trying to decide if using HOK clear with by Dupont base will give me a better finish than Duponts best clear all things being equal.

I just cleared over partial HOK shimrin and PPG that was already there. This clear by far looks better then the clear that was on there.

HOK is actually a bear to polish if you wait longer then 24 hours. I always wet sand the next day. They make this clear in their tech sheet.

I'm betting HOK clear will work with what you have and look better, but I'm no expert, I just paint for fun!

Lee

i put dupont clear over a hok color and 3 months later the clear came off in sheets you just want to do it in reverse i wouldnt recomend it. dupont has some hi solids clear that wouild be fine. storm.

I say the same thing EVERY time this subject comes up. Most professional painters will agree.
NEVER....EVER...mix brands. From primer, to top coat, stick with the same brand from start to finish.
Yes, most clears, or base coats "will" work with another vendors, but are they truely compatable? Will you get lucky, and have it turn out ok, and hold up well, or will you be the one that has problems, or has paint failure a year or two later?
Who are you going to call when you do have a problem?
All of the major brands have good, high quality products.
It usually boils down to whatever product you have the most experience with that yeilds the best results for you.
If Joe paints his car with PPG, cause that's what he's used for the last 10 yrs, and Jim paints his car with Dupont, cause that's what he's used for the last 10 yrs, all things being equal, you wouldn't be able to tell one from the other.
Just about any of the "better" clears on the market, when sanded, and buffed properly, will give VERY compareable results.
Like Storm's example above...
Any number of things could have caused that particular problem....
Are you willing to take that chance?

Dennis , I hear you, Bill

I decided to ask HOK for their advice on this question and like most here they too told me to stick with Dupont. Thanks for all your input.


Reply from House of Color"

"Dupont makes an excellent clear and we recommend you stay with there system. Product compatibility should always be a concern.

John Hall
Technical / Sales
Valspar Corp.
Specialty Products Division
(800) 769-2857